The full library

38 guides, organized by practice area.

01

Green Cards

Permanent residence: getting it, keeping it, renewing it.  ·  7 articles

02

Citizenship & Naturalization

The final step of the journey — becoming a U.S. citizen.  ·  6 articles

03

DACA & Dreamers

Guidance for Dreamers navigating deferred action.  ·  6 articles

04

Asylum & Humanitarian Relief

Protection for those fleeing persecution.  ·  6 articles

05

Visas

Work, family, and investor visas explained.  ·  7 articles

06

Family Immigration & VAWA

Petitions built around family — and protection for survivors.  ·  3 articles

07

Writ of Mandamus & USCIS Delays

The firm's specialty — forcing action on a stalled case.  ·  3 articles

08

Mandamus by Case Type

Which forms get stuck, which courts handle them, and when suing works.  ·  10 articles

Mandamus by Case Type

I-130 Stuck? Using Mandamus to Move a Family Petition

Few delays hurt like a stalled Form I-130. A U.S. citizen or green card holder files to bring a spouse…

8 min readRead guide
Mandamus by Case Type

N-400 Delays: Section 1447(b) Suits vs. Mandamus

Naturalization is one of the few areas where the statute itself gives applicants a dedicated court…

6 min readRead guide
Mandamus by Case Type

I-751 Removal of Conditions Delays and Mandamus

If you received a two-year green card through marriage, you must file Form I-751 to remove the…

6 min readRead guide
Mandamus by Case Type

Asylum Backlog: When Mandamus Works for an I-589

An affirmative asylum application can sit for years before an interview is ever scheduled. Applicants…

5 min readRead guide
Mandamus by Case Type

EB-5 Delays: Mandamus for I-526E and I-829

EB-5 investors commit hundreds of thousands of dollars and then wait. A Form I-526E petition can sit for…

6 min readRead guide
Mandamus by Case Type

Employment-Based Delays: I-140 and I-485 Mandamus

Employment-based green cards move through several agencies and queues, and a delay can happen at any of…

6 min readRead guide
Mandamus by Case Type

K-1 Fiancé Petition (I-129F) Delays and Mandamus

A K-1 petition is a race against emotions as much as calendars. A U.S. citizen files Form I-129F to…

5 min readRead guide
Mandamus by Case Type

221(g) Administrative Processing: Suing the State Department

After a visa interview, many applicants receive a slip saying their case is refused under Section 221(g)…

6 min readRead guide
Mandamus by Case Type

Work Permit (I-765) Delays: Mandamus and Faster Options

Few immigration delays do damage as quickly as a late work permit. When an employment authorization…

6 min readRead guide
Mandamus by Case Type

I-601A Provisional Waiver Delays and Mandamus

The provisional unlawful presence waiver, filed on Form I-601A, lets certain people who are already in…

5 min readRead guide
09

Mandamus Litigation: Process & Strategy

The federal procedural roadmap: how courts judge delay and what happens after you file.  ·  10 articles

Mandamus Litigation: Process & Strategy

The TRAC Factors: How Courts Judge Unreasonable Delay

When a federal judge decides whether a government agency has taken too long, no statute supplies the…

5 min readRead guide
Mandamus Litigation: Process & Strategy

Mandamus Act vs. APA: Two Routes to Force Agency Action

Read almost any federal complaint over a stalled immigration case and you will find the same pair of…

5 min readRead guide
Mandamus Litigation: Process & Strategy

How to File a Mandamus Lawsuit Against USCIS, Step by Step

Filing a lawsuit to force USCIS to decide a case sounds intimidating, but the mechanics follow a…

6 min readRead guide
Mandamus Litigation: Process & Strategy

How Long Is Too Long? Delay Benchmarks Courts Accept

The question every waiting applicant asks is how long is too long. There is no single number. Federal…

5 min readRead guide
Mandamus Litigation: Process & Strategy

Government Defenses and the Motion to Dismiss

Once a delay lawsuit is served, the government’s lawyers usually respond in one of two ways: they decide…

5 min readRead guide
Mandamus Litigation: Process & Strategy

After You File: The 60-Day Clock, Extensions and Dismissal

Filing the complaint feels like the end of a long road, but it is the beginning of a short, structured…

5 min readRead guide
Mandamus Litigation: Process & Strategy

Mandamus Costs: Filing Fees, Attorney Fees and EAJA

Cost is the first practical question for most people considering a delay lawsuit, and the honest answer…

5 min readRead guide
Mandamus Litigation: Process & Strategy

Can a Mandamus Lawsuit Hurt Your Immigration Case?

People often hear two opposite things about suing USCIS: that it works wonders, and that it will ruin…

5 min readRead guide
Mandamus Litigation: Process & Strategy

Before You Sue: Ombudsman, Congress and Expedite Requests

A federal lawsuit is a powerful tool, but it is not the first one to reach for. Several free or low-cost…

5 min readRead guide
Mandamus Litigation: Process & Strategy

Mandamus in Texas Federal Courts: The Dallas Division

If you live in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, your delay lawsuit will most likely be heard by a federal…

5 min readRead guide