when your lawyer made a mistake immigration

by Tressa Cronin 7 min read

If you received a denial of your immigration case, appeal, motion, or application from the U.S. government, your attorney might seem like the natural person to blame. But don't be too quick to assume that your attorney made mistakes just because you did not receive the benefit you hoped for and requested.

Full Answer

How to correct a mistake in an immigration application?

If your attorney made a small mistake that was not the reason for the denial of your application, it will likely not be enough to rise to the level of ineffective assistance of counsel. For example, if your attorney included your incorrect address on your application for an employment visa and the visa is subsequently denied on other grounds, you cannot reopen your case based on …

Did your attorney make a mistake?

Mar 13, 2019 · Errors On Your Immigration Documents. Filling out your paperwork appropriately reduces the chances of delays, denials or confusion in your immigration case. Due to the high volume of paperwork going through the USCIS, it is strongly recommended that you retain an immigration attorney to help you fill out the form properly the first time around. However, if you …

Why should I hire an immigration attorney?

If you have made a mistake on a "DS-160" form that you submitted to get a "nonimmigrant" visa, you can reopen your application from the database by entering the application ID and providing identifying information. You need to do this within 30 days after you …

Can I amend my citizenship application if I made a mistake?

May 26, 2019 · When you’ve hired an immigration consultant or lawyer and your application is rejected because of errors and screw ups by your consultant, it’s an incredibly frustrating moment for you. You’ve paid out a part of your savings in fees and not only was your application rejected – always a risk even for an application that is done correctly – but it was full of key errors, like …

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What happens if USCIS makes a mistake?

Or, if the mistake is serious enough, USCIS might reject your original form and make you start all over again. You'll have to file a correct form and pay the filing fee again.

Can immigration make mistakes?

Sometimes simple immigration mistakes can ruin your chance for a USCIS approval notice. In fact, even very intelligent applicants can potentially blunder because of a misunderstanding or oversight. We've put together a list of five immigration mistakes that applicants sometimes make when requesting USCIS benefits.Jan 18, 2022

Can I sue USCIS for damages?

In short, yes. One can exercise their rights and legally sue USCIS. While this action is possible, it is rare.Jun 4, 2021

Can I sue USCIS myself?

If the immigration service refuses to act, you can sue them in federal court by filing a lawsuit against USCIS. Once you have already had your naturalization test and interview and more than 120 days (four months) have gone by, you can go into federal court and ask a judge to naturalize you themselves.

How do I correct an error on my immigration document?

Once you receive the notice, call the national USCIS Contact Center, tell them about the error, and request that the agency correct it. Although they may fix the issue immediately, if the government tells you extra time is required, obtain a reference number in the event you need to reach out to them again.Jan 28, 2021

How do I correct immigration records?

How to Update or Correct Your Immigration Records(1) Contact USCIS to correct Form I-551 (Lawful Permanent Resident card) or Form I-766 (EAD card). ... (2) Submit a Privacy Act Amendment Request in writing. ... (3) Contact USCIS or CBP to correct a Form I-94.More items...

Can USCIS check your Whatsapp?

Green Card Basics: Do USCIS Officials Look at My Social Media Accounts? The short answer is no, USCIS officials will no longer look through your social media accounts before they approve your green card petition.Mar 4, 2021

How long does it take to sue USCIS?

It usually takes them about ten days or two weeks to get the law suits, and then, at that point, the defendants have 60 days to file their response. In most instances, the government does not respond much until towards the end of those 60 days.

What happens if I 485 is denied?

If U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denies an I-485, there are options available to applicants, including a motion to reconsider or reopen, appealing the decision, and re-filing.Jan 21, 2022

How much is it to sue USCIS?

What Are the Filing Fees? Fees for U.S. District Court Complaint is $350.00, plus $50.00 (est.) for Service of Process.

Can I sue USCIS for taking too long?

You may sue the USCIS if it is taking longer than usual to process or decide your case. For more information on eligibility, process and necessary documentation for these types of cases, visit our page on Lawsuits against the U.S. Immigration Service (USCIS).

When can you sue USCIS?

The law says that if you had your citizenship interview and 120 days passed, you sue USCIS in federal court and ask a judge (who is appointed for life and who does not work for the immigration service) to decide whether or not you should be allowed to become a citizen.

What Mistakes Should I Address Right Away?

A mistake in information that would impact your eligibility for the benefit you are hoping for or a mistake that misidentifies you is something you will want to correct immediately. You need to contact the agency who received your form if you believe that your form filed with USCIS has a mistake on it.

What Info Do I Need to Get on My Call?

Make sure that you collect the reference number regarding the case so that you can call back again to verify the status. The best possible outcome is that you are able to correct this mistake before USCIS knows about it. They may accept your correction if you notify them and start working on your form.

Ways to contact the appropriate government office about an error you made in filling out an immigration application or petition form

Ways to contact the appropriate government office about an error you made in filling out an immigration application or petition form.

If the Government Hasn't Acted Yet

If you catch your mistake early, before the government has done anything in response to the form you sent, the mistake will be easier to correct.

If USCIS Has Already Acted on Your Form

If you get your correction to USCIS early enough, it might accept your correction and start work on your form.

What is the rule?

Previously, the rules required USCIS officers to issue a RFE unless there was no possibility that any filing deficiency could be cured by submission of additional evidence—situations like when an applicant applies for a non-existent benefit.

Mistakes will be Costly

The subjective decision of judging whether an application has sufficient evidence, and who makes that decision, is one concern Parsonage has about the rules. Denial of an application for missing a critical document is another.

Experienced legal assistance necessary

"Everybody must be much more careful when filing an application,” she says. In the past, “it wasn’t a particularly risky thing to do if you missed something or made a mistake. You’d just get a letter saying, ‘you goofed, send us this.’ Could be a simple mistake like forgetting your bachelor’s degree certificate in the envelope.

What can cause a rejection?

There are a few possibilities of why an application may be rejected. An error is certainly more likely to increase the chances of a rejection. Whilst there is a higher likelihood of rejection, if your case is strong then a cover letter may be perfectly sufficient to explain the error.

How to avoid problems

One of the main ways is to practice the application first in a rough draft and then transfer it to the application itself. This way, you get a second chance to read through it ensuring that it matches what you are trying to say.

How we can help

Our immigration lawyers can prepare and submit your application on your behalf, ensuring that it has been completed without errors and contains all the relevant information required to ensure it is processed as smoothly as possible.

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