Guys
Based on all that I have read here is what I feel is the story. I dont have a crystal ball and this is only conjecture. Read on....
As most of you know that this approval business used to be 9 months. Then came the IBIS check and that has gradually caused the approval to go to 14 months. Now comes the latest the FBI check which was probably caused due to the problems that the NY Times reported i.e. a suspected person was given Citizenship.
Now the bigwigs in the INS may be thinking/saying "Ok to prevent any such incidents every person who has either a I-485 (adjustment) or I-400 case (citizenship) and I think I-539 (asylum) case all these people need to be checked one last time to ensure that there is no FBI record. If we process any other case we will be subject to suspension, disciplinary action etc. So why put ourselves into any further troble. Since the FBI is the master of this game, let us get them to give us in writing, that the 000's of people who have applied are all innocent . This way we will be safe and not be blamed for any screw-ups".
This is when the notice came out on 11/29 asking their field offices to stop processing same day EAD' and AP's etc. There may be much more to this than just the field office restrictions. Once the news leaked that there was a "freeze", they immediately came back saying there is no "freeze" but we are installing new software for security checks.
(They are under a lot of pressure and they have found a perfect method to protect their interests.)
So they now probably send this massive list to the FBI and the FBI is backlogged with '000's of requests. This backlog will pile up very very fast and I dont think the I-485 cases will get greater preference than the I-400 cases.
I am not sure who is installing what software and based on the NY Times report the FBI is short-staffed to handle this huge request.
Consequent effect, this 14 month delay may become even longer. Adding a few months more may easily be possible.
In the meanwhile INS will process our cases and the only results one will hear immedialtely are either RFE or case transferred. If your case is either RFE or transferred this FBI check will still need to be done once the RFE is responded to or the person is interviewed at the local office. I hope interviews are scheduled by the local office after getting the final FBI clearance.
Approved cases which we have stopped hearing from November 19th will all be awaiting FBI final approval.
Guys the best option which is the most obvious is to get approved and I think the RFE option will be the worst. The papers we send will go back to VSC and once the officer reviews them he will them send for FBI check. So they will go to the bottom of the FBI pile.
11 working days remain in December and 3-5 days will be lost due to X'mas and vacation days etc.
In the meanwhile we will all continue waiting and improve our ability to be even more patient.
Based on all that I have read here is what I feel is the story. I dont have a crystal ball and this is only conjecture. Read on....
As most of you know that this approval business used to be 9 months. Then came the IBIS check and that has gradually caused the approval to go to 14 months. Now comes the latest the FBI check which was probably caused due to the problems that the NY Times reported i.e. a suspected person was given Citizenship.
Now the bigwigs in the INS may be thinking/saying "Ok to prevent any such incidents every person who has either a I-485 (adjustment) or I-400 case (citizenship) and I think I-539 (asylum) case all these people need to be checked one last time to ensure that there is no FBI record. If we process any other case we will be subject to suspension, disciplinary action etc. So why put ourselves into any further troble. Since the FBI is the master of this game, let us get them to give us in writing, that the 000's of people who have applied are all innocent . This way we will be safe and not be blamed for any screw-ups".
This is when the notice came out on 11/29 asking their field offices to stop processing same day EAD' and AP's etc. There may be much more to this than just the field office restrictions. Once the news leaked that there was a "freeze", they immediately came back saying there is no "freeze" but we are installing new software for security checks.
(They are under a lot of pressure and they have found a perfect method to protect their interests.)
So they now probably send this massive list to the FBI and the FBI is backlogged with '000's of requests. This backlog will pile up very very fast and I dont think the I-485 cases will get greater preference than the I-400 cases.
I am not sure who is installing what software and based on the NY Times report the FBI is short-staffed to handle this huge request.
Consequent effect, this 14 month delay may become even longer. Adding a few months more may easily be possible.
In the meanwhile INS will process our cases and the only results one will hear immedialtely are either RFE or case transferred. If your case is either RFE or transferred this FBI check will still need to be done once the RFE is responded to or the person is interviewed at the local office. I hope interviews are scheduled by the local office after getting the final FBI clearance.
Approved cases which we have stopped hearing from November 19th will all be awaiting FBI final approval.
Guys the best option which is the most obvious is to get approved and I think the RFE option will be the worst. The papers we send will go back to VSC and once the officer reviews them he will them send for FBI check. So they will go to the bottom of the FBI pile.
11 working days remain in December and 3-5 days will be lost due to X'mas and vacation days etc.
In the meanwhile we will all continue waiting and improve our ability to be even more patient.
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