Some people take the immigration process one step at a time, fixing the required documents as they are requested and addressing any problems as they face them. While this does make the process more manageable, it also delays it and risks issues along the way.
Instead of navigating the immigration process in this manner, it’s a good idea to curate a complete and comprehensive immigration strategy at the beginning of the case. Planning ahead goes a long way in speeding up an immigration petition and guaranteeing a favorable outcome.
What a Complete and Comprehensive Immigration Strategy Should Consider
In a nutshell, an immigration strategy should consider three important things: what the applicant is qualified for, preparing the required documents early on, and being ready for potential issues that may come up along the way.
1. What the Applicant is Qualified For
The first agenda is to determine the applicant’s best options, i.e. finding what immigration petitions they are eligible to pursue. This should be followed by a concrete plan on how to go about the process.
For example, a U.S. citizen wants to sponsor their parents to live in the U.S. The first step, of course, would be to file an I-130 petition for each parent. While that happens, a plan must also be in place to address the requirements, like proving the sponsor’s relationship with their parents, etc.
2. Preparing the Required Documents
An immigration case is going to involve a lot of paperwork. Some of these the applicant will have to obtain from other agencies in the U.S. or in their home countries. And like any government process, we know that these things take time.
It’s important that documents are prepared beforehand. Anything required as well as those that the immigration authorities may potentially ask for in the future should be ready. So when the time comes that they are needed, the only thing left to do is to send them to immigration.
3. Planning for Potential Issues
The immigration process is often not smooth-sailing. Things can go wrong and issues may arise down the road. For example, the petitioner might have trouble securing a birth certificate to prove their relationship with their parents. And in this case, time is needed to find a way to get a birth certificate or think of other alternatives that will satisfy immigration’s requirements.
Experienced and qualified immigration lawyers will know the ups and downs involved in an immigration case. And they can create a comprehensive strategy that plans for issues that might come up during the process.
Plan Ahead for an Immigration Case
Planning ahead helps ensure that an immigration case flows smoothly and that there are no surprises that can harm or delay the process. With a concrete plan in place, immigration cases can be more manageable and the desired results can be reached faster and more effectively.