First I contacted Senator Dick Durbin's office last June. In July they issued an RFE. Subsequently I contacted them in the month of November, and after a month they sent me a letter that they are currently processing applications from August of 2001 same old crap. I took a aquaintance of mine who is an active Republican and approached my IL-8 Congressman Phillip Crane. Right in front of me they made an inquiry and the officer on the other side said, my file was put back on the regular pile, inspite of issuing an RFE and me replying it. The congressman is the member of ways and means committee which oversees inconsistencies in Government business. They sent a letter to the director Terry May of Lincoln Nebraska, asking for a clarification on my situation. I don't know if that letter did anything but, I got the approval after a month.
Good luck to you.