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Publications

January, 2008

FAST ACTION FOR IMMIGRATION DELAYS

Individuals who have experienced delays in the processing of their immigrant visas or naturalization applications, may use Mandamus to resolve the delay. We have considerable success with this remedy.

Over the past two to three years, the Immigration Service has not fulfilled its responsibilities to promptly schedule immigration and naturalization interviews.

Mandamus may be invoked in the Federal Courts to compel an officer or employee of the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) or any other governmental entity to perform a duty owed to a person. The Immigration Service has an obligation to faithfully discharge its administrative duties; if it fails to do this, it may be brought into a legal action in Federal Court by the aggrieved party.

An action of Mandamus in Federal Court requires a showing that:

  1. There is a clear and certain claim;
  2. That the duty owed by the Immigration Service, its employees and agents is ministerial; that is, that the issue involved does not require an exercise of discretion, that the duty owed to an individual is so clearly prescribed that there is no doubt as to the validity of the claim;
  3. There is no other adequate remedy available.

The most common use of Mandamus petitions filed against the USCIS is to compel the adjudication of petitions. Mandamus actions also may be brought against Consular Officers who fail to make a decision on a visa application. While the Court in the Mandamus action will not consider the rightness or the wrongness of a decision, the Court does have the power to have the Immigration Service or a Consulate make a prompt decision.

Mandamus actions have often been used in other contexts. For example, this remedy might be used to compel deportation proceedings wherein a detainee who is incarcerated could argue that he is being detained indefinitely and wants the Court to insist on a prompt hearing.
Or a U.S. citizen mistakenly deported could seek prompt review by a Federal Court of his entitlement to citizenship.

The plaintiff must show in these proceedings that he/she has exhausted all remedies before bringing this action. For example, when a proceeding for asylum is still before the District Director, a Mandamus petition would not lie as all remedies have not been exhausted. Also the Courts would deny relief in a lottery case because the Court does not have authority to award a diversity visa beyond a fiscal year. The Court here would deny Mandamus because by the statute no relief could be granted beyond the fiscal year.

If you need help or advise, call us at 212-944-9420.

Our assistance is only a phone call, or e-mail communication away!


New York Immigration Lawyers > Immigration Publications > January 2008
Publications

Featured

GREEN CARD PARDONS FOR UNDOCUMENTED WHO ARE SPOUSES OR CHILDREN OF CITIZENS

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January 2012

EB-5 VISA FOR INVESTORS WHO FORM A NEW ENTERPRISE

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FINALLY - RELIEF FOR MANY UNDOCUMENTED!

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December 2011

J EXCHANGE VISAS

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SKILLED IMMIGRANT VISAS FROM CHINA & INDIA SHOULD DOUBLE IN NUMBERS WITH NEW LAW

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DEPORTATIONS REVIEWED, PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION

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SELF- PETITIONS - PROVISIONAL RESIDENTS SEPARATED OR DIVORCED FROM U. S. SPOUSES

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November 2011

U VISAS: VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING AND VIOLENCE

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September 2011

BPARTNERS AND INELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS: B-2 STATUS & EXTENSIONS

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BUSINESS VISAS FOR START UP COMPANIES

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TRAINING VISAS (H-3)

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August 2011

ENTREPRENEURS - SELF PETITIONS

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WAIVERS

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July 2011

REMOVAL, PHYSICAL

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PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION: FOCUSING ON ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES

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INVESTORS : IMMIGRANT VISAS: EB-5

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INVESTOR VISAS E-2

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June 2011

NATURALIZATION, WHY & HOW

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CHILD CITIZENSHIP ACT

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ADVANCE PAROLE

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May 2011

O VISAS FOR EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY IN BUSINESS, SCIENCE, ARTS OR ATHLETICS

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SAME SEX MARRIAGE, REPRIEVE OF DEPORTATION

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K-1 FINANCE VISA AND DIVORCE

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April 2011

H-1B PETITIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012

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GUILTY PLEAS TO CRIMES – IMMIGRATION IMPACT

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VAWA- VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT

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DETENTION OF IMMIGRANTS

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March 2011

REMOVAL REMEDIES

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U VISA

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February 2011

Asylum Application filed late: What are your options?

