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Registered Users (C)
FYI: This is from http://www.immigration-law.com/:
04/17/2003: BCIS Priority of Security Over Adjudications of Immigration Benefits Applications
Since September 2002, the defunct INS and the current BCIS have placed the highest priority on security
issues and adjudication of benefit applications have remained a backburner. As the immigration statistics and
the field offices, including Service Centers, processing times reports reflect, the victims who have been
suffering most from such priority are the green card (I-485) applicants. Until November 2002, I-485
adjudications had been completely on hold pending IBIS and security clearance policy determination and the
call-in special registration of certain nationals of Middle Eastern and Arab countries. Along with the expansion
of call-in Special Registration program to increased number of countries, adjudication resources have been
exhausted for the so-called NSEERS task. Besides, the defunct INS adopted a new procedure that all the
nonimmigrant and immigrant benefit applications will not be adjudicated unless they get the proof of applicant's
completion of special registration. Unconfirmed sources indicate that the same policy and procedure are
currently in place for I-485 adjudications at the Service Centers and that pending expiration of the on-going
call-in special registration for Group IV on April 25, 2003, the practical freeze on I-485 adjudications may
continue at the Service Centers.
Now it appears that wind is shifting to a slightly different direction in that the war in Iraq has been winding down
and the terrorism alert has just been lowered one level. Additionally, the call-in special registration will end on
April 25, 2003, at least for a while, and Service Centers will have a complete access to the special registration
information on all the applicants. There is some indication that the I-485 adjudications may start picking up the
speed beginning from next month, May 2003. It indeed has been painful and frustrating six months for the I-485
filers, especially EB-485 filers, and we ask all of these filers to cross their fingers for the upcoming changes!
04/17/2003: BCIS Priority of Security Over Adjudications of Immigration Benefits Applications
Since September 2002, the defunct INS and the current BCIS have placed the highest priority on security
issues and adjudication of benefit applications have remained a backburner. As the immigration statistics and
the field offices, including Service Centers, processing times reports reflect, the victims who have been
suffering most from such priority are the green card (I-485) applicants. Until November 2002, I-485
adjudications had been completely on hold pending IBIS and security clearance policy determination and the
call-in special registration of certain nationals of Middle Eastern and Arab countries. Along with the expansion
of call-in Special Registration program to increased number of countries, adjudication resources have been
exhausted for the so-called NSEERS task. Besides, the defunct INS adopted a new procedure that all the
nonimmigrant and immigrant benefit applications will not be adjudicated unless they get the proof of applicant's
completion of special registration. Unconfirmed sources indicate that the same policy and procedure are
currently in place for I-485 adjudications at the Service Centers and that pending expiration of the on-going
call-in special registration for Group IV on April 25, 2003, the practical freeze on I-485 adjudications may
continue at the Service Centers.
Now it appears that wind is shifting to a slightly different direction in that the war in Iraq has been winding down
and the terrorism alert has just been lowered one level. Additionally, the call-in special registration will end on
April 25, 2003, at least for a while, and Service Centers will have a complete access to the special registration
information on all the applicants. There is some indication that the I-485 adjudications may start picking up the
speed beginning from next month, May 2003. It indeed has been painful and frustrating six months for the I-485
filers, especially EB-485 filers, and we ask all of these filers to cross their fingers for the upcoming changes!