OK Ben .... here you go ...
There are 3 kinds of checks that need to get done before I485 petition can be adjudicated
1.Finger Print check -- ( this is usually sent to USCIS the same day you give your finger prints at local INS office)
2. IBIS (Inter Border Services) Check .-- Used to track illegal immigrant comming into this country.. .Usually this check expires every 3 months....This check is done pretty quickly since its just a lookup into IBIS database
3. FBI Name Check -- Send out to FBI upon filing of I485... It can take anywhere between 2 months to 3 years to get this done.... The latter based on getting a hit based on name ....So the FBI officers individually need to weed out irrelevant hits....If no hits it should be done rather quickly....But then there is this rigamarole/hoopla that a lot of checks were never sent by USCIS....how, why this happened is beyond me ..... If you are lucky you should get this check done in a 6 months- 1 year time.
You can request FBI to do a name check for you based on a US consitutional act called (FOIPA)....Freedom of Information and Privacy Act...THis pretty much tells FBI to release records of yourself to you.. You cannot access other folks information...To ask FBI regarding your name check information via FOIPA a letter ahs to be sent to the "Records and Diseemination Section" of FBI in Wash. DC. Please search this forum for more information on FOIPA.....
You may also request the status of name checks sent to FBI by USICS via letter/email/fax. bear in mind the above 2 are seperate requests done by two different departments of FBI...
If you need the text of the letter I sent to FBI here it is
>>>>>
To
Mr David Hardy,
Chief,
Program Section (Name Check)
Records Management Division,
Federal Bureau of Investigation,
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20535
Dear Sir,
My spouse and myself have filed an application for adjustment of
status (I485) to that as of lawful permanent resident with the
USCIS Vermont Service Center on August 13, 2003. Our application
is now pending adjudication at the Vermont Service Center.
I am sending this letter kindly asking your office to please provide
the status of the security/name check I believe the USCIS would
have requested upon the filing of our application for adjustment of status.
Following are the details of our case:
Primary Applicant
Name : John Doe
DOB : 01/01/2005
USCIS A# : A1234567
Address : Foothills of Nothern VA
Email :
johndoe@hotmail.com
Phone : 111-111-9999
I may be reached by phone(111-111-9999)
or e-mail (johndoe@hotmail.com), if
you require any additional information/ documents to
address my request.
A prompt response would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
John Doe
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Good luck and all the best
