Hi Still,
Thanks once again for keeping the tracker up to date.
Looks like you're in the same boat as I am. I've been pretty proactive about this recently, and I was going to give an update on the board, so this is a good segue into it. But, here are a few things you should be aware of:
1. The 800 number customer folks have no access to any more information than what you can see by logging into CRIS and seeing your portfolio.
2. They are unaware of the FBI name check status and cannot look this up to the best of my knowledge.
3. Using the POJ and speaking with a Service Center officer is your best bet, but know that its the luck of the draw. The Service Center officers are under explicit instructions to not reveal case status information, since this is counterproductive to their workloads. So if you get an officer who is stringent about adhering to the guidelines, you won't get very far as far as having them even disseminating FBI name check information to you.
4. The only ways to get FBI name check status information is to make an Infopass appointment at your local Application Support Center and speaking with an Immigration Officer, or, contacting your elected representative and asking their offices to find out for you.
5. The FBI Name Check cannot be expedited. The USCIS just today published guidelines on what conditions they would request expedited name checks from the FBI. Legal recourses such as a WOM have now ceased to become the panacea for name checks, since USCIS is stating that a lawsuit would not have them ask the FBI for expeditious processing. This doesnt mean that you cannot sue, just that CIS wont automatically buckle under the suit threat and ask FBI to hurry up with your case. Consequently it would become more expensive and lengthy to follow legal action since you may end up going to trial and then the decision would be up to the judge.
6. When and if you go for an Infopass, make sure to find out about your spouse's name check status as well. For instance, my wife's name check is cleared, and I am still pending, so thats the glass being half full.
7. More importantly, I suggest NOT discussing CC with the 800 personnel nor the Service Center officers, nor at the Infopass. Folks just dont know about CC since the INA is vast and extensive, and its best not to confound them...I learned this the hard way, when at my Infopass appt, I had to explain what CC is to the Immigration Officer. He was skeptical but when I pointed to the INA books right behind him, stating the sections and articles, he was amused and relented.
Now that all that is said, here's where I'm at.
a. I contacted my local congresswoman recently. I knew folks in her campaign, but I did send a letter to her directly without trying to network myself through.
b. I got a call from her director of constituent services this morning. They had already contacted Vermont on my behalf.
c. VSC just confirmed what I already knew, I'm stuck in name check, wife is cleared, cannot adjudicate until I am done since I am the primary applicant.
d. VSC told the congressional offices that they cannot request for expediting the FBI name check unless I am deemed to be of national interest.
e. The congresswoman's director who called me asked me to find out if I can get a letter from the Pentagon for the DoD side work that I do. I don't think I can, but I'm going to ask anyway.
f. Failing all, the director said that she would be calling VSC again on April 10th 2007 unless we get approved before then. She's already put a reminder for herself on her calendar and said she'd send me an email and call me that week to touch base.
g. Realize that this is a fresh congressperson whos just been elected...shes been very active in the community and is a wonderful person...so her staff is enthusiastic to help....your personal experiences may be different.
h. I also contacted my Senator's office. I've been speaking to his liaison on and off since before Christmas. She's very helpful as well, but she's been doing this for a while and told me right off the bat that my name check is pending and she cannot request an expedite..but she did add that I should wait till April and then send a letter to the Senator requesting his personal attention. We shall see.
i. In the meantime, VSC jumped to middle of May 2006 for 'now processing' 485 cases. This is actually a month and a half over my receipt date, so yes, I'm outside their normal processing time as well.
j. The inquiry you initiate via the 800 number shall only beget you a letter in the mail from your NSC deputy director stating that your case has been delayed due to pending security checks. The letter will explain how vital these checks are to the nation and shall ask you to contact them after six months if you don't hear any updates on your case.
I know because my inquiry in December got me one of these letters dated Jan 30 2007. A quick search on the portal shall reveal that several dozen folks got the same letter. Aah...that personal touch. Mass mailing.
On the upside, I recvd the renewed EAD card in the mail today, wife's should be here tomorrow. Also got the renewed AP for myself. Wife's got approved today. So my wife and I are good to go for EAD and AP until May of 2008. God, I hope the 485s get approved well before we need to apply for EAD and AP for the third time.
Hope this answers your questions. let me know if you have any more questions on a particular topic. Sorry if I sound like I'm pontificating, but I've spent a good deal of time and energy doing research, so if it helps others, its time well spent.
