How long will my immigration case take?

Just like any other governmental process, immigration cases are known to be stressful and tedious. But, when it comes to waiting times, the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) —the agency in charge of managing United States of America’s immigration and naturalization system— makes it difficult for many to handle, and desperation starts controlling their actions. The best way to be prepared for the stress that these processes come with is to know how long they will take and the tools we can use to follow up on our cases. We’ve visited the USCIS site to give you the most reliable content when it comes to immigration. Read along to find out how long your immigration case can take, how to check that yourself, and what you can do when this estimated time runs out.

Ways to know how long your immigration process can take

While the USCIS indicates how long each of the immigration processes can take, it is always better to be prepared to wait longer. But we know this is not the answer you’re expecting. You need to know, at least, estimated times, and we’re here to tell you the tools you can use to know how long your specific process will take.

Check case processing times according to the form and office

The USCIS has a specific site for you to check case processing times for each form depending on the field office or service center. Here is an example.

Once you click on this site, you will see these dropdown menus.

Select the name of the form you filled and Field Office or Service Center and click on “Get processing time.”

For example, if you choose the I-90 form (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card) and choose the Potomac Service Center (The only option available on the site) you will see that the processing time for this application is 6 to 14.5 months.

You can do this with any other immigration process on the list.

Check the historical national median processing time

The USCIS has a very detailed table that recollects data from processing times of the last 10 years. When you visit this site, you will be able to see how much time each type of process took each year. The USCIS advised not to compare the times in this table with the USCIS processing times web page (the one we mentioned in the previous point) because processing times are calculated according to 2 different processes, but we will talk about it in the next part. According to the USCIS table, in the last 5 years, the I-90 process we mentioned earlier took around 5-8 months.

The application you filed does not appear in this table or on their website? Well, for these cases, USCIS says they aim to make a decision within 6 months after filing it.

What immigration processes take the longest?

Do you remember that USCIS table that recollected data from the last 10 years? Well, we analyzed the last 5 years, and we are giving you a list of 3 of the forms that take the longest to process:

  1. Form I-918 - Petition for U Non-immigrant Status: The average number of months it can take the USCIS to process this form is 44.
  2. Form I-526 Immigrant - Petition by Alien Entrepreneur: This process can take an average of 23 months.
  3. Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status: This process can be done in an approximate time of 17 months.

Why is my immigration process taking so long?

There are several reasons why your case could be taking longer than expected. And some of them might not be within your responsibilities, so it is important to be patient when this happens. Here are a few things that can cause your process to be delayed:

  • Delay in the background check process.
  • Request for Evidence (RFE): If you didn’t provide enough evidence in the beginning, the USCIS will ask for more with an RFE, which can consequently delay your process, especially if you don’t accurately provide the specified evidence.
  • Problems with the system: It is not surprising to hear that your file got lost or was sent to the wrong department. This is why it is important to be aware of what notifications you must receive, the time it could take for you to get them, and to be prepared to answer any inquiry they might have as soon as possible.

Actions you can take when the time is outside normal processing time

Send an inquiry

The USCIS suggests all the immigrants handling processes with them to send them an inquiry if the case is taking longer than expected. Still, there are ways to know if they are working actively on your case. How so? The USCIS indicates that if you have received a notice from them, or you have responded to an RFE (Request for Evidence) or received an online update regarding the status of your case in the past 60 days, that means they are working on your case.

Check if you didn’t receive a notice or document

The USCIS sends notices and documents to the person involved in the process through the mail. You should receive a receipt notice within 30 days after filing your application. If you are expecting to receive a card or a document through the mail, your waiting time can be within 90 days and 30 days respectively. If you didn’t receive any of these notices or documents within the specified time, you can send an inquiry through this site.

Hire a professional to help you with the process

At Castro Law, we’re committed to helping you throughout your immigration processes so they are not as stressful to you as they would be if you take on your case alone. Feel free to contact us for a free 15-minute-no-obligation evaluation.

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