How long it will take you to get a humanitarian visa may depend on your case’s complexity, your location, the workload of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and other factors. While processing times vary based on the situation, many applicants find that it takes several months or even over a year to receive a decision on a humanitarian visa request
A humanitarian visa lawyer can provide you with information about the timeline for your application relative to the specifics of your case. Based on your situation, your attorney may help you submit your application materials to USCIS and track the status of your request.
If, for any reason, your humanitarian visa request is denied, your attorney can get to the root of the issue. From here, your lawyer may help you reapply or file a motion to reopen or reconsider your case.
A Look at the Timeline for Getting a Humanitarian Visa
It’s common to think about how long it will take you to get a humanitarian visa before you start the application process.
Below are details about key milestones in the timeline for humanitarian visa requests:
- Initial processing: File Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, to USCIS to request humanitarian parole. Some applications may be processed within 60 to 120 days, but backlogs mean the process will likely take longer.
- Emergency expedite: In rare, well-documented emergency situations, USCIS could make a decision on a humanitarian visa request in days or weeks. To qualify for an emergency expedite, you will have to provide USCIS with proof of a pressing or critical circumstance, such as doctor’s notes detailing a life-threatening medical diagnosis, official reports, or other credible evidence.
- Parole duration: If USCIS approves your request, you may be granted humanitarian parole that remains valid for a limited period, depending on the circumstances.
If you’re worried about how long it could take to get a humanitarian visa, remember, you have access to legal guidance and support. Have an immigration lawyer with humanitarian visa case experience help you with your application.
Your attorney can address any concerns or questions that you have as you move forward with your humanitarian visa request.
Factors That Can Determine How Long It Will Take to Get a Humanitarian Visa
Immigration attorneys can share essential information about humanitarian visa options.
They can also discuss the many factors that may dictate how long it will take for you to get a humanitarian visa, including:
- Urgency of your situation: If there’s an immediate threat to your life, USCIS may review the request on an expedited basis and, in rare cases, issue a decision within days or weeks.
- Completeness of your application: If you don’t complete your Form I-131 fully or provide USCIS with supporting documents, your humanitarian visa request could be delayed or denied.
- Availability of financial support: USCIS often requires evidence of financial sponsorship, such as Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, to show that you won’t be a public charge. Failure to submit this evidence could slow down the processing of your visa application or lead to a denial.
- Case complexity: Cases that require background checks, a review of an applicant’s criminal history, or an investigation into potential fraud tend to take longer than other cases.
- USCIS workload and staffing: The volume of petitions, USCIS’s staffing levels, and workload allocation can impact your visa application’s processing time.
Immigration lawyers often view humanitarian visas as solutions for difficult immigration cases. Your attorney can learn about you and why you want a humanitarian visa. From here, they can help you prepare and submit a complete, well-supported application as efficiently as possible.
Tips to Help You Speed Up the Process for Getting a Humanitarian Visa
Hiring an immigration attorney can be a great starting point to getting your humanitarian visa request processed.
Your humanitarian visa attorney may provide various tips to help you as you file your application, such as:
- Provide medical records, death certificates, and other evidence to support your visa request
- Make sure that all of your application forms are completed and signed, and pay any required fees
- Respond to a Request for Evidence (RFE) immediately and provide USCIS with all requested documentation
USCIS may consider expedited processing for those facing urgent humanitarian situations or other qualifying factors. Humanitarian visa lawyers can help you determine if you may be eligible for expedited processing.
Don’t Wait to Ask for Help With Getting a Humanitarian Visa
You may be unsure of how long it may take you to get a humanitarian visa. At this point, seek legal help. Humanitarian visa attorneys can review your case and, if warranted, guide you through the process of applying for humanitarian parole.
For the team at Mendoza Law, the fight continues. We have more than 100 years of combined experience and have served over 100,000 clients. Give us the opportunity to help you with your humanitarian visa request.
Our immigration lawyers can provide you with information about how long it could take for you to receive a humanitarian visa and other topics relating to your case. Contact us today.
