April 2012 AOS Filers

[tokekyi 0]

It's not only Israel, but several middle-eastern countries that can be subject to additional checks.

I don't think it includes south east asia countries. We have no issues.

[RubikNewman 1]

To those of you saying that the name check is delayed for certain nationalities... I’m pretty sure the agencies that conduct that research get it done pretty quickly so I don’t know if any delays have anything to do with that. Additionally, other people in my city have already had their interview and they filed around the same time I did. So I doubt it has much to do with how busy they are. Furthermore, my case is still in Missouri with the National Service Center...It hasn’t even been transferred! So I’m thinking it may depend on the person assigned to our case. I wish they’d tell us EXACTLY how the process works.

I wish those of us still waiting lived in the same city so we could have a group hug!

[LindaC1990 23]

I wish those of us still waiting lived in the same city so we could have a group hug!

or a protest

[Hypnos 6,577]

To those of you saying that the name check is delayed for certain nationalities... I'm pretty sure the agencies that conduct that research get it done pretty quickly so I don't know if any delays have anything to do with that.

While the FBI returns name check results for the majority of applications within 48 - 72 hours, a small minority of cases can take as long as 100 days or sometimes (very rarely) even longer than that.

The issue can be people having variations of the same name, sometimes using family names as middle names and all the issues that come from that. In addition, some countries, particular India, Pakistan and middle-eastern countries will have additional checks because of political and security issues in that region of the world.

Sometimes USCIS will schedule an interview for you while they are still waiting for the name check to clear, but even if they do they still cannot approve you until the name check comes back. Most of the time they will just wait for the FBI clearance and so essentially nothing happens on your case until it's cleared.

http://www.fbi.gov/s...ame-checks-faqs

http://www.path2usa.com/fbi-name-check

Edited August 1, 2012 by Hypnos

[Hypnos 6,577]

Just received an email update for my I-485 telling me that it was transferred to another office. Not sure what is going on here...VSC does not adjudicate family-based I-485 cases I believe.

I'm slightly concerned, but something is definitely going on...

Perhaps this is notification that my I-485 has "officially" been moved to Dallas (even though I interviewed there three weeks ago).

It's also moved backwards into "Initial Review" again (it was previously at "Testing and Interview" and this option isn't even listed on the case status anymore).

Edited August 1, 2012 by Hypnos

[Hypnos 6,577]

I called the USCIS misinformation line last night and after navigating the labyrinthine maze of the phone menu (seriously, I expected to find a minotaur at the centre of it), asking to be escalated to a tier 2 IO and then waiting 30 mins on hold, I finally got hold of a real person with the power to help me. They told me my I-485 had been forwarded to the Vermont Service Centre, presumably to be matched up with my I-360.

So, things are definitely happening. I am sure my congressman's involvement has not hurt either.

[ThatAnneGirl 4]

Yay! I actually got some info through the website!!! USCIS RFE'd me yesterday (Aug 2nd), so I'm looking forward to getting that in the mail. After 122 days of silence (well, actually only 81 since my biometrics), knowing that an RFE is on it's way is actually encouraging! Someone actually touched my file and did something!

Now I just hope this RFE is an easy, no brainer fix, and not some convoluted mumbo jumbo...

[Hypnos 6,577]

I'm glad to hear something from someone else, I was beginning to think it was just me here.

[Shooli 2]

I promise I'll post something as soon as there's something to report

[ibee 7]

LOL at the labyrinth 'analogy'! Hypnos, at least there is MOVEMENT! Could the 'backwards' online case status be because their system isn't really set up for those kinds of 'mishaps' and someone didn't know what else to put there.... I don't think what your online case status says it should be too much of a concern... at least things are happening and hopefully they're happening FAST

ThatAnneGirl, hope the RFE is nothing serious!

Can't wait for all this to be over (at least for 2 years) for all of us.

[Hypnos 6,577]

I actually got a reply from Senator Cornyn's office in the mail today (as well as the hard copy of the transfer notice in the mail also). He did get my address wrong (wrote 200 instead of 300) but someone from the post office wrote my correct address on the front of the envelope, so apparently I am famous in these parts.

His letter just stated that they would file a request with USCIS and let me know what came up. I had thought they were just ignoring me up until now. It can't hurt to have two elected representatives on the case instead of one.

Either way, I'm back to playing the waiting game for now, and hoping to hear something else before the end of August as USCIS indicated.

Edited August 4, 2012 by Hypnos

[aayitrun 66]

got my unrestricted ss card yesterday. all set for a couple of years now.

[Hypnos 6,577]

I really need to go down there and apply for a number.

Hopefully sometime this week.

[Shooli 2]

Don't you need a GC for that?

[LindaC1990 23]

Don't you need a GC for that?

no, I got my social with EAD