Long lines are an unfortunate reality in the immigration business. However, there may be steps you can take to address the issues that are causing your case to be delayed.
Suppose you are waiting for U.S. government action on an immigration petition, visa, or other application. In such a situation, it’s conceivable you’ve already experienced a longer delay than you anticipated—and aren’t sure why. If it’s any consolation, the cause is unlikely to be personal. It’s also unlikely to be your lawyer’s fault, as they have no more power over immigration authorities’ actions than you do (although an experienced lawyer can help you track the status of your application and make inquiries). You can also consult the best immigration lawyer in Alabama to scout more about the issue.
We’ve listed the most common reasons why your case is taking so long to resolve.
1. The Office Handling Your Case Is Backed Up
The U.S. immigration officials always appear to be inundated with more applications than they can manage in a fair amount of time. It’s a common topic of news stories and congressional hearings. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) assesses applications on a first-come and first-served basis for the most part. (However, everyone must queue behind the petitioners who have paid an additional fee for “premium processing.”)
2. You Are on a Waiting List for a Visa or Green Card
A certain amount of waiting will be built into the procedure if you are in a visa or green card applicant category that does not allow for a limitless number of visas to be issued each year.
Assume you’re seeking a green card as the married child of a United States citizen. If that’s the case, you’ll be in the third preference category for family-sponsored visas, which means you’ll have to wait at least ten years for your priority date to become current. You now have a visa number (and a green card).
3. Your Security Check Is Taking a Long Time to Process
Suppose you have fingerprints (or “biometrics”) taken as part of an immigration application. In that case, the prints will be forwarded to the FBI and other security agencies to examine your criminal and immigration records. This can extend the procedure by weeks or months, especially if you have a common name or a long history.
Best immigration law firms in Alabama will help you in such a process as sometimes the authorities delay the process due to some serious reasons. So, if you don’t want your application to get canceled, then contact us.
