I’ve recently encountered some very concerning cases involving American citizens who are sponsoring their immediate family members in Russia for green cards. It seems that due to their connections with American family members, these Russian relatives are required to register with the Russian government as “individuals associated with foreign agents.” This registration has led to […]

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides individuals (including immigrants) with access to government records, including records about themselves. Immigration lawyers understand the importance of timely responses to FOIA requests, as they are often crucial for building a solid immigration case. However, when the government fails to comply with a FOIA request or takes too […]

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) offers a path for immigrant victims of forced labor to seek financial compensation from the organizations that recruit them and the companies that profit from their work. Class action lawsuits can be pursued on a contingency basis under this law. Additionally, the TVPA established the T visa to further […]

Mandamus lawsuits are the most effective tool to compel the Government to decide a delayed immigration petition. There really is no close second. However, not everyone can afford to file a federal lawsuit. And sometimes, a mandamus lawsuit is not yet ready to be filed. If you are in either situation, here are some alternative […]

USCIS would probably answer this question in the affirmative. However, throughout much of the country, federal judges have rejected this position. The 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th and 9th Circuits have all held that the district court has exclusive jurisdiction over a naturalization petition once a 1447(b) action is filed. Once such a lawsuit is filed, […]

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows individuals to obtain from the government documents and information about their immigration history, status or pending petition. Unfortunately, the government’s response to such FOIA requests are sometimes delayed or incomplete. Fortunately, when such problems arise, the FOIA status has a fee shifting provision that makes it easier and […]

We’ve had some encouraging outcomes lately in challenging consular visa denials. What once seemed like an impossible task due to the doctrine of consular nonreviewability now has a way forward, thanks to the case of Muñoz v. State Department (case no. 21-55365). In this case, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the government […]

One frequently asked question is whether a mandamus lawsuit is appropriate for applications that are experiencing delays that are within “normal” processing time. The answer is that it can be appropriate, as a case may still be unreasonably delayed even if it falls within the stated USCIS processing time range. This was addressed by the […]

Mandamus lawsuits have an excellent track record in obtaining delayed EAD/AP, work and travel document decisions. These cases are often successful because USCIS takes very little time to adjudicate these applications, typically less than 27 minutes according to USCIS estimates. It would take the Government much more time to oppose the case than to simply […]

Mandamus cases are distinct in nature as they do not involve seeking monetary compensation. Therefore, they cannot be handled on a contingency basis. Although hourly billing is an option for handling Mandamus cases, experienced litigators who are familiar with such cases can frequently estimate the time required. As a result, lawyers who handle Mandamus cases […]