A method implemented in a mobile device includes identifying a target wireless network for a handover, where the target wireless network uses a different access technology than an existing wireless network being used by the mobile device. The mobile device determines that a signal for the existing wireless network meets an early registration trigger threshold and initiates, based on the determining, an early registration of the mobile device with the target wireless network, where an early registration is performed at a sufficient time prior to the actual handover to preclude a registration delay associated with the handover to the different access technology.