Methods, systems, and devices are described for transmitting scheduling requests for uplink transmission resources following a handover. A user equipment (UE) may determine that a handover from a first base station to a second base station has occurred, and may implement one or more processes to enhance efficiency in communications following the handover. A UE, for example, may wait for successful acquisition and/or derivation of timing information from a base station before attempting to schedule uplink resources with the base station.