JJ123. I think your friend saw the breaking news from www.immigration-law.com
But still...I don\'t think it should affect I485 cases...
Updated 03/19/2002: Fall-Outs of Atta INS Blunder
This fiasco will bring a number of changes in the INS practice and policy. In the today\'s INS Commissioner speech, he disclosed its impact on the people who applies for change of status to a student (F-1) status. First, the INS is to revise the regulation to shut out the current policy of allowing someone who came here on a visitor visa and attend schools part-time while they wait for approval of the application for change of status to a student. The justification for this policy was allegedly grounded on the delay of processing of such applications which took months and it was thought to be too harsh for the young applicants to sit and do nothing for months. In order to back up the forthcoming new policy shutting out such schooling opportunity, the INS intends to adjudicate application for change of status to a student (I-539, I-20) within 30 days. Second, the revised regulation will tighten up the chances for a visitor to get approval of application for change of status to a student substantially. Third, after the Atta INS fiasco blew up, all the Service Centers completely have frozen mailing out of I-20 approval notices and carefully examine each I-20 case. Accordingly, those who filed I-539 for change of status to F-1 is expected to experience a substantial delay in receiving the approved I-20!