A method and system for adjusting uplink transmission timing when sending an initial transmission to a target cell/Node-B of an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) immediately after handover from a source cell/Node-B of the E-UTRAN. In one embodiment, a user equipment (UE) autonomously computes and applies a timing advance (TA) value based on the current source cell/Node-B timing value, cell/Node-B beacon channel reference signal measurements and knowledge of the relative time difference, (if any), between the source and target cells/Node-Bs. In another embodiment, the UE sends a scheduling request message or real data packets with the computed TA value applied to the uplink transmission timing to the E-UTRAN via pre-allocated non-contention based uplink radio resources. In an alternate embodiment, the UE sends a scheduling request message with the new computed TA value applied to the UL transmission timing to an E-UTRAN via a synchronous random access channel (RACH).