Philadelphia, PA immigration attorney Alex G. Isbell explains what happens if your immigration case is denied. He mentions that as soon as someone receives notification that their immigration case has been denied, the first step should be scheduling a consultation with a qualified immigration attorney right away. Most denials come with very short windows to act—typically 30 days, plus an additional three if the decision is received by mail. He emphasizes that meeting with an immigration attorney is crucial to determine whether the denial is appealable, whether the individual has the right to file an appeal or only a motion, and which agency will handle the appeal. Depending on the case, that could be the Board of Immigration Appeals, USCIS’s Administrative Appeals Office, or, in certain circumstances, even a U.S. federal district court or a U.S. circuit court of appeals. Because of the limited time to respond, he stresses that anyone facing a denial owes it to themselves, their family, and in some cases their employer, to consult an immigration attorney as quickly as possible to decide on the next steps.