I would like to share my experience with those who have their case waiting for long time.
My I-485 was file November 2001. Got RFE in May 2003. Re-fingerprinting in October 2003. Asked congressman for help in March 2004 was told that my case was pending FBI name checking and I should get response in 45-60 days. After waiting two months with nothing I called congressman again. And this time, I was told that the case was still pending name checking. I called USCIS and got a responds with the same thing. I faxed FOIPA request to FBI and got "no record". I called FBI, faxed FBI and emailed FBI for name check inquery and got no response. Congressman wouldn't help on FBI name checking(mentioned the passed experience was not effective). Even through I didn't know how long was my name check pending(at least five monthes), I wrote an expedite request to William Hooton in early November. After 10 days I got an email response mentioned my name check was finished three days before and my wife's was finished in April 2003, which means that my name check was pending for more than one and a half years. After about two weeks I faxed an expedite request to USCIS and about 10 days later I faxed the request again. After 5 days of the second fax, I received the approval letters. My congressman wasn't willing to send expedite request to USCIS, but kept sending status check letters once every two months. The latest response to Congressman was my case has passed fingerprint checking and was in the queue for interview in the next 90 to 120 days.
It seems a lot of the long pending cases are caused by the FBI name checking. Also, it seems FBI won't respond fax or emai inquery if the case is pending for long time. Write to William Hooton should be the effective way, I have seen several cases worked in these forum. Once the name check is done, you can chase the USCIS. I am not sure if my expedite request or the congressman status check letters worked or it's just finally my time, I got the approval one month after the name check done.
My suggestion is don't be too panic but try to do whatever you can do. The system doesn't work so well but you still can push to let it run.
Best wishes to you all and have great holidays.
My I-485 was file November 2001. Got RFE in May 2003. Re-fingerprinting in October 2003. Asked congressman for help in March 2004 was told that my case was pending FBI name checking and I should get response in 45-60 days. After waiting two months with nothing I called congressman again. And this time, I was told that the case was still pending name checking. I called USCIS and got a responds with the same thing. I faxed FOIPA request to FBI and got "no record". I called FBI, faxed FBI and emailed FBI for name check inquery and got no response. Congressman wouldn't help on FBI name checking(mentioned the passed experience was not effective). Even through I didn't know how long was my name check pending(at least five monthes), I wrote an expedite request to William Hooton in early November. After 10 days I got an email response mentioned my name check was finished three days before and my wife's was finished in April 2003, which means that my name check was pending for more than one and a half years. After about two weeks I faxed an expedite request to USCIS and about 10 days later I faxed the request again. After 5 days of the second fax, I received the approval letters. My congressman wasn't willing to send expedite request to USCIS, but kept sending status check letters once every two months. The latest response to Congressman was my case has passed fingerprint checking and was in the queue for interview in the next 90 to 120 days.
It seems a lot of the long pending cases are caused by the FBI name checking. Also, it seems FBI won't respond fax or emai inquery if the case is pending for long time. Write to William Hooton should be the effective way, I have seen several cases worked in these forum. Once the name check is done, you can chase the USCIS. I am not sure if my expedite request or the congressman status check letters worked or it's just finally my time, I got the approval one month after the name check done.
My suggestion is don't be too panic but try to do whatever you can do. The system doesn't work so well but you still can push to let it run.
Best wishes to you all and have great holidays.