Gozel Law Firm PC files federal mandamus lawsuits nationwide to push USCIS, the State Department, and consulates to decide delayed immigration cases. Most cases resolve within 30 to 60 days of filing. The flat fee is $5,000 plus a $405 court fee, and the eligibility review is free.
A decision means your case is no longer sitting in limbo. It does not mean approval of the underlying application, and no lawyer can promise a particular outcome.
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A mandamus lawsuit is a federal court action under the Administrative Procedure Act that asks a judge to require an agency such as USCIS or the Department of State to act on an unreasonably delayed case. It does not force a particular result. It asks the agency to issue a final decision.
Mandamus is an escalation path. It fits applicants whose cases have stalled after ordinary follow-up channels have not worked. We handle the federal delay litigation alongside your existing immigration attorney, who keeps handling the underlying application. We select a favorable federal court, draft the complaint, and sue the agencies responsible for the delay.
Government delays should not decide your future. You deserve a decision.
Your application sits in a queue with no updates, while processing times keep growing.
Spouses live apart and parents miss everyday moments with their children.
Without work authorization or permanent status, you may be unable to switch jobs or accept a promotion. For H4 EAD applicants, an expired work permit can mean losing a job while the renewal waits.
Gozel Law Firm PC is a federal immigration litigation practice focused on mandamus lawsuits against USCIS, the State Department, and consulates. We have filed more than 500 federal lawsuits in 2026 in 57 federal district courts, for clients in all 50 states and abroad.
Choose a mandamus lawyer for the delay type you have. Select your case type to see what the lawsuit looks like and when it usually becomes available.
| Delay type | When a lawsuit is usually considered | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage-based green card (I-485 / I-130) | Typically after 12 months | Marriage green card delay |
| Naturalization / citizenship (N-400) | 120 days after your interview (Section 1447(b)) | Naturalization delay |
| 221(g) consular administrative processing | Typically 6 to 12 months | 221(g) administrative processing |
| Employment-based green card (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3) | Case-specific | Employment green card delay |
| Asylum | Typically 4 to 5 years of waiting | Asylum delay |
| EB-5 investor (I-526 / I-829) | About 1 year (post-2022) | EB-5 delay |
| EAD / work authorization and FOIA | Unreasonable delay, often sooner where hardship is immediate | Work permit delay |
| U-Visa BFD, VAWA, habeas corpus | 6 months to 2 years; habeas for detention | Contact us |
Urgent humanitarian or financial factors can justify earlier action. The free evaluation looks at your specific timeline.
We sue to end unreasonable delays in work permit (I-765) cases. Where hardship is immediate, such as an expired work permit, we have seen agency action within 2 to 3 weeks of service. A lawsuit asks for a decision on the application. It does not promise approval.
Work permit delayWe file federal delay lawsuits to move long-pending asylum cases toward an interview and decision. Asylum waits of 4 to 5 years are common in the backlog, and a mandamus case argues that the delay is unreasonable under the TRAC factors. Outcomes depend on the facts of each case.
Asylum delayUnder Section 1447(b), you can ask a federal court to decide your naturalization case if 120 days have passed since your interview. We file these lawsuits for applicants nationwide.
Naturalization delayFor I-485 or I-130 petitions pending more than about 12 months, we sue to require USCIS to schedule the interview and issue a decision. Your immigration attorney keeps handling the application itself.
Marriage green card delayIf your visa has been in administrative processing at a U.S. Embassy for 6 to 12 months or longer, a federal lawsuit can ask the court to require the State Department to complete its action. We represent applicants at consulates worldwide.
221(g) administrative processingOur fee is a flat $5,000 for a typical mandamus case, agreed in writing before we begin, plus the $405 federal court filing fee. There is no hourly billing. The eligibility review is free.
| Cost item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gozel Law Firm PC fee | $5,000 flat for a typical case | Agreed in writing before work begins. Unusually complex matters can fall outside this range, and we say so at the outset. |
| Federal court filing fee | $405 | Same nationwide. |
| Eligibility review | Free | No obligation. |
| Response to a government motion to dismiss | Not included in the flat fee | Discussed up front if it arises. |
Flexible fee arrangements may be available depending on your circumstances. Ask about them during your free eligibility review.
A flat fee lets you compare the full price of a federal lawsuit before you start. The cost is weighed against what the delay is costing you, such as lost work, separated family, or an expiring status. We say plainly when a case is a poor fit.
