Employment Immigration: What You Should Know About OPT Introduction Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an important employment benefit available to many F-1 international students in the United States. It can allow eligible students to gain practical work experience directly related…
Employment Immigration: What Happens After Filing for an Employment Authorization Document? Introduction Filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, is an important step for many immigrants seeking permission to work in the United States. After filing, USCIS reviews the application…
Should I File a Writ of Mandamus if My USCIS Case Is Delayed? Introduction Waiting for a USCIS decision can be frustrating, particularly when a case has remained pending for an unusually long period. In some circumstances, a federal lawsuit…
Understanding USCIS Processing Times: What They Do—and Don’t—Mean Introduction USCIS processing times can be confusing for applicants waiting for an immigration benefit. The time shown on the USCIS website is useful for setting expectations, but it does not necessarily predict…
How to Check Your USCIS Case Status Online Introduction After filing an immigration application or petition with USCIS, applicants can monitor the case online to see whether there has been a recent update. USCIS provides an online Case Status tool…
Can a Medical Emergency Qualify for USCIS Expedited Processing? Introduction USCIS normally processes immigration applications and petitions according to its established procedures and workloads. In some circumstances, however, an applicant or petitioner may ask USCIS to expedite a case because…
USCIS Outside Normal Processing Time Requests Explained Introduction Waiting for a USCIS decision can be frustrating, particularly when a case appears to be taking longer than expected. USCIS provides a process for certain applicants and petitioners to ask about cases…
How to Submit a USCIS Service Request for a Delayed Case Introduction When a USCIS application or petition seems to be taking longer than expected, applicants may wonder whether there is a way to ask the agency for an update.…
Does Contacting My Congressman Speed Up My USCIS Case? Introduction When an immigration case has been pending for a long time, applicants often consider contacting their U.S. representative or senator for help. Congressional offices can sometimes assist with inquiries to…
Can I Request Expedited Processing More Than Once? Introduction USCIS allows applicants and petitioners to request expedited processing in certain circumstances. But what happens if an expedite request is denied, or if circumstances change after a previous request? While there…
