Get help

Free and low-cost legal help, and public ways to ask about a slow case.

Free and low-cost legal help

These are directories, in the same order for everyone. This site does not pick a lawyer for you and takes no money from any of them.

Case pending longer than the posted processing time?

These public options exist. This list is the same for everyone, always in the same order.

  1. Congressional inquiry

    Your U.S. Representative's or Senator's office can ask USCIS about a case. Free.

  2. Expedite request

    USCIS publishes the criteria it uses for expedite requests.

  3. CIS Ombudsman

    An independent DHS office that accepts requests for help with a case.

  4. Mandamus lawsuit

    A federal court case asking a judge to order USCIS to act. Filed by an attorney.