Every year, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processes hundreds of thousands of Visa applications and handles a variety of other immigration matters. It is no surprise that the processing times can be quite lengthy. While you may hope to get your Visa resolved more quickly, it can sometimes take months or longer. As you may imagine, the processing times increased during COVID.
Delays at the USCIS have always been a concern, but have become longer due to the impact of COVID and other factors. When you submit an application it can cause you stress and anxiety while you wait for the response. The process has been known to take months or even more than a year in some instances. Delays can be extremely frustrating, but there are some things you can do to help speed the process.
Submit a Proper Application
One of the reasons that an application might be flagged or delayed is because of missing information or documentation. The process can take some time, even if you provided a perfect application. Therefore, it is in your best interest to make sure that you provide the USCIS with all of the documentation that they need to properly process your application. If the application is missing information, it could significantly delay the process. In some cases, you may be required to resubmit your application from the beginning.
It is also important to note that you must make sure to submit the correct type of Visa application. If you apply for the incorrect type of Visa your application will likely be denied and you will need to begin the process again. Some people may qualify for more than one type and therefore, you want to know the one that will have the most chance of success in the least length of time. To avoid problems, you might want to get guidance from an immigration attorney before you begin the process.
Check Processing Times
It is common to submit an application and not hear anything for a long period of time. Typically, the USCIS will provide you with some information that confirms they received your application. However, you might not hear back for a month or several months. If you want to find information about your application you can check online. First, when you submit your application, you will likely know an approximate length of processing time. Then, you can check the case status of your application online using your receipt number. It is also important to keep your information up-to-date so the USCIS will always be able to contact you.
Seek Help From Your Congressional Representative
Sometimes a processing delay can seem to take way too long. In some cases, your local congressional representative may be able to assist. Lawmakers often have better access to inside tracks for getting information and for getting resolutions. You can contact your local lawmaker to ask for their help. The lawmaker might be able to get your application processed more quickly based on his or her contacts within the government. In fact, congressional offices get a number of requests and will always do what they can to assist. They are used to these types of requests and therefore have some of the resources and expertise necessary to help with the process.
How Your Congress Representative can Help
Your congressman has contacts all across the many segments of government. They often work with immigration officials on a regular basis. Your congressman has the ability to champion your needs and try to get answers in situations where there have been excessive delays. They may also be able to assist when a Visa is of urgent importance. You can locate the name of your congressional representative by entering your zip code into the online congressional representative finder page. Congressional representatives have specific areas, so you can locate the rep that governs in your particular zip code.
COVID has caused a serious backlog of processing and delays within the USCIS. With COVID restrictions over, the USCIS is trying to catch up on the large number of applications waiting to be processed. If you are seeking a VISA or renewal, it can be helpful to seek guidance from an experienced immigration law attorney. Your lawyer will work to make sure that your application is properly filled out and includes adequate documentation to prevent further delays.
To get the immigration assistance you need, don’t hesitate to contact our South Carolina immigration lawyer at the Law Office of Mariana Toledo-Hermina at (980) 785-4923 today.