COVID-19 and Immigration Court Schedules
Applicants for change of status and other immigration proceedings routinely face road blocks during the process. You can have forms returned because of missed details. You can be forced to start the process over again because of poor timing and visa restrictions. But nothing can compare to the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on every aspect of our government’s functioning. For many, mandatory confinement and social distancing have made great swaths of our government grind to a halt. Immigration is no exception.
But while our immigration courts are currently not in session, this may have little effect on how efficiently applicants can move some of the crucial work forward with their attorneys. Much of the preliminary work is done outside the courts. Indeed, some of the most complex problem solving is done outside of the courts. Things like research, documentation, records retrieval and more. Filling out paperwork and other processes typically take nine months or more to complete and these processes are independent of COVID-19.
Now is the time to take advantage of extra time you may have and work with your attorneys to move your application process forward. People are realizing that much of the work we do can be done without face-to-face contact. Don’t let this gifted time go by without getting everything possible done.
