The Biggest Immigration Planning Last-Minute Mistake

“We need to be in the United States in two weeks.”

I hear this more than you’d think. And almost every time, it’s too late.

This is the immigration planning last-minute mistake I see over and over again. Immigration doesn’t work on short timelines.

Consulate appointments can take weeks to schedule. Document preparation takes time (sometimes weeks or months to collect everything from the client). There are multiple steps and agencies involved. And right now, everything is under heightened scrutiny — right down to social media accounts.

I’m seeing it everywhere — at seminars, in conversations with other attorneys. Things are more chaotic and slower than they used to be.

You can’t rush a government agency.

You can’t control consulate wait times. And if something comes back with questions, you need buffer time to respond.

My advice: if you know you need to be somewhere by a certain date, work backwards from your target date.

Talk to an attorney early. Get the document list. Understand the timeline. Build in extra time for the unexpected.

The clients who have the smoothest process aren’t the ones with the simplest cases. They’re the ones who started early.

Oddly enough, it’s the ones who need a visa so “urgently” that ghost us when we explain what the process is, how long it takes, and what’s involved. Was it really that urgent after all?

If you’re planning a move to the U.S. for work or business, reach out before it becomes urgent, because immigration doesn’t run on your timeline. Call (949) 940-6725, or book a consultation online to speak with one of our experienced immigration attorneys.