Litigation: Bringing Lawsuits against USCIS and Consulates

When your case is not being processed:

Many clients seek legal assistance from White & Associates when their immigration cases are not being processed by the USCIS or consulate in a timely manner. Often, the government does not act upon naturalization, adjustment of status applications or on immigrant visa applications. Often times, these cases are delayed by FBI background checks. With such cases, there is essentially only one action that the applicant can take to force the agency to act — filing a lawsuit. This type of lawsuit, known as a "writ of mandamus," is designed to compel the government to perform a duty owed to the plaintiff, namely, take action on the pending application. Upon receiving a complaint filed with the Federal Court, the government must answer within sixty days of the complaint. Often these lawsuits cause the government to finally take action.

If you are in such a situation, filing a suit against the USCIS or appropriate US Consulate may be the only way to get your case processed because the Federal Court can oblige the USCIS or US Consulate to review your application/petition and make a final decision within a short period of time (usually, within 60 days). However, it is important to remember that the court cannot force the USCIS or the consulate to make a decision in your favor.

Steps to filing a writ of mandamus:

Step 1: The first step to take when processing a case that has gone beyond the stated time is to make inquiries with the USCIS or consulate. It is best to document these inquiries as best as possible.

Step 2: If a resolution is not reached, the next step is to notify USCIS or the consulate, as well as the local US attorney in your jurisdiction, of your intention to file a lawsuit if resolution is not forthcoming within 30 days. This step will often have the desired effect; even if it does not lead to a decision immediately, it often prompts the USCIS or consulate to begin working on the matter.

Step 3: If a month has passed with no action on the case, the lawsuit should be filed and served upon the relevant defendants (the government agencies which have not acted) and local US attorney.

How Can White & Associates Help?

Filing a writ of mandamus against the USCIS or a consulate is rather complicated, and often requires professional legal assistance. White & Associates has many years of litigation experience, having successfully represented plaintiffs in mandamus cases and compelling government action on stalled immigration and visa applications. Once the judge enters a decision in your favor, we also request the court to reimburse you for your legal fees. Please contact us so that we may discuss with you your case.