FP to IL Tracker (all DO's)
- Thread starter spiderman03
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spiderman03
Registered Users (C)
You need to finish the formality of talking to the 1st tier rep first and then tell why you are concerned with your case now and if she/he could possibly let you talk to someone who can provide specific information. Usually it works. They will tell you that they will escalate the case and then transfer it to the 2nd officer. They did in all my calls in the last one month. I have you to advice you that even 2nd officer won't be much helpful except reading an extra line to what we already know. They can neither help in expediting the case nor give us any sort of clue as to when we can expect to move to the next stage. It depends on your case though. Try it. Good luck.
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spiderman03
Registered Users (C)
I am thinking of waiting for a month from now and then approach a AILA membership lawyer close to my place and may be hire him to contact the NBC. Heard that AILA members often talk to these IO's. It may help to get the necessary info from these IO's at NBC and may be push for expediting the case if there is a problem with the computer system or if someone at some location was lazy in doing his/her job of moving the A# files when requested.
spiderman03
Registered Users (C)
There are few folks who applied after me and got IL already. I saw them under the Chicago timeline thread, 62nd page, users " chaddibabu2001 " & " HNchitownN400 ". Check this link for that page
http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=206052&page=62
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spiderman03
Registered Users (C)
I met a AILA lawyer today and explained my situation to him. His suggestion is for me to wait another month and contact my representative first and if nothing comes out of it, then contact him (lawyer) again. If I have to contact my representative, is it a Representative or a Senator? I am assuming we are talking about US Representative or Senator, not IL state reps right? Please advice.
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Spiderman03,
To expedite your case, please speak to your US Senator. Preferably, write a letter explaining in detail. I had a similar experience during my GC process and it did work. I can't believe that USCIS is simply not able to get your A# file from the NBC to your IL local DO. The file content is usually in electronic format. Your N-400 application is clubbed with your A# file and sent as a hardcopy to the local DO after all the necessary background checks are done.
Wish you good luck and hope you get your interview letter soon!
Thanks.
spiderman03
Registered Users (C)
Thanks for you advice. I drafted a letter already to my senator but I will wait for few more weeks before I mail it. Though I suspect now that my case got stuck (based on timelines posted by other applicants here), USCIS may point out that it is not that terribly late. I know it sounds ridiculous for NBC to say that it takes months to get A# file from a different location. It's not like our A# files are located on the moon and we have to wait until the next round trip flight by NASA. Anyway, I set myself a deadline of 11/25/2009 and then mail the letter next day. That way I can say that I waited whole 3 months after FP date and it is reasonable to complain at that point. Hopefully I receive IL by then and don't have to go through this whole process.
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BritishGuy
Registered Users (C)
I don't know how much of this stuff is true. My story.........
I applied for my Citizenship on 10/14/08 (yes 2008!!). I only just did my fingerprints YESTERDAY (10/27/09) (yes 2009!). Over a year wait just for fingerprints folks. I'm in the Orlando area, and am hoping that this ordeal will be done quickly!!!
I'm a UK national but folks are of Pakistani origin, hence a 'name check' is probably what took the time. You think?
I applied for my Citizenship on 10/14/08 (yes 2008!!). I only just did my fingerprints YESTERDAY (10/27/09) (yes 2009!). Over a year wait just for fingerprints folks. I'm in the Orlando area, and am hoping that this ordeal will be done quickly!!!
I'm a UK national but folks are of Pakistani origin, hence a 'name check' is probably what took the time. You think?
Wow! Did you do anything to trigger the FP notice or it just came after one year of your patient waiting? I read from another forum that someone applied in Feb. 2009 just completed FP and got the interview letter just 8 days after the FP. Since your priority date is ahead of all other people, you may get your interview letter pretty quickly.
FP's are not dependent upon completion of a name check. Sounds like your application got lost. Had you done any inquires in the last year?
Bobsmyth, do you think the name check or FP check was sent overseas and that took time. Does FBI has overseas field offices?
Just guessing ....
BritishGuy
Registered Users (C)
Hmmm - well I did write to my local congressman in June 09 and got a reply within a month telling me that "we're in the process of a background check". So I just left it at that. Then about a month ago (Sept 09) I went online and saw that applications from Jan '09 were being processed. So I called the USCIS people and told them that my application date (Oct '08) had passed. That was the only time I actually felt they got onto my case. The sent me another 'notice of action' just telling me that "contact us in another 6 months if you don't hear anything else". Well at that point I started researching into the Mandamus Action when I received an appointment for FP. I had the FP's done on 27th Oct 2009. Now I don't know if I should just wait for a little while or still press forth with a Mandamus Action. I'm really hoping that I get an interview letter quick as I just want to get this over and done with.
