The U.S. immigration application process takes time, mainly due to the numerous processes involved. However, you can request expedited treatment of your case if, for some valid reason, you need a quicker response from the USCIS. To do that, you must apply with the USCIS. Although you do not pay any amount for this application, the USCIS will expect you to meet particular criteria to demonstrate your need for expedited processing. For example, you can base your request on extreme humanitarian grounds or possible harm to a U.S. company or person if the application process is not sped up.

It helps to understand the situations under which you can file such an application, what you need, and the application process. A skilled immigration attorney can also help you file a successful application to minimize delay in your application for the underlying purpose.

What Expediting U.S. Citizenship Application Means

USCIS is the government agency that handles most immigration-related applications. The agency considers several factors in approving your application, including your reason for migrating to the United States, what you intend to do while in the U.S., and the strength of your ties to your country of origin. Your application process with the immigration department can take days, weeks, or months, depending on the nature of the application and the requirements to process your request. USCIS could also take time to process your request if it is overwhelmed with other people’s applications. Pandemics like COVID-19 also prolong these processes.

Applications to expedite an immigration application process ensure that the USCIS prioritizes those applications and provides a response sooner than you would receive after a normal process. An expedited process is critical if you face an emergency or experience a sudden change that requires you to hear sooner from the immigration department. Instead of waiting through the average processing time, the USCIS can process your application faster to save your situation or protect an underlying issue from worsening.

When To Expedite Your U.S. Citizenship Application

If you encounter an emergency and require a quicker response from the immigration department, you can file a request with the USCIS to expedite your application’s processing. The USCIS can grant or deny your request, depending on the reason for your request. It handles such requests on a case-to-case basis. However, everyone is welcome to apply to expedite their case. Once the USCIS receives your application, it follows particular criteria to decide whether to grant or deny your request. It must be sure that your request is appropriate for the underlying circumstances to process your application quickly.

Additionally, the USCIS will consider the support documents you have submitted alongside your application. The papers must support your reason for requesting expedited processing. Here are some of the reasons you can provide for expediting your citizenship application:

To Clear an Error by USCIS

When USCIS makes an error when processing your citizenship application, completing it could take a long time. Additionally, you will not receive the expected response if such an error exists. USCS makes mistakes all the time when processing immigration-related applications. An error on its side could cause you to lose time in your status. If you can prove that the mistake was on its side, USCIS will gladly grant your request to expedite the application process.

Sometimes, the officers processing your application could use incorrect dates, making your application invalid for your status. For example, you can increase that shortened time if given a green card with an eight-year expiration period instead of the standard ten. You need proof demonstrating the error USCIS and a request to expedite your application process. The immigration department will likely grant your request under these grounds.

Emergency Humanitarian Reasons

You can request that USCIS expedite the processing of your application when you face an emergency humanitarian issue. The immigration department does not have an exact definition of an emergency humanitarian issue. However, you must demonstrate that your issue qualifies as a critical humanitarian matter. Based on the evidence you provide and the nature of your emergency, the USCIS can grant or deny your request. For example, if you are awaiting your citizenship approval from home and a war breaks out in your country or you suffer a severe illness that requires you to be admitted to the United States, USCIS can grant your request.

A Grave Financial Loss

If a delay in your application can result in a grave financial loss for you, another person, or a company, you can apply with USCIS to expedite it. The department must decide quickly to save the situation or reduce the risk of financial loss.

For example, suppose you are moving to the U.S. to join a nonprofit organization that needs you on board to secure significant funding. In that case, the organization can lose that opportunity if your application is delayed. Thus, you can request the department to process it more quickly to ensure that the organization’s interests are met promptly.

However, you must provide details about the critical situation that depends on the processing of your application and how you, another person, or a company will suffer a significant loss if you wait for the average processing time. USCIS will grant your request if it is convinced that expediting your application will prevent a U.S. company or person from suffering financial harm.

Additionally, you must demonstrate that you followed the required criteria when submitting your application, including filing it by the time necessary. You must also show that you have complied with the requirements on time, including providing additional documents to support your application. Once the department receives your application, it will evaluate all the supporting documents demonstrating the kind of financial loss you, another person, or your company will face if your request is denied. From there, it will be able to determine whether the situation is severe enough to require expedited processing.

Compelling Government Interests

Some government institutes can compel USCIS to expedite your citizenship application process. Thus, if your application affects national interests or the public safety of government interests, you can use this as your grounds to request speedy processing of your immigration documents. After providing the supporting documents to demonstrate how critical the fast processing of your application is, the USCIS can grant your request. Sometimes, you will not be required to make this application, but a government agency will be concerned with your situation.

