It is not unheard of for immigration processes to take weeks, months, and even years at times. Delays in this governmental agency are quite common. Despite the regularity, these delays can still be incredibly frustrating and problematic for those who are seeking a visa. These delays can stop people dead in their tracks from going where they want to go and moving their lives forward. Here are the different causes of the delays you might face during the immigration process.
Backlogged Cases
At the beginning of the pandemic, many governmental offices had to close for months on end, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency was no exception. This event resulted in a huge backlog of immigration paperwork that the USCIS is still working through today. A work visa can now take three months longer to attain than before the pandemic. Delays can detrimentally affect people who need them to work in the U.S.
Lost Paperwork
It might come as a surprise, but one of the causes of delays in the immigration process is as simple as lost paperwork. The immigration agency is incredibly vast, with many moving parts and more applications coming in than they can sometimes handle. Lost paperwork is a real possibility, so it is important to keep track of where your application is in the process and whether you are facing a “normal” delay.
If you face an unreasonable delay, you may need an immigration litigation attorney to help you handle the difficult procedures required to move it forward. At Gahagan Law Firm, we are ready to help you take legal action against unlawful denials or delays to your immigration application.
Administrative Processing
Sometimes your visa can face a delay if the consular office believes your application must undergo additional review before proceeding further. Administrative processing extends outside normal processing times. The consular officer might need extra data to establish one’s eligibility for a visa. An individual may face administrative processing for a number of reasons, including but not limited to prior visa overstays, one’s field of study, or nationality.