US citizenship processing time

[prettyg00d]

I have lived in US almost 6 years.

I submitted N400 form on May 2005.
I did finger print on July 2005.
I got interview on March 2006.
I submitted all additional documents requested by INS officer on Apar 21.
-- My tax forms since i got GC
-- my husband's emplyment history from his company HR during the green card application

Until now, August 2006 (14 months after the application was submitted), my case is still on pending. INS said they are doing security checking.

Does anybody know how long the security checking takes?
Is there anyway to speed up the process?

I really appreciate all your help.

Best

Mei

[nospam177]

Not Legal Advice:

The delay is caused by the FBI Name Check. This is where they check your name against every name in their files to see if you were the subject of an investigation or were material to one.

If you have a common Middle Eastern or South Asian name (like Mohammed etc) then this may take a while.

However there is hope for you. If you have completed your interview then, by law, the BCIS has to make a decision on your case with 120 days (they can still say no but they must say something). If they do not then you can take legal action (known as a Mandumus Action) to force them to give you a decision.

A Mandumus petition allows a person to file suit and compel a governemnt officer to do his or her duty if they have not (which in this case they haven't).

Contact an attorney to see if this is possible in your case. Often just filing it is enough to kick start the system into action.

[hpreet19]

Same Problem here!

Hi mei,

I have the same problem like you nnd I am also waiting for the answer. Everytime I call them or write to them, I get the same answer that The Case is pending for Security Checks...My interview was done on March 10,2005 in Oakland, California and after that I moved to Texas and changed my address to Texas Jurisdictation hoping they will touch my file...but no difference...I even went to Immigration Office to inquire about my case personally, they gave me same answer that its pending for further investigation. I don't know and I just think that they have put my file somewhere...

Mine has the same case like you, After my interview they asked me to provide more paperwork and I did that within 15 days, but after that its hanging there somewhere.

Please write to me at [email protected] and let me know what you r going to do fix this. Anyone who has same problem will be appreciated to answer me and suggest me something.

Thanks in advance,
Harpreet