For example, if your application impacts national safety, the Department of Justice can file an application requesting USCIS to speed up your application. Other times, depending on the underlying need, DHS or any other government entity is involved. The government entity or agency must demonstrate that speedy processing of your application is detrimental to national interests or a threat to national security.

When Expediting Your Citizenship Application is Impossible

The immigration department receives different kinds of applications from people who want to enter the United States. The department has various divisions that handle different applications, depending on the applicant type, the reason for their immigration, and their specific request. USCIS handles some of these applications, especially for people seeking U.S. citizenship. It provides an approximate time within which it handles applications. Your application can be processed earlier or later after the provided dates, depending on other underlying issues, such as an overwhelming workload.

If your application is outside the USCIS standard processing time, you cannot request it to expedite the processing. If you need assistance and your application is within the standard processing time, you can request an update on the application status. You can also request to meet with a government representative to understand the status of your application and what to expect. Understanding the status of your application will help you plan your next move.

Not all applications qualify for requests to expedite their processing. For example, you cannot apply for expedited processing if you have already applied for premium processing of your case. Premium processing is expedited for some work-based applications, specifically Forms 1-29 and 1-140. You must first determine whether your application type qualifies for premium or speedy processing to choose the right approach for a more timely response from USCIS. If you are eligible for premium processing, you will request it instead of expediting your application processing. Here are examples of applications that qualify for premium processing:

  • Green cards for families
  • Citizenship applications by naturalization
  • DACA renewals

USCIS can deny your request to expedite your case if it comes outside its normal processing timeframe for your type of application. This would become an applicant failure. Additionally, you cannot expedite your case if your application is for employment authorization, and your reason for this request is so you can start working sooner. USCIS requires you to provide compelling reasons for requesting to expedite your application.

The Process of Expediting Your Citizenship Application with USCIS

Start this process by confirming your eligibility to request expedited case processing. This mainly depends on the type of application you have filed with USCIS. If your application qualifies for speedy processing, obtain a receipt notice from USCIS to submit the request. When you contact USCIS, they will require some details from your application to provide a receipt notice. Then, you will provide them with your receipt number (from the receipt notice) when applying to expedite your case processing. You will receive the receipt notice in the mail about a week or two after applying.

Once you have the receipt notice, contact USCIS with your request to expedite your application processing. If you call its call center, you will be directed to the service center processing your case. Ask to speak to a Tier One or Tier Two USCIS officer. A customer care representative will transfer your call to the right person once you explain your need to file a request to expedite your case and your reason for making this request.

Once you can speak to a Tier One or Tier Two USCIS representative, make your request and obtain a request number. The officer will ask for the receipt number, your email address, and any other appropriate information so they can apply to expedite your case on your behalf. Once they file the request, they will send you a request number. Ensure you have this number with you for ease of access when needed.

Once the officer files the request on your behalf, you can track its progress using the request number given after the application. You can track the progress of the request through the USCIS website. Alternatively, you can create an online account with USCIS and use the request number to receive notices and updates about your request.

After receiving your request, USCIS will send you an email requesting that you provide documents to support your expedited application. The kind of documents you provide depends on your reason for making this request. The papers must demonstrate your eligibility for speedy handling of your application. USCIS provides guidelines on how you must submit these documents. You should have them in a single file of at most fifteen pages. Ensure you send just one reply to this email with an attached file with the supporting documents. Additionally, send the documents soon after receiving the email to avoid delays on your application.

You will receive a response from USCIS detailing its response to your application soon after sending the supporting documents. Typically, USCIS takes a few days to respond to these requests. The response will come through the email you provided when applying to expedite your case. The response can be positive, whereby USCIS grants your request, or negative, whereby it denies your application.

Find an Experienced Immigration Attorney Near Me

If your citizenship application to USCIS in Orange County is taking longer, you can apply to expedite its processing. However, you must provide a compelling reason for this request so that USCIS can grant your request. If you have a valid reason to request expedited treatment of your case, a skilled immigration attorney can help. They will explain the process, your options, and the expected outcome to prepare you for what to expect. They will also handle your paperwork and the documents needed to improve your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome.

At Orange County Immigration Attorney, we handle all kinds of immigration-related cases. We can help you with your matter and assist you in navigating the complex processes. Call us at 714-909-0426 for more information.