Rochelle and her husband were stuck understanding 221g administrative processing for seven long months. Everyday felt like waiting with no answers and no way forward. Their American dream, once so close, now felt out of reach.
Life got harder with a newborn to care for and family far away. The waiting was stressful. Money was tight, and they didn’t know when things would get better. But then, they made a choice—a decision that changed everything.
Instead of waiting and hoping, they took legal action. What happened next proved that staying strong and fighting for answers can make all the difference. Keep reading to see how Rochelle and her family found the secret to beating US visa delays!
From Church to a Love Story: How Rochelle Met Her Husband
Rochelle's administrative processing love story began in Oaxaca, Mexico, where she met her husband through their local church in 2019. Their relationship grew naturally from meeting at church events. The big moment came at a party when he asked her to dance.
Rochelle shared:
“And we met each other in 2019 through church. My aunt and his mom were churchgoers, and we would just go with them. So, that's pretty much how we met. And then, since we saw each other frequently at church, we saw each other at a party, and he asked me to dance.”
The Heartache of Administrative Processing: Raising a Baby Alone in Mexico
When Rochelle’s husband went in for his visa interview, they were hopeful. But then came the news no one wanted to hear—their dreams were placed on hold. Like many, they asked themselves: “Is administrative processing normal?” They had no clear answers, only an indefinite wait.
For Rochelle, the 221g administrative processing wait was not just frustrating—it was heartbreaking. She had always been close to family, but now, she was raising a baby far from home and felt completely alone. To make matters worse, they had no contact with her husband’s mother, leaving them without the support they needed.
And life in Mexico wasn’t easy. The pay was low, and the cost of raising a baby made everything even more challenging. The administrative processing visa US uncertainty weighed on them every single day.
Rochelle recalled:
“It was really tough because, well, personally for me, I didn't have my family. I'm so used to just always being with my family. And then, unfortunately, with his mom, we had no communication with him. So, we were alone trying to raise a baby.”
A Desperate Search for Help: Discovering the Power of Legal Action
While searching for administrative process visa solutions in Facebook immigration groups, Rochelle discovered our law firm. Simultaneously, her parents in the U.S. came across our YouTube channel while waiting for any administrative process case last updated changes.
Rochelle reflected:
There wasn't much we could do. We could have done. We were just waiting, and I was going into all these Facebook groups just trying to look for a way to get out. My parents over here, they were also trying to figure out what to do. I had seen your posts in the Facebook group,”
At first, they were unsure about taking legal action against the consulate. This is a common worry for many immigrants facing administrative/management process solutions. However, they felt better knowing their case was valid.
Rochelle stated:
“But we were also at ease. We're not doing anything illegal. We're not committing a fraud. So, that kind of maintained us a little.”
Victory at Last: How a Mandamus Lawsuit Brought Rochelle Home
The mandamus lawsuit proved successful, bringing an end to their administrative process for US visa nightmare. Today, Rochelle, her husband, and their baby are together in the United States. They've already gotten married and are working on the next steps of their immigration journey.
Rochelle shared excitedly:
“Our marriage certificate envelope to request it just came in the other day. So, we're going to send the money for that. And then we're trying to figure out how to do his adjustment of status.”
A New Chapter: Building Their Future Together in the U.S.
We’re so grateful to Rochelle for opening up and sharing her family’s administrative process story with us. Her strength and determination through such a tough immigration process is something we all can learn from. They didn’t give up, and because of that, they made it through the delays.
Now, they’re starting fresh together in the United States. We’re wishing Rochelle and her family all the happiness and success as they begin this exciting new chapter!
Your Immigration Dream Matters—Take Action Today!
If you find yourself trapped in administrative processing with no end in sight, know that you don't have to wait indefinitely. Our firm specializes in helping individuals and families who have been waiting a long time to get a decision on their visa applications.
Every immigration journey is unique, and we're here to help you understand the politics of the administration process. Contact us today for a consultation. We can help you see if a mandamus lawsuit can solve your immigration delays. Your immigration dream matters!
Administrative Processing Lawsuit Questions and Answers
We’ve compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions about administrative processing. Continue reading to find answers to your most important questions!
