Immigration delays can be frustrating and affect individuals and families who want to start anew in another country. These delays could go beyond mere paperwork and can be caused by backlogs, long background checks, and changing policies. To speed up your immigration process, it’s essential to stay informed and proactive. Utilizing Free Immigration Lawyer Consultations can help ensure all necessary documents are correctly submitted and followed up regularly with immigration authorities.
In November 2023, the US immigration court recorded a backlog of over 3 million cases. In other words, each judge had an average of 4,500 pending cases, and the numbers only increased. These backlogs lead to inevitable delays in case processing and final decisions.
Being at the brunt of these delays could leave you uncertain, cause financial strain and potential family separation, or frustrate you with long delays. This raises the immigration question: Can a lawyer speed up my immigration case? And the answer is yes!
However, you first need to understand the cause of delays, the complexities of immigration cases, and how to streamline the process efficiently. In this article, we’ll discuss the common reasons for delays and how immigration lawyers can speed it up.
Common Reasons for Immigration Case Delays
Dealing with the US immigration system means dealing with delays caused by many things. These delays can impact your timeline and plans for residency or citizenship. Knowing the main reasons for these delays is essential for applicants and stakeholders.
1. High Volume of Applications
USCIS and the State Department usually receive a high volume of applications, especially during peak seasons or policy changes. During peak periods, they are prone to have inadequacy in staffing and resources. Moreover, these agencies still rely on older technology, which causes slow processing times. The lack of sufficient staffing and resources. To prevent these delays, submitting your application during less busy periods is smarter. You can plan your application for the right time and stay informed of changes in processing times.
2. Lost Applications
Although it isn’t always common, sometimes applications get misplaced or lost in the system due to clerical errors, file transfer mistakes, or data entry errors. Recovering lost documents takes a lot of work and can delay processing for the affected application and others in the waiting line. It could also require resubmission of information. The best way to avoid this error is to keep copies of all submitted documents and follow up to ensure your application is received by the agency.
3. Paper Based Files
USCIS still uses paper-based systems, which inevitably leads to slower processing time. Managing physical documents typically means handling their verification, security, and transfer. Without a doubt, this causes a spike in the risk of logistical errors and delays in application decisions. Additionally, moving the files from place to place reduces the agency’s review and access speed. The USCIS transitioning to a fully technological/ digital process could significantly streamline and eradicate delays.
4. Background Checks
Background checks are necessary and conducted for every immigration process. These checks involve cross-referencing databases and international entities to verify an applicant’s criminal history and security status. They involve using agencies like the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and more. There’s a high possibility of experiencing delayed checks due to high volume or coordination issues with foreign entities, which can extend processing time significantly.
5. Requests for Evidence
During Immigration cases, the USCIS may see an applicant’s information as insufficient to make a final decision and require more. In these cases, they may issue Requests for Evidence (RFEs). However, the RFE pauses the application process until all the requested documents are submitted within a deadline. Responding to RFEs means gathering and submitting more documents, which prolongs processing as agencies review the new information before moving forward.
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How Lawyers Can Expedite Immigration Cases
The immigration system itself has aspects that cause these delays. However, with the right tools and strategies, an immigration lawyer can help you speed up the process. Immigration lawyers use various techniques and tools to resolve immigration cases as soon as possible for their clients. Let’s explore them.
1. Documentation Management
Immigration lawyers prepare and manage all the documents for their clients. They ensure these files are accurate, complete, and meet immigration requirements. With an experienced and proactive immigration lawyer, your documents can be verified and prepared correctly, reducing the risk of delays or requests for more information from the immigration authorities. It makes the process smoother and more likely to get approved faster.
2. Legal Advice
Experienced immigration lawyers give advice specific to their clients’ immigration goals. Whether it’s a work permit, family migration, or permanent residency, attorneys can guide you through the legal complexities, ensuring you comply with all laws and regulations. They’ll give you information and advise you when to submit your application. Since they understand the processing time, policy changes, and other changes that occur, they can provide the right guidance, leading to more efficient and better outcomes.
3. Expertise
Immigration lawyers use their years of experience to anticipate the obstacles and use tried and tested solutions to overcome them in the immigration process. They draw from their many cases and professional networks to get advice or support when needed. With their depth of experience, you can confidently get the guidance to navigate the legal space and get cases moving faster.
4. Exploring Options
Immigration lawyers explain all the immigration options to their clients. They will provide information on each option’s benefits, risks, and eligibility criteria, ensuring you make smarter decisions. These options include temporary visas, green cards, and citizenship, depending on clients’ long-term immigration goals. Immigration lawyers ensure you know all your options so you can choose the best way to achieve your immigration goals. You can evaluate each option and make a more informed decision.
5. Long term
Beyond addressing immediate immigration needs, lawyers align their legal strategy with clients’ long-term goals, whether permanent residency or citizenship. They create customized plans with realistic timelines and manage expectations throughout the process. It’s proactive, so you are prepared for the immigration journey and can settle into the United States properly once you achieve your immigration status goals.
6. Advocacy and Appeals
If an application is rejected or denied, immigration lawyers advocate for their clients through appeals and administrative reviews. They use their legal knowledge to present strong arguments and precisely navigate the process. In other words, they can appeal your case to allow it to be reviewed quickly and effectively. They can fast-track the case and get a good outcome for clients.
Real-Life Success Stories of How Immigration Question Lawyers Have Successfully Help in Speeding up Immigration Cases
Immigration lawyers have streamlined complex immigration cases through strategic advocacy and careful case management. For example, in a family immigration case, a lawyer sped up the client’s application process so their parents could join their US citizen children. The lawyer filled out and submitted all the paperwork and ensured everything was perfect.
Using their expertise and connections, the attorneys on Immigration Question communicated the situation’s urgency to the immigration authorities and approved the case in record time.
In another case, a lawyer quickly helped a highly skilled professional get a work permit. The lawyer understood the client’s job needs, prepared the application, and asked for expedited because the client had a job offer. Through constant follow-up and negotiation with the immigration officials, the lawyer approved the work permit in no time so the client could start working without the usual wait time for such applications.
These are only a few ways verified lawyers on Immigration Question have assisted in streamlining their immigration cases. Want to speed up your immigration process? Speak to an immigration lawyer. Sign up for free!
FAQs on Immigration Cases Taking Too Long? Discover How Lawyers Can Speed It Up
Here are some frequently asked questions.
1. Why do immigration cases take so long?
Immigration cases are delayed for many reasons, including the high volume of applications, bureaucracy, complex legal requirements, and background checks. Changes in immigration policies and staffing shortages in government agencies can also cause longer processing times.
2. What should I do if my immigration case is delayed?
If your immigration case is delayed, you need help from an experienced immigration lawyer. They can help you review your case and its details and determine the possible reasons for the delay. Additionally, an immigration lawyer can help you proactively speed up the process.
3. Are there any risks in trying to expedite my case?
While speeding up an immigration case can reduce waiting times, there are risks considering. Having an expedited process does not guarantee approval, and rushing through the process can lead to mistakes or incomplete documents. Not being cautious can lead to further delays or even denial of your application. You need to work with an experienced immigration lawyer to help you accurately assess the case and speed up the process without errors.
