Family-Based Immigrant Visa Reactivated After Seven Years

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Our client came to Merit Law LLP after nearly seven years of uncertainty and separation from his family in the United States. Although he had been approved for a family-based immigrant visa in 2018, an international travel ban prevented him from entering the U.S. within the required six-month window. As a result, his immigrant visa expired before he could reunite with his loved ones.

By 2025, when the travel restrictions were finally lifted, the client urgently needed a precise, error-free strategy to revive his long-expired visa. Any misstep could have delayed his case even further. Merit Law LLP took over representation and immediately began the complex reinstatement process.

Our team initiated a coordinated, multi-agency approach essential for reactivating an expired immigrant visa. We promptly contacted the U.S. Consulate, USCIS, and the National Visa Center (NVC) to formally request reinstatement.

Because several years had passed, all required forms, civil documents, and supporting evidence had to be fully updated to comply with current consular standards. Our attorneys ensured every detail was accurate, consistent, and properly aligned with modern processing requirements—an essential component in avoiding administrative delays.

During this period, the consulate transitioned to a new appointment scheduling platform, which introduced additional procedural steps and extended the expected timeline. Despite this change, our firm secured a new consular interview and moved the case forward within approximately four months.

Throughout the process, Merit Law LLP:

• Maintained continuous communication with all relevant agencies,
• Monitored every stage of the case in real time,
• Responded promptly to consular updates or procedural changes, and
• Prepared a fully updated, organized, and strategically assembled interview packet.

The client attended the rescheduled interview with complete confidence—and the immigrant visa was successfully reissued.

Thanks to meticulous case management, consistent inter-agency coordination, and a highly structured reactivation strategy, our client’s long-expired immigrant visa was fully reinstated. He entered the United States shortly thereafter and obtained lawful permanent resident status, finally reuniting with his family after seven years.

Cases involving expired immigrant visas, long delays, consular complications, or procedural disruptions require precise legal strategy and experienced counsel. Merit Law LLP’s immigration team is highly skilled in navigating complex visa reinstatements, consular processing challenges, and multi-agency coordination.

If you or someone you know is facing a similar situation, our firm is prepared to provide the guidance, advocacy, and detailed case management necessary to bring families together and move cases forward—no matter how long the delay.