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DV 2020 AOS Only

kratos said:
@Sm1smom how long does the background check take once biometrics are taken? What are the best case and worst case estimations based on your experience?
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It depends on each person and whatever their background involves. It could clear within 24 to 48 hours, it could take several months to clear especially for those with TAL related background/studies. Iranians also tend to end up in prolonged background check dilemma due to lack of cooperation between the two countries.

For what it’s worth here’s a post I wrote back in 2014 describing the background check process/steps. Admittedly the original post was addressed to a CP selectee, the information in there is equally applicable to an AOSers. And yes, this is from 2014, and I haven’t done a new research on this of late, I doubt the process is much different as of now.
 
Sm1smom said:
It depends on each person and whatever their background involves. It could clear within 24 to 48 hours, it could take several months to clear especially for those with TAL related background/studies. Iranians also tend to end up in prolonged background check dilemma due to lack of cooperation between the two countries.

For what it’s worth here’s a post I wrote back in 2014 describing the background check process/steps. Admittedly the original post was addressed to a CP selectee, the information in there is equally applicable to an AOSers. And yes, this is from 2014, and I haven’t done a new research on this of late, I doubt the process is much different as of now.
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Hello Mom,
Thank you for your through explanation.
I read your old post on background check but still there are some questions in this regard.
On biometrics appointment day USCIS just captures our fingerprints and so the only background check that needs this fingerprinting is FBI fingerprint check.
My question is why doesn't USCIS start other background checks that seem to take longer before biometrics appointment when we already have provided them with information about ourselves in forms I-485 and I-944 from our name and education to all jobs we have had?
It really doesn't make sense to me if everything about background check starts just from biometrics appointment day.
I would appreciate your opinion on this.
 
I know it silly to ask but anyone else in this thread with ASC and FO at Massachusetts? Trying to get a sense of this FO's load.

From the list I can see I am the only one so wondering maybe its one of the FO that is too busy, although the ASC is suppose to be open on 27th July and I learned from USCIS that my case is at Lawrence, MA.
 
AOSnewbie said:
Hello Mom,
Thank you for your through explanation.
I read your old post on background check but still there are some questions in this regard.
On biometrics appointment day USCIS just captures our fingerprints and so the only background check that needs this fingerprinting is FBI fingerprint check.
My question is why doesn't USCIS start other background checks that seem to take longer before biometrics appointment when we already have provided them with information about ourselves in forms I-485 and I-944 from our name and education to all jobs we have had?
It really doesn't make sense to me if everything about background check starts just from biometrics appointment day.
I would appreciate your opinion on this.
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You’ve got to understand DV based AOS is a very small % of the overall AOS cases USCIS deals with every year, they therefore can’t be expected to change or have a separate background check process in order to accommodate DV based AOSERS.

The established process whereby bio used to be within 3 to 4 weeks of filing already provides them with enough time for most people to complete the process prior their interview date.

Conducting the checks like you’ve suggested doesn’t necessarily make the process shorter for anyone like to be subjected to a prolonged background check. This is how CP based process conducts the background checks and some people get stuck in AP for months after their interview has already taken place due to pending background check clearance.
 
Sero1033 said:
To @Sm1smom and everyone who field request to their congress representative. Is there any template or example how to file and what to write. Any insights would be highly appreciated!

Thank you in advance!
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There’s no template, there’s no one size fits all approach. Some congressional reps have forms on their websites, some have listed instructions on how to contact them. You need to go look at your congressional persons website to figure this out.
 
Sm1smom said:
You’ve got to understand DV based AOS is a very small % of the overall AOS cases USCIS deals with every year, they therefore can’t be expected to change or have a separate background check process in order to accommodate DV based AOSERS.

The established process whereby bio used to be within 3 to 4 weeks of filing already provides them with enough time for most people to complete the process prior their interview date.

Conducting the checks like you’ve suggested doesn’t necessarily make the process shorter for anyone like to be subjected to a prolonged background check. This is how CP based process conducts the background checks and some people get stuck in AP for months after their interview has already taken place due to pending background check clearance.
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I got what you mean. My question wasn't necessarily related to DV-based AOS.
No one knows. They may have started conducting some type of background checks from early stages of office closures knowing that due to unprecedented situation in the wake of Coronavirus it wasn't clear for them when people would get scheduled for biometrics appointment.
 
Hi all, just want to share that I got my interview letter (for August 12) yesterday. My FO and ASC are both Spokane, Washington.
  1. I mailed my package on June 1 and I got the NOA letter on June 17.
I have not received the BIO letter.

Thank you guys for the support and trove of information.
 
Hello everyone,
just a quick update on my case. I sent a request to update the timeline spreadsheet, and meanwhile you can read the details here.
I sent my AOS package back in march and, on April 10 it was accepted. I am a F1 student from Iran who got current in March. Since then, I've seen no updates until July 16th that I received a call from my local field office in Southern California. The officer told me I should go to the field office next day to pickup my Bio appointment. My Bio appointment is for tomorrow, Monday, July 20th. When I went to pick up my Bio letter, they also gave me the interview letter scheduled for Aug, 4th.
Personally, the call and the two letters were super cheering to me that I didn't expect at all so I suggest you all keep your hopes high, and expect the good unexpected. I should point out that I didn't receive any status update, nor any mailed letters, since April 10th.
Hope this helps.
 
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