The Trump administration has implemented many policy changes that may have led to increased delays in green card applications. Many marriage green card clients are waiting longer periods before they get their first interview, and average processing times now exceed a year in virtually every part of the United States. This is adding a great deal of stress to an already stressful process. Delays in applications can mean that spouses cannot travel abroad to visit family until the application is approved. This leaves many couples putting their lives on hold. Because application approval can take longer than ever, it is important to get documentation right the first time. This is where having a qualified immigration lawyer on your side can help to both reduce stress and ensure the fastest possible approval time, given current backlogs.
One of the reasons why this may be the case is that immigration officers are now required to interview both marriage applicants and employment-based green card applicants. Offices in charge of conducting the interviews may not have more officers on the job, but they may now have to conduct more interviews. Essentially, the offices’ workload has been doubled because they must interview everyone seeking a green card, not just family-based applicants.
In addition to this, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has seen an increase in family-based green card applications.
If your spouse is currently outside the country, the wait times can be much longer. The National Visa Center must collect all mail regarding a visa application, and the system is extremely backlogged. It can sometimes take as long as 2 months before the office even opens a piece of mail. Given the backlogs, foreign spouses will wait more than a year before they can travel to the U.S. to be with their wife or husband. Missing a form or signature can delay the process. This is where having a qualified family-based immigration lawyer like Kuck Baxter Immigration in Atlanta, Georgia on your side can make an immense difference. Our firm can review your paperwork, make sure it is thorough and complete, and take steps to move the process along so that you and your partner can have peace of mind and be reunited sooner. For example, in cases of urgency or illness, an immigration lawyer may be able to make move the process along faster.
If you are in the process of sponsoring your spouse for a marriage-based green card you may have many question and concerns. You may be wondering if your application appears to be delayed or seems to be taking longer than it should. Having a qualified immigration lawyer on your side can give you great peace of mind. It can take time to correct an incorrect green card application. Get it right the first time to avoid delays by getting assistance from an immigration lawyer. Visit our family-based immigration lawyers at Kuck Baxter Immigration in Atlanta, Georgia today to learn more.
Kuck Baxter Immigration Partners, L.L.C.
365 Northridge Road
Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30350
325 N Milledge Avenue
Athens, GA 30606
(by appointment only)
