Areas of Practice

N-400 Processing Delays

Applying for U.S. citizenship is an important milestone, but many applicants experience significant delays in the processing of their Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. These delays can be frustrating and may impact various aspects of an applicant’s life, including employment opportunities, travel plans, and voting rights.

I-485 Adjustment of Status Delays

If you have filed Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, you may be experiencing significant delays in the approval process. These delays can be frustrating, especially for applicants eager to obtain lawful permanent residency (Green Card) in the United States.

I-130 Petition Delays

When an American citizen marries a noncitizen, the citizen may petition for lawful permanent residency for the spouse. The process begins when the citizen spouse files a Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, which acts as a request for USCIS to formally recognize the validity of the marriage. 

A Form I-130 that is not filed in conjunction with an adjustment of status application is called “standalone”. Sometimes, these standalone I-130 petitions take more than a year to be adjudicated, causing physical separation of families.

I-129F Petition Delays

The K-1 visa allows a foreign-citizen fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen to enter the United States and marry his or her U.S. citizen sponsor within 90 days of arrival.

The process to obtain a K-1 visa proceeds in two stages: First, the U.S. citizen sponsor must file a Form I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancée (Form I-129F), with USCIS. If the I-129F is approved, it remains valid for four months.

After approving a Form I-129F, USCIS sends it to the National Visa Center (NVC), which assigns a case number and forwards it to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where the U.S. citizen sponsor’s fiancé(e) is located. The whole process can take over a year, and sometimes even longer. Some I-129F petitions get stuck and are never adjudicated unless a Writ of Mandamus is filed.

Waiver Application Delays

If you have applied for a waiver such as the I-601, I-212, or I-192, you may be experiencing delays in processing times. These waivers are essential for individuals who are inadmissible to the United States due to past immigration violations, criminal records, or other legal barriers. However, many applicants find themselves waiting several years for a decision.

I-589 Asylum Application Delays

The U.S. immigration system is experiencing significant delays in processing asylum applications (Form I-589) and other deportation relief requests. These delays can have serious consequences for applicants who are seeking protection from persecution, violence, or other dangers in their home countries.

Consular Processing Delays

Visa processing delays have become a significant challenge for individuals seeking to enter the United States, whether for permanent residence (Immigrant Visas – IV) or temporary stays (Nonimmigrant Visas – NIV). These delays can have serious implications for families, employers, and individuals who rely on timely visa approvals for work, travel, or reunification with loved ones.