So... I broke down and called the RFE line today.
I shouldn't feel bad, since we actually DO have and RFE, and it's been more than the 14 days promised in their notice (but less than the 60 days they say to wait to call). Here is what happened:
I followed the prompts and ended up speaking to a very cheerful woman at the VSC. I introduced myself and told her that "we had gotten a Request for Further Evidence and had sent it back a while ago, but since we haven't heard anything since, we are now wondering
what the heck is going on with our petition".
She took my receipt number (the EAC number) and looked us up on the computer. She was VERY happy to tell us that "the case was sent back to their desk on April 14th, which means that you can look forward to having a decision in the next few days." (I then asked "Who's desk... the adju..." She cut me off, laughing, "Yep, the adjudicator's!")
Now... I was never one to believe in the whole "RFE Trick" thing, and I still won't say I do, but it seems a bit fishy that 'just yesterday' our case was sent back to the adjudicator.
So basically then... our case has been sitting in a box in the mailroom since March 20th. I made sure to write RFE in big red letters on the envelope, and they opened it and updated out status as "Evidence Received, Case Processing Resumed" when it was received. It was just never handed off to our adjudicator, so they could finish out our case. GRRRRRRR.
But, hopefully we do get a decision in the next few days. HOPEFULLY.
Sounds like a great idea!!!!
He called again and they said it could take up to 4 weeks to process and to call in a week or 2