❓ What happens if we win the administrative processing lawsuit ❓
When we file a Mandamus lawsuit, we are asking the court to make the government work faster on your immigration case. We hope for the best result, but we can't promise success. We’re confident we can help you answer your questions. Contact us about the maximum time for administrative processing and if you’re eligible for a Writ of Mandamus lawsuit.
Winning can look different depending on your case. You might get your application approved, get an interview scheduled, or have your case moved out of review and looked at again. This usually happens within 2-6 months after we file the lawsuit.
An administrative processing US visa win means you get the immigration benefit you were hoping for!
❓ Why are they asking for more time on my lawsuit? Why do you agree to it ❓
The main goal of our lawsuit is to fix the delay in your case and make the government agencies take action. After we file the lawsuit, the court gives the government 60 days to respond. Often, they need legal extensions in lawsuits to give them more time to work on your immigration case.
We have to agree when they ask for more time. This isn't bad - it usually means they are working on your case. If we don't agree, they will ask the court to dismiss the lawsuit. If the judge says yes, the lawsuit ends. We would lose our chance to get your case fixed because we didn't give them enough time.
❓ Could my case be sent back for more review after filing a lawsuit ❓
The goal of our lawsuit is to challenge the administrative process delay and make officials take action on your case. We hope for a good decision, but we can't guarantee it.
If your case was at the Embassy, it might get sent back to the National Visa Center for possible cancellation. This would cause more delay. Your case will eventually go back to USCIS. They will send a notice saying they plan to cancel your approved visa application. You would then have a chance to respond.
Helping you respond to this notice isn't included in our lawsuit services. This would require extra fees. You don't have to hire us for this, and we aren't required to help. We would look at each situation separately to see if we can help and how much it would cost.
❓ When does the 60-day timeline start ❓
After we file the lawsuit, the court gives us a summons document. We send this to the government agencies. This is called "service of process" and it's how all lawsuits begin. Once all agencies receive the lawsuit, the court sets a 60-day timeline for them to respond.
We can't make this process go faster. We must follow the law when delivering these documents. If we don't, the lawsuit will be dismissed.
❓ What's the difference between the lawsuit and my immigration case timeline ❓
The court sets the timelines for lawsuits, and they are the same in all courts. This includes time for serving documents, setting deadlines, and giving the government time to respond. It’s important to know that a lawsuit and an immigration case are separate. They have different timelines.
The lawsuit is meant to help speed up your immigration case, but they follow different schedules. Sometimes, after we file the documents, we see progress in your immigration case. Other times, we reach the deadline without any movement. The government must respond to our complaint when the deadline has passed.
They might ask for more time if they think your case will be decided soon or if they need more documents from you. Every case is different, so we can’t predict exactly what will happen. The goal of the administrative processing lawsuit is to make the government work on your immigration case. This aims to ensure it happens before a judge gets involved.
❓ What is DocketBird ❓
After we file your lawsuit, you'll get emails from DocketBird. This is a system that tracks court cases. Adding your email ensures you get updates when there's activity in your lawsuit. You don't need to pay for this. You can't access the full system, but this notice service is free.
❓ How long until a judge decides on my administrative processing lawsuit ❓
When we file, the lawsuit goes to court. But most times, a judge won't decide unless the government tries to dismiss the case.
Usually, our clients win when their petition is approved or a visa is issued. This happens when agencies take action on your case because of the lawsuit. We don't usually need a judge to make a ruling. Our goal is to resolve your case before it reaches that point.
Remember that lawsuit timelines don't match immigration case timelines. The lawsuit pushes agencies to act once they know they're being sued. In most cases, we see action long before a judge’s decision.
❓ What if my medical exam expires before I get my visa ❓
Most clients get a decision 2-6 months after filing, but it can take longer. Often, the Embassy will ask for an updated medical exam before the visa is issued. Your case won't move forward unless you follow all requests from the agency. Redoing medical exams is common, especially if they've expired.
❓ If my case was refused, does that mean it was denied ❓
If your case was "refused" under section 221(g), it doesn't mean it was denied. "Refused" and "denied" are different. This happens often when cases are put in administrative processing. It usually means some information or documents are missing that the Embassy needs.
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