A method and system for adjusting the uplink transmission time when an initial transmission is sent to a destination cell / Node B of a universal evolved terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) immediately after a transfer from a cell / Node B source of the E-UTRAN. In one embodiment, a user equipment (UE) automatically calculates and applies a time advance value (TA) based on the current source cell time / Node B value, the cell signaling channel reference signal measurements / Node B and the knowledge of the relative time difference, (if any), between the cells / Nodes B source and destination. In another embodiment, the UE sends a message of programming request or actual data packets together with the calculated TA value applied to the uplink transmission time to the E-UTRAN through uplink radio resources based on the non-containment preassigned In an alternative embodiment, the UE sends a scheduling request message with the new calculated TA value applied to the UL transmission time to an E-UTRAN through a synchronous random access channel (RACH).