Delay in F1 Reinstatement

[P_D]

I am a graduate student on F1 Visa in Chicago. My I-20 expired in December and I fell out of status because I had not requested an extension in program end date. I applied for F1 reinstatement in January which was received by the California USCIS center on Jan 18, 2011. I received a receipt notice shortly but did not hear from them after that. I contacted them on April 18 and they created a service request because it had been more than 2.5 months which is the processing time for the California Center. I still haven't received any other information from them. I am all set to graduate on May 14, 2011. I have the following question regarding my status:

1. If USCIS is processing my application and see that I will be graduating in a week's time, is it possible that they decline my reinstatement?
2. Should I delay my graduation if I do not receive any reply in the next two or three days?
3. My reinstatement paperwork indicated that I wanted to be reinstated until May 14, 2011, which is my graduation date. Even if I get reinstated, can I delay my graduation past May 14, 2011?

I would appreciate any clarifications of these questions. If someone reading this has been in a similar situation, your input will be deeply appreciated.

Thank you very much.

 

[angela20]

Much more common than a visa denial is a visa delay. This is why it is so important to apply for your visa EARLY! Here are some of the most common reasons for visa delays:

Closings or reduced hours at U.S. visa issuing posts abroad due to security concerns (for example, the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Jakarta, Indonesia were closed due to credible terrorist threats).
Closings or reduced hours at U.S. visa issuing posts abroad due to political instability in the host country.
The need for a security clearance prior to visa issuance if the visa applicant is male, between the age of 16-46 and a citizen of or born in one of the "special registration" countries (Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen).
The need for a security clearance for any non-immigrant visa applicant male or female, age 16 or older who is a national of or permanently residing in Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan or Syria. These individuals will not be issued visas unless the applicant can show evidence that he or she is not a threat to U.S. national security.
The new U.S. Department of State requirement that all applicants for non-immigrant visas be interviewed. This new policy is less of a problem for visa posts in Asia and Africa that have generally interviewed all visa applicants, but could be a very big problem for U.S. visa posts in Europe and South America, which have traditionally not interviewed all visa applicants.