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January 2011

CONSULAR VISA PROCESSING

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PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION

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VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE - WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ALIEN FAILS TO LEAVE?

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December 2010

DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE AND STOPPED BY POLICE

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H-1B VISA AVAILABILITY SOON TO CLOSE

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APPEALS TO THE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION

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November 2010

J-1 WAIVER OF THE TWO YEAR FOREIGN RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT FOR EXCHANGE VISITORS

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CO-SPONSORSHIP, AFFIDAVITS OF SUPPORT

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WORK AUTHORIZATION

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DERIVATIVE CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN BORN ABROAD

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October 2010

CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS

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T and U VISAS, REVISIONS TO THESE PROGRAMS

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APPEALS OR MOTIONS TO REOPEN AND RECONSIDER IN ASYLUM CASES AND JUDICIAL REVIEW

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DEPORTATIONS: SHIFT IN U.S. POLICY

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September 2010

RELIGIOUS IMMIGRANT WORKERS

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INTRA-COMPANY TRANSFEREE (L-1)

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PARDON REVIEW PANEL

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August 2010

TEMPORARY VISITORS (B-1 BUSINESS, B-2 PLEASURE) AND EXTENSIONS OF STAY

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BATTERED SPOUSES, PARENTS AND CHILDREN

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FIANCE(E) OF U.S. CITIZEN (K-1)

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July 2010

GREEN CARDS, NEW, SECURE AND PRIVATE, VALID FOR TEN YEARS

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DEPORTATION ORDERS MAY BE REOPENED

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June 2010

NATURALIZATION

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May 2010

Help for Immigration cases in Arizona

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April 2010

H-1B WORK VISAS

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March 2010

U.S. CITIZENSHIP FOR FOREIGN BORN & ADOPTED CHILDREN

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February 2010

TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS (TPS)

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ASYLUM

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January 2010

EXTENSION OF STAY AND CHANGE OF STATUS

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December 2009

GREEN CARDS

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November 2009

H-1B, SPECIALTY OCCUPATION

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October 2009

ASYLUM WAIVER APPLICATION

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September 2009

TPS DENIALS MAY NOW BE APPEALED TO AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE

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August 2009

INTRA-COMPANY TRANSFEREES (L-1)

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ASYLUM FOR BATTERED WOMEN

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July 2009

DEATH OF A U.S. PETITIONER:

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June 2009

ARRESTS OF UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS

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May 2009

CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL AND ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS

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April 2009

VISITORS AND BUSINESS VISAS

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March 2009

RAIDS AND ROUNDUPS, IMMIGRATION

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February 2009

SPECIALTY OCCUPATION H-1

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January 2009

DEPORTATION ORDERS REOPENED

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December 2008

DIVORCE DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY INVALIDATE

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November 2008

WHAT WE MAY EXPECT FROM PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA’S FIRST TERM

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CANADA OR MEXICO THREE YEAR PROFESSIONAL WORK VISAS

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October 2008

NEW BUSINESS START UP: L OR E VISAS

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September 2008

EXTENSIONS OF TEMPORARY STATUS

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August 2008

CHILDREN OF U.S. CITIZENS

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July 2008

MOTIONS TO REOPEN BASED ON CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND NEW EVIDENCE

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June 2008

CHILD STATUS PROTECTION ACT, RECENT REVISIONS

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SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE FOR INTRA-COMPANY TRANSFEREES

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May 2008

EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY

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LABOR CASES - HIGHER EDUCATION

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April 2008

PAROLED ALIENS, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR GREEN CARD

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March 2008

IMMIGRANT, PUBLIC BENEFITS

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February 2008

IMMIGRATION INJUSTICE CORRECTION

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January 2008

FAST ACTION FOR IMMIGRATION DELAYS

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December 2007

BATTERED SPOUSE OR CHILD

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REVIEW OF GREEN CARD DENIAL

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November 2007

DIVERSITY VISA PROGRAM, 2009 LOTTERY

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September 2007

DETENTION AND REMOVAL, HELP AVAILABLE

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August 2007

A WAY TO OBTAIN RESIDENCE

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July 2007

EMPLOYMENT VISAS

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June 2007

IMMIGRATION REFORM

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