Options include following up with USCIS through its official channels, using free or low-cost legal aid in your area, or filing without a lawyer. Filing yourself (pro se) is allowed but strongly discouraged because federal procedure, venue choice, and the TRAC standard are easy to get wrong, and a mistake can lead to dismissal with prejudice. A flat-fee attorney is another way to keep cost predictable.
First check your case status and processing times, then submit an outside-normal-processing-time inquiry with USCIS (or the equivalent inquiry for a consular case), and ask your congressional office or the USCIS Ombudsman for help where it fits. If these steps do not move your case, mandamus is the next escalation.
We assess whether your delay meets the requirements for a federal mandamus lawsuit.
We select the most favorable federal court, draft a formal complaint, and sue the government agencies responsible for the delay.
The government has 60 days to respond to the summons. In most cases agencies issue a decision rather than defend the delay in court.
USCIS or the Consulate issues a final decision, ending months or years of uncertainty.
Most cases resolve within 30 to 60 days of filing. In our 2026 cases, the median has been about 30 days from filing to a USCIS decision. The government has 60 days to respond to the summons. Speed here means getting a decision, not approval.
Where hardship is immediate, such as an expired work permit, we have seen action within 2 to 3 weeks of service.
Gozel Law Firm PC holds a 5.0 Google rating across 495+ verified reviews, from clients whose cases ended in a decision after a mandamus filing. Read the reviews and compare for yourself before you choose any firm.
“I would like to sincerely thank Gozel Law Office for the support during my green card mandamus process. After the mandamus case, the painful wait times ended with good news.”
“Arif Gozel and their team are absolute lifesavers! They helped me navigate a complex immigration case with ease and professionalism.”
“My green card was approved much earlier than I expected. They are very supportive in helping to prepare comprehensive documents.”
Reviews describe individual experiences. Results differ from case to case.
The eligibility review is free, confidential, and carries no obligation. Send your delay details through the form, call (862) 799-2200, or message us on WhatsApp. We respond within 24 hours.
Check Your Eligibility, FreeYes. We represent clients in all 50 states and at U.S. Embassies worldwide. Federal mandamus cases can be filed in the court that fits your case, so you do not need to live near our offices. We work with clients in English, Spanish and Turkish.
Our attorney, Arif Gozel, is admitted to the New York Bar (2019) and the New Jersey Bar (2023). Our cases have been filed in 57 federal district courts.
We file mandamus lawsuits in federal district courts in all 50 states.
Attorney Gozel maintains an active social media presence to provide the immigrant community in the U.S. with the most accurate legal insights and updates on federal immigration policies.
Arif Gozel focuses his federal practice on ending immigration delays. His mandamus work covers marriage-based green cards, naturalization, EB-5 investor petitions, and 221(g) administrative processing.
His federal litigation has addressed USCIS backlogs, FBI background check stalls, worldwide consular delays, and SEVIS cancellations affecting F-1 students. He selects the federal court for each case with precedent, docket speed, and case-type history in mind.
It is a federal court action under the Administrative Procedure Act that asks a court to require an agency like USCIS or the Department of State to act on an unreasonably delayed case. It does not force a specific outcome. It requires a final decision instead of leaving your file in limbo.
No. Filing is a legal right. USCIS adjudicators decide cases based on the law and facts. In our experience with more than 500 federal lawsuits in 2026, filing has not triggered retaliation, and it moves your file to a decision.
The government has 60 days to respond to the summons, and most cases resolve within 30 to 60 days of filing. Some move faster where hardship is immediate, such as an expired work permit, with action seen within 2 to 3 weeks of service.
The federal court filing fee is $405. Our fee is a flat $5,000 for a typical mandamus case, agreed in writing before we begin, with no hourly billing and no hidden charges. A response to a government motion to dismiss is not included. The eligibility review is free.
Naturalization: 120 days after interview. Marriage green cards: typically 12 months. 221(g) consular: 6 to 12 months. Asylum: 4 to 5 years. EB-5: 1 year (post-2022). Urgent humanitarian or financial factors can justify earlier action.
No. We represent clients in all 50 states and at U.S. Embassies worldwide, in English, Spanish and Turkish.
Technically yes, but it is strongly discouraged. Strict federal procedural rules, venue strategy, and the TRAC factors make mistakes easy, and a single mistake can lead to dismissal with prejudice.
No. We handle the federal delay litigation alongside your existing immigration attorney, who keeps handling the underlying application.
Find out if your case qualifies for a federal mandamus lawsuit, free and with no commitment.
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