Have you tried contacting USCIS Ombudsman's office?
http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/editorial_0497.shtm
spiderman03
Registered Users (C)
In the first line, you said you got reply within a month. Was that reply from the Congressman or the USCIS? Please clarify.
Also, I suggest you wait for 4 weeks from the time FP was given to receive IL, before you take alternative action for getting your case processed in a timely manner from this point onwards. Alternative action means, other legal venues left to pursue the case. How can they do background check without even ordering and receiving your FP's first?
BritishGuy
Registered Users (C)
Yes sorry for not clarifying. The letter from the time we contacted the congressman to the time we got a reply from the USCIS in regards to our case took a month.
I have checked the letter that the USCIS sent us (after the Congressman had contacted them in regards to my case) and it states that a small percentage of cases (mine seems to be one of them it seems) require extensive background checks and involves more than just submission of initial biographical data.
That is a little odd though as I hadn't given any biographical data (eg FP) until a few days ago.
I'm hoping that giving the FPs now means that they're good to rock n' roll on with the the process of maybe getting me an IL in the post. Maybe anyway.
I would post the whole letter that the USCIS sent the congressman but it's in PDF and I can't sut and paste it on here. It's a whole page long.
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spiderman03
Registered Users (C)
I gave FP on 08/25/09, then on 09/27/09, there was a LUD change for I-485, indicating my I-485 file was accessed or something to schedule my interview. I think that's when they found out that my A# file was at a different location. Also, the very next day i.e 09/28/09, they mailed the Yellow Check list. So I am assuming that if they had my A# file ready, they would have issued my IL along with YCL. So they put in a request for my A# file on 10/4/09. That's where I am stuck now. I think for some folks, the A# file sits in their storage facility close to NBC in Lee Summit, MO. For them, the IL is scheduled on time. For some folks, their A# file could be anywhere from District offices to the four Service Centers. For these folks, IL is delayed until NBC receives the A# file physically. My predictions is, the A# file is either at Lincoln Service Center, Nebraska or the local Chicago DO building in downtown. Don't know why it takes so many days to move that file. That's the worst part.
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Sipderman03,
Thanks for the update. From reading other posts, I have realised that the transfer of files seem to take forever. I know it sucks and I am not trying to disappoint you
. Look at the bright side, you know what is going on with you case and also that it is not stuck in a ridiculously long name check process (as some other applicants are stuck in).
I remember that you posted your I-485 was adjudicated at the local DO, right? Were you not able to find out from what location your A file was requested on the 4th of Oct? i.e. where was your A file residing that it needed to be transferred to NBC.
I hope you do not have to wait for too long. Things do work out in the end.
Thanks for the update. From reading other posts, I have realised that the transfer of files seem to take forever. I know it sucks and I am not trying to disappoint you
. Look at the bright side, you know what is going on with you case and also that it is not stuck in a ridiculously long name check process (as some other applicants are stuck in).I remember that you posted your I-485 was adjudicated at the local DO, right? Were you not able to find out from what location your A file was requested on the 4th of Oct? i.e. where was your A file residing that it needed to be transferred to NBC.
I hope you do not have to wait for too long. Things do work out in the end.
spiderman03
Registered Users (C)
Sipderman03,
Thanks for the update. From reading other posts, I have realised that the transfer of files seem to take forever. I know it sucks and I am not trying to disappoint you
I remember that you posted your I-485 was adjudicated at the local DO, right? Were you not able to find out from what location your A file was requested on the 4th of Oct? i.e. where was your A file residing that it needed to be transferred to NBC.
I hope you do not have to wait for too long. Things do work out in the end.
My I-485 was adjudicated directly at Lincoln Service Center, Nebraska. I took the I-485 approval notice to the local Chicago DO for passport stamping at the time. That's why I am suspecting that the chances of my A# file current location is Nebraska more than Chicago DO. I thought of asking the IO's in the last few calls where my A# file is currently located but I decided against asking it. They might think I am digging deeper into their processing methods. As an applicant, I am not really concerned where it is sitting. All I care is, how early they (NBC) can get my A# file and schedule interview. If I don't hear anything by 11/25/09, then I have the Senator letter drafted & ready to be mailed on 11/26/09.
I do have one thought though on this whole processing thing. When somebody files N-400 with NBC, why don't the IO's at NBC just order the A# files ready by the time the applicant finishes FP's? They know that A# file is needed in each case to schedule the interview. I filed N-400 on 07/28/09 and they waited until 10/4/09 to find that my A# file is at a different location and then order it? It's ridiculous. While issuing FP notice, they could have ordered A# file as well. It would have saved lot of time. They could have done that for everyone and spared us all this mental stress.
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