A Writ of Mandamus is a federal lawsuit that asks a court to require a government agency to make a decision on a case that has been unreasonably delayed. Similarly, a request for Declaratory Relief asks a federal court to determine whether the government has failed to carry out its legal obligations.
Importantly, these lawsuits do not ask the court to approve an application or grant an immigration benefit. Instead, they ask the court to require the government to do its job and make a decision.
Mandamus litigation may be appropriate in a variety of situations, including delayed DACA renewals, naturalization applications, adjustment of status cases, immigrant visa processing delays, I-130 petitions, employment authorization applications, and other immigration benefits that remain pending far beyond normal processing times.
In many cases, simply filing a lawsuit prompts the government to finally review and adjudicate a long-pending case. While no attorney can guarantee a specific outcome, federal litigation is often one of the most effective tools available when a case has been stuck for months or years without meaningful progress.
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