If you have been waiting to hear about your application for a visa, green card, or citizenship and the immigration services have yet to make a decision on your case, there is still hope. Even if it appears unlikely that they will make a decision soon enough on your case, there are steps you can take in order to gain some insight into its progress. Here is what to do if the immigration services do not make a decision in your favor:
Reach out to the immigration services
You should utilize the contact information for the immigration consultants in Vancouver, BC office where your case is pending. Every immigration office has a different procedure for responding to inquiries about case status, so begin by calling or writing to your local office and asking what steps they can take in order to assist with finding out about the progress of your case.
Make a request for records
If you have not already, submit a written request for case records. Be sure to include your full name, date of birth, last place of residence, current address and any information that could help identify you. Likewise, contact the USCIS Contact Center with this same information and ask them for the records related specifically to your case rather than general immigration issues or policy queries.
Follow up with the request for case records
Once you make a request for case records, it is imperative that you follow up. In some cases, additional requests may be necessary if not enough information was provided to identify your case. Likewise, if your local immigration office cannot locate it either, they may ask for more info or direct you directly to USCIS Contact Center. It is your responsibility to take these steps since local immigration services offices cannot obtain records on their own.
Seek assistance from the USCIS Ombudsman
Based on how long it’s been since you filed your application and how responsive the local immigration office has been in answering questions about its status, you may want to seek assistance from the USCIS Ombudsman. This independent official was appointed by Congress as a liaison between those seeking immigration benefits and those providing these services.
