'Freeze' should be over soon!

H

helge

Registered Users (C)
On Nov-22 INS official said computer update should be done in 1-2 weeks. We have Dec-12!!!How much longer can it take??!!

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No General INS Processing Freeze

There have been recent rumors that INS has halted adjudications "until further notice" while they implement new security procedures. These new procedures are discussed in our November 29, 2002 MurthyBulletin article, Most Same-Day EADs and Advance Paroles End, available on MurthyDotCom. On November 22, 2002, Fujie Ohata, Assistant Commissioner, Service Center Operations, confirmed that these rumors are inaccurate. The truth is that some computer enhancements are needed in order to implement the new procedures. Specifically, it is necessary to obtain a definitive FBI response when there has been an indication that a record may exist, based upon an IBIS name check. The reason for this change was the recent naturalization of an individual with suspected ties to a terrorist organization.

While the enhancements are being installed, cases will continue to be reviewed but final determinations on adjustment of status (I-485) and naturalization will be held, pending the final computer upgrade. This process is expected to last approximately 1-2 weeks. There will be additional delays for individuals who have an FBI "hit" based on the name check. In that event, the case cannot be adjudicated for final decision until the FBI makes a determination as to whether the applicant matches the person in their files. The delays will not have any impact upon nonimmigrant petitions (such as Hs and Ls) or on immigrant petitions (I-130, I-140, I-360). These cases will continue to be subject to existing IBIS procedures.
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Yes, you may be right that freeze should be over soon....

Here's what I found on http://www.immigration-information.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1434 :


The following was Posted on AILA InfoNet at Doc. No. 02121152 (Dec. 11, 2002):

"Update on Adjudications Halt as of 12/11/02

Some call it a “freeze”. Some say “halt”. Some refer to a “delay”. But it is all the same thing: INS District Offices and Service Centers are not issuing approvals on any adjustment of status applications, and many naturalization and asylum approvals are also being delayed. Indeed, some areas report that people have been pulled from naturalization ceremonies at the last minute. INS Headquarters continues to insist that there is no “adjudications freeze”, and indeed cases are still being adjudicated. But where the case is ready for approval, the approvals are not being issued.

What is behind this? An 11/13/02 INS memo, described on InfoNet on November 21, 2002, required that no “benefits” be granted until the INS receives back from the FBI an affirmative response on the G-325A name/date of birth check.

Previously, the INS had presumed that if it had not heard back from the FBI within a given period of time that there had been no issue with the check. INS has now indicated that the “benefits” in question are adjustment of status, naturalization and asylum. Ancillary benefits, such as advance parole and work authorization, are not subject to this process.

Because there was no automated mechanism in place for FBI to respond to each and every request, an adjustment to INS’ CLAIMS system had to be made. AILA has been advised that that system adjustment is largely completed, so that the checks can be made on an ongoing basis. However, there remains a backlog of pending cases on which INS still needs FBI clearances. INS Headquarters indicates that the FBI has sent it tapes covering about half of those cases, but INS local offices are still indicating that they have not been given the clearance to issue approvals on these cases."
 
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people

Dont post ancient news with a claim like the title of this post. It was an anti-climax! I thought the poster had new information! :(
 
PatienceGC...

My post carries information update as on 12/11/2002. That's just yesterday!

Best wishes,

Jigesh
 
Re: PatienceGC...

Originally posted by jigesh
My post carries information update as on 12/11/2002. That's just yesterday!

Best wishes,

Jigesh
Click to expand...

Sorry I was talking about the first post. I may be dumb, but even in your postings I dont see any time frame. We did expect ot to be done by 1-2 weeks but it was over sometime agi and we still dont have any update regarding the time.
 
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I guess the latest info from jighesh is really really useful for us to understand what is going on. Thanks!

The 'tape' process that was described in the article sounds very familiar to me. It's the same process that has been used by financial institutions for so many many years.

As we all can read from the article, the freeze has nothing to do with CIA, as we have heard in the last few days!
 
question...

---from the FBI an affirmative response on the G-325A name/date of birth check. ---

Does this mean that FBI is going to verify from the municipality office of the place of birth from your home country (excuse my ignorance on this) does anyone have any info on how name/birth the checks are made.

