rsrgc, These faq threads are a great idea. Folks keep joining the board...
all the time. They will naturally have the same questions that old-timers had several months ago. This will give them a one-point source of info on a particular question.
Folks who have successfully called IIO, Can you please post your methods to get through. Is there a specific timeperiod that may ensure quicker connection? Any other techniques?.
rsrgc, the value of your service to the board is immeasurable quite like PCee\'s.
BTW, the 3 most important pieces of info an IIO can give for most folks is whether a) your case is adjudication-ready, b) whether it has been assigned and c) the date of assignment. Therefore, If you have done your FP\'s over a month or more ago you may want to ask the following questions. If your RD is SEP 01 and later you may want to wait for a while before you call an IIO. But, you decide.
1) Has my case acquired all the necessary background check reports?
If answer is yes, ask the next question. If no, you may want to wait for 2 weeks or so and call again and ask the same questions.
2) So, is my case ready for adjudication to an officer?
Answer may just be yes, in that case ask Q3. If answer is yes and it is already assigned, ask Q4.
3) Has my case been assigned yet?
If answer is just yes, ask Q4. If answer is yes and they give a date, you have all the info you can get from them. You wait for approval
4) Can you tell me when it was assigned?
Answer to that will tell you everything you want to know. After that you just have to wait for 3 weeks or so for the decision.
If at any point of time they tell you that there was an RFE generated, try asking them if they know the reason. Usually they would not but no harm in trying.
Special cases where FP was done but INS did not receive the reports or you did not even receive the FP notice would have to be tackled on a case-per-case basis. The trick is to ask specific questions which will generate an unambiguous answer. Asking general questions will prompt them to quote the JIT. We already know that. Asking them when your case will be assigned or approved is also of no use for the simple reason that they would not know.