Family Visa Application Tracking in Birmingham

The process of applying for and securing a family-based visa can be lengthy and confusing. Often, there will be months or even years of silence from the federal government. This could result in you wondering if they are even working on your application at all.

Thankfully, if you find yourself in an immigration limbo, you do have options for family visa application tracking in Birmingham. For instance, Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides you with the basic information needed to check the status of your case. An experienced family immigration attorney could assist with these efforts and help you understand what to expect throughout the rest of the process.

The Family Visa Application Process

Before an applicant can track the status of their case, it is helpful understand how the application process works in general. The procedure typically starts with a potential immigrant submitting an initial petition to USCIS and selecting a sponsor.

The forms used in the application process will vary depending on whether the person seeking a visa is already located within the United States. Another key step in the procedure involves sitting down for a USCIS interview, which can be complicated and intimidating. If someone applies from outside the U.S, this interview will take place in an embassy or consulate located in their home country.

If is also important to recognize that delays could impact the family visa application process. Thankfully, most people can track the status of their petition at various stages.

If an individual has additional questions about the family immigration application process or which steps of the procedure can be tracked, a knowledgeable attorney in Birmingham could offer personalized support.

Tracking Status with the Receipt of Notice

When it comes to actually tracking one’s family visa application, understanding the tools involved is crucial. One document that a family can use to keep track of their petition’s progress includes the receipt of notice.

Labeled by the government as Form I-797, this document includes important information that could be used to track the progress of a family immigration petition. For example, the notice includes the applicant’s priority date, which is determined at time of the application and can be used to estimate how long the process might take. Using the information provided in Form I-797 could make it easier to track the status of the application and identify how soon an applicant might be called in for an interview.

A hardworking lawyer in Birmingham could help a family understand the receipt of notice and implement it as a visa application tracking method.

How Does the Visa Bulletin Help?

Another one of the most important options used to track family visa applications is a publication known as the visa bulletin. The U.S. Department of State releases this information monthly, and the bulletin outlines the number of family visas that are available roughly every 30 days. This publication is crucial because it helps people understand and account for the hard cap on the number of people that can immigrate to the United States each year. The visa bulletin also includes a “priority date” that applicants can use to estimate when their case might be resolved.

If someone looking for a family visa has any further questions about how the monthly bulletin can help them track their application’s status, a seasoned legal representative could assist with interpreting the publication.

Speak With an Attorney About Family Visa Application Tracking

If you or a loved one applied for a family immigration permit, it can be disheartening to experience delays and ambiguity. Fortunately, checking in on the status of a family visa application is possible. Doing so on your own can be confusing – without an attorney to help you make sense of the process, it is possible that you could misinterpret the status of your case.

Thankfully, a dedicated lawyer could provide careful guidance with family visa application tracking in Birmingham. Seeking assistance before it is too late is key, so reach out to the office today to get started on your case.