Thanks
3DM
 
This is what may happen

They will check the name and the date of birth. Once they find a match they (FBI) will have all the biographical information to further verify to confirm if such a person has an FBI record. If the person has such a record they can forget the 485 application and start worrying about bigger issues. Otherwise most applications will be processed quickly.

Thanks guys for processing concrete information.

There is some light at the end of this tunnel. If the software works we will see a deluge of applications getting cleared. If not we will have to wait till they get the software operational. I hope the former is true
 
Does anyone know if INS send Nov, Dec Rd cases to FBI for clearance already or just Oct cases?

So the check is use name/bday to check if you have record in NCIC(national criminak database), right?
 
dengdeng:

Does your question mean that all September cases and pending August cases do not need this extra check ???
Please do not post questions/rumours in this board which nobody can answer. This unnecessarily creates panic/confusion and there are some real good(??) people who benefit from all these rumours and start showing their ugly heads !!:)
 
What I don't understand is whether INS first checks the IBIS database, name hit, send to FBI for clearance or INS send all cases for FBI clearance.

If INS first check the IBIS database, and the name is not in it, why can't they approve it directly. We know only 4% cases will have name hit, then why we see no approvals recently. They are so stupid to half everything and delay everybody's case just for those 4%.

Before this freeze, INS already started to approv Nov and Dec cases randomly(some 070, 072 cases) and suddenly everything stopped. Now christmas is coming, giving them another excuse to delay.
 
Just got the updated message :)

on the online service.
This may mean that work must be on at VSC as usual.

Application Type: I485, APPLICATION TO ADJUST TO PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS

Current Status:

On December 10, 2002, after approving your application, we ordered you a new card. Processing normally takes between 365 and 540 days. Your card will be mailed to you as soon as it is ready.

Just my two bits on the take. :D

VSC/EB3, PD 06/99, RD 08/27/01, ND 10/17/01, AP recd, FP 01/15/2002, RFE 07/09/2002 replied on 25th July 2002, AD 9th October 2002, PP stamping 10/28/2002 at Hartford. Awaiting plastic.
 
well radmen

Yours was not a "new" approval. It was just an update. That has happened on cases that were already approved.

We are more concerned with "new" approvals. We havent seen one after 11/19. :(
 
I agree PatienceGC

but please remember that I too am on pins just waiting for my plastic card.
It seemed to have been totally in a standstill for more than six weeks.
This may be just a begining of activities for all you know (see the rest of the posts where a spate of cards are being ordered to clear backlogs. Guess mine was one of the oldest awaiting plastic case).
Just sharing my thoughts.
Good luck to y'all who are waiting.
 
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PatienceGC, sorry for posting 'old' news. For me it was interesting to know when the INS first said how long it would take them. I didn't know the time frame at all and assumed people on this board didn't either because the specualtion on this board about the 'freeze' got out of control yesterday.

Anyhow, thanks to Jigesh and the other posters this turned out to become a very interesting discussion.

Just one more thing, PatienceGC, did you realize that you didn't contribute anything to this discussion other than criticising the posts others made?
 
Thank you

But whatever was "contributed" except jigesh's new post has already been discussed in length over the past three weeks.
Also all the news pretty much say the same thing that they have NO CLUE as to when the freeze will be lifted and that the INS claims that processing continues.

Your post confidently declared that the freeze will end soon with not much indication of why! I can question posts that say the same thing and those that may not be the actual topic being discussed.

There wasnt much in this post that wasnt said in the earlier posts.
There is no point beating the dead horse!

Radmen: you are not on pins dude. You won the lottery and you are jut waiting to encash it. We are still in line to buy the ticket ;)
 
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PatienceGC

Everyone's just trying to be helpful with whatever news trickling in (which makes this a truly wonderful discussion forum. There were other forums too but they all seem to have just faded away into oblivion).
So there may be some news that you may already be aware of but for many it may not be that stale. A prime example would be me who was on vacation in November and not having the time or the facilities to access the internet. I was not aware of the freeze issue till I revisited this board upon my return.
So just hang in there and you too shall get your turn.
Happy Holidays.
:)
 
PatienceGC, calm down and stop being so aggressive!

My headline 'Freeze will be over soon!' was based on the logic that if an INS official declares on Nov-22 that the software installation will take 1-2 weeks then the freeze has to be over soon as we have Dec-12.

Okay, I understand that you are disappointed because you expected other news. So here is my apology for that.
 
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