Facing backlog, Feds ease path to green card

[reeses16 8]

Lal, I've always wondered how people could get a visa then get stuck at AOS. I thought that part of the process to issue the NOA2 included FBI checks etc. But I guess I was wrong. At least this should help families adjust better (be able to get driving license, travel, qualify for finaid, etc.).

[Jenn! 918]

In most cases police reports are all USCIS deems necessary to issue an immigrant or intending immigrant visa. In other cases wether its a name hit, or on the list of ties to the "list of 26" countries that must go through standard administrative processing in order to have "clearance".

List of 26?

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Awesome! This will make a huge difference for a lot of families.

I wonder if this is related to Barack Obama's efforts? Excerpt below, full details at http://www.barackobama.com/issues/pdf/Immi...onFactSheet.pdf

"Obama joined Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) to introduce the Citizenship Promotion Act to ensure that immigration application fees are both reasonable and fair. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has decided to raise fees on applications to as much as $2,400 for a family of four. Obama’s bill reverses large fee increases for legal immigrants seeking to become citizens and provides grants to states to help promote citizenship. Another key choke point in the process to becoming a legal permanent resident or a U.S. citizen is the F.B.I. name/security check. Many law-abiding legal immigrants see their immigration applications delayed by months and often years as the overwhelmed F.B.I. completes their background checks. Obama introduced legislation that passed the Senate to improve the speed and accuracy of these background checks."

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

[mawilson 2,133]

In most cases police reports are all USCIS deems necessary to issue an immigrant or intending immigrant visa. In other cases wether its a name hit, or on the list of ties to the "list of 26" countries that must go through standard administrative processing in order to have "clearance".

List of 26?

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Thanks, Jenn.

[Jesse and Hema 2]

Lal, I've always wondered how people could get a visa then get stuck at AOS. I thought that part of the process to issue the NOA2 included FBI checks etc.

Yeah, I still don't understand this disparity... You'd think that the "checks" would be done BEFORE the person enters the country.. From a national security standpoint, it seems useless to do so after the person's already here for a year. If there was malicious intent, it'd be too late by the time "name checks" caught it.

I'll shut up before there ends up being a 3-year name-check wait for K-1 visas...

[Empress of Groovy 373]

All in all, this is very good news. However, I wonder if the AOS namechecks will now be shelved for a while to direct efforts to naturalization applications. Pessimist that I am, today I was thinking about the euphoria of Jon finally receiving his GC being offset by the possibility of getting stuck in name check again when naturalization time rolls around. Like, he'd lose his spot in the namecheck line and then start the nonsense all over again three years later, with no credit for time served, if you will. There wouldn't be the stress and expense of renewing interim benefits, but still the feeling of being phucked somehow.

Am I being neurotic? Maybe it's just a case of assuming the worst administrative bs possible. I guess waiting this long will do that!

[LaL 418]

Lal, I've always wondered how people could get a visa then get stuck at AOS. I thought that part of the process to issue the NOA2 included FBI checks etc.

Yeah, I still don't understand this disparity... You'd think that the "checks" would be done BEFORE the person enters the country.. From a national security standpoint, it seems useless to do so after the person's already here for a year. If there was malicious intent, it'd be too late by the time "name checks" caught it.

I'll shut up before there ends up being a 3-year name-check wait for K-1 visas...

I kinda of already answered this in shortened form.

Unless you have a name hit or are tied with the list of 26 countries, police reports suffice in clearing someone to enter with intent to immigrate. They are different check, or so it would seem, as some clear visa checks rather quickly, and get stuck for long periods stateside, and some have long clearances overseas and very little wait stateside. Either that or just a difference in the adjudicators - but thats a stretch

All in all, this is very good news. However, I wonder if the AOS namechecks will now be shelved for a while to direct efforts to naturalization applications.

I believe the memo stated the focus was on greencards as they would not be rushed in any way to naturalize someone. It was said that its easier to reneg PR status than to de-naturalize.

[anitacastillo 0]

Lal, I've always wondered how people could get a visa then get stuck at AOS. I thought that part of the process to issue the NOA2 included FBI checks etc.

Yeah, I still don't understand this disparity... You'd think that the "checks" would be done BEFORE the person enters the country.. From a national security standpoint, it seems useless to do so after the person's already here for a year. If there was malicious intent, it'd be too late by the time "name checks" caught it.

I'll shut up before there ends up being a 3-year name-check wait for K-1 visas...

Well as the future wife of a K-1 petitioner stuck in name checks for 10 mths and he unable to enter the US.... I guess our country is safer and I am more miserable.

And there is no guarantee he won't get stuck in AOS name checks. He isn't from one of the 26, but not a "we'll check later" European one either...

His fingerprints cleared last June. Castillo is not a good name to have.....

Sanity......

[rebeccajo 14]

Lal, I've always wondered how people could get a visa then get stuck at AOS. I thought that part of the process to issue the NOA2 included FBI checks etc.

Yeah, I still don't understand this disparity... You'd think that the "checks" would be done BEFORE the person enters the country.. From a national security standpoint, it seems useless to do so after the person's already here for a year. If there was malicious intent, it'd be too late by the time "name checks" caught it.

I'll shut up before there ends up being a 3-year name-check wait for K-1 visas...

Well as the future wife of a K-1 petitioner stuck in name checks for 10 mths and he unable to enter the US.... I guess our country is safer and I am more miserable.

And there is no guarantee he won't get stuck in AOS name checks. He isn't from one of the 26, but not a "we'll check later" European one either...

His fingerprints cleared last June. Castillo is not a good name to have.....

Sanity......

While we're having this discussion, let's get it cleared up that certain countries get a 'pass' on name clearance at the AOS stage.