Unreasonable Delay for Citizenship in Atlanta

Many immigrants dream of becoming citizens of the United States of America. Each year, some of those foreign nationals conclude a years-long process of naturalization to make their goal a reality. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to navigate the process successfully and become a U.S. citizen.

Additionally, frustrating and unexpected delays can impact your application process. When your waiting period becomes unreasonable, a skilled immigration delay attorney might be able to help. Our experienced legal team could assess your case and help with handling unreasonable delays for citizenship in Atlanta.

What Causes Citizenship Delays?

The process of becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States is long and complex. Cases that ultimately result in a favorable outcome frequently take between 12 and 18 months to conclude. Additionally, many of the delays that occur during this process are unavoidable.

There are, however, factors that can result in unreasonable and unwarranted delays. For example, administrative errors can impact the trajectory of a citizenship case. Cases are often lost in the shuffle, especially given the high volume that United States Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS) usually deals daily. There are also scenarios where USCIS delays a decision because important documents are lost or misplaced.

The good news is that there are ways an attorney could help resolve these delays. For instance, it might be enough for an attorney to reach out to USCIS to inquire about the delay. If the delay was due to a mistake, inquiry from legal representation could get a case moving again.

When a citizenship case is more seriously delayed, filing an action called a writ of Mandamus is likely a better option. These lawsuits force the government to make a final decision on a citizenship application.

Understanding When a Delay is Unreasonable

It is important to understand that not every delay during the citizenship process will be considered unreasonable. Making this distinction is important, given there is little recourse for short delays.

Long delays typically become unreasonable after the naturalization review occurs. USCIS is required to make a final decision on a citizenship case within 120 days of the naturalization interview. If the agency fails to do this, an immigrant can pursue legal action in federal court to get an answer.

The reasonableness of a citizenship delay can be subjective, so working with an experienced member of our legal team is key. During an Atlanta immigrant’s case process, our lawyers could assess the reason for the delay, investigate the status of one’s citizenship application, handle negotiations with USCIS or any other relevant government agencies, and help a foreign national keep their case on track.

Call an Attorney About Unreasonable Citizenship Delays in Atlanta

There are few things in the naturalization process more frustrating than lengthy delays regarding your citizenship application. You have spent years working towards this goal, following all the rules along the way. It is only right that you get a decision in a reasonable amount of time. Let an attorney help you resolve an unreasonable delay for citizenship in Atlanta. Reach out today to get started.