reply from USCIS regarding inquiry for RFE

[ELLENH 3]

I'm still waiting for P2 for I-129F case. I filed application in July of 2019. My RFE was sent in Feb. which is over a month ago. I sent an online inquiry to USCIS and asked the status.

 

And i got the answer on the next day which was very quick than usual. I was told the case was delayed because they still didn't get the result of a security check.

 

Is it possible this is an automatic reply generated in USCIS system? Does anybody have same experience as me?

[geowrian 22,335]

It's not an automatic response AFAIK, but it is a common response. Many cases that take longer than normal get hung up in security checks.

[ELLENH 3]

13 minutes ago, geowrian said:

It's not an automatic response AFAIK, but it is a common response. Many cases that take longer than normal get hung up in security checks.

The security check was supposed to be finished before RFE requirement was sent, no? Application was sent on July of 2019 which is 8 months before. What kind of security check they are doing? Territory? 

 

security check is on the applicant, no? because the case is still in california center and we are still waiting for P2.

 

very confused and worried 

[ELLENH 3]

1 hour ago, geowrian said:

It's not an automatic response AFAIK, but it is a common response. Many cases that take longer than normal get hung up in security checks.

by the way, what is AFAIK? sorry, i'm new for the case. Can you explain?

[PatoooskiCL 7]

3 minutes ago, ELLENH said:

by the way, what is AFAIK? sorry, i'm new for the case. Can you explain?

It's an acronym for "As far as I know."

[arken 4,197]

3 minutes ago, ELLENH said:

by the way, what is AFAIK? sorry, i'm new for the case. Can you explain?

AFAIK - As Far As I Know

[geowrian 22,335]

50 minutes ago, ELLENH said:

The security check was supposed to be finished before RFE requirement was sent, no? Application was sent on July of 2019 which is 8 months before. What kind of security check they are doing? Territory? 

 

security check is on the applicant, no? because the case is still in california center and we are still waiting for P2.

 

very confused and worried 

No, they do security checks before, after, and/or alongside reviewing the petition.

Security checks are run through various agencies. One of the most common ones to get held up are criminal background checks and/or FBI checks. These checks are essentially a black box - USCIS requests them and then awaits for a response from the appropriate agencies.

Normally this is instant or minutes, but all sorts of factors can cause it to take longer. Even people with high security clearance levels get caught in them sometimes (not just with USCIS).

It could be as simple as somebody with the same or similar name with a criminal history, so they have to manually investigate to verify it's not the same individual as the petitioner. Or if the petitioner did have a criminal history, to ensure it matches what was on the petition and/or retrieve and review the details of those cases to ensure eligibility.

It could be national security checks as well, but absolutely no way for anybody here to know that (or for him/her really). I only say because that's possible...criminal checks tend to be more often the delay.

 

The checks at this stage are with the petitioner to ensure they are eligible.

 

Just now, ELLENH said:

by the way, what is AFAIK? sorry, i'm new for the case. Can you explain?

As Far As I Know

(Dang - others beat it to me by the time I posted this)

[ELLENH 3]

6 minutes ago, geowrian said:

No, they do security checks before, after, and/or alongside reviewing the petition.

Security checks are run through various agencies. One of the most common ones to get held up are criminal background checks and/or FBI checks. These checks are essentially a black box - USCIS requests them and then awaits for a response from the appropriate agencies.

Normally this is instant or minutes, but all sorts of factors can cause it to take longer. Even people with high security clearance levels get caught in them sometimes (not just with USCIS).

It could be as simple as somebody with the same or similar name with a criminal history, so they have to manually investigate to verify it's not the same individual as the petitioner. Or if the petitioner did have a criminal history, to ensure it matches what was on the petition and/or retrieve and review the details of those cases to ensure eligibility.

It could be national security checks as well, but absolutely no way for anybody here to know that (or for him/her really). I only say because that's possible...criminal checks tend to be more often the delay.

 

The checks at this stage are with the petitioner to ensure they are eligible.

 

As Far As I Know

(Dang - others beat it to me by the time I posted this)

thanks for your reply. so can i say that my RFE documents look fine with USCIS. And USCIS is only waiting to get result from security check, correct? Once they get the result, most likely the case can be approved. No?

[In4theJourney 171]

1 hour ago, ELLENH said:

thanks for your reply. so can i say that my RFE documents look fine with USCIS. And USCIS is only waiting to get result from security check, correct? Once they get the result, most likely the case can be approved. No?

It’s possible they haven’t even picked up your RFE petition documents, anything is possible especially these days. Not trying to be negative But I believe since your case hasn’t been transferred to Vermont, that is a good sign. 

[ELLENH 3]

44 minutes ago, In4theJourney said:

It’s possible they haven’t even picked up your RFE petition documents, anything is possible especially these days. Not trying to be negative But I believe since your case hasn’t been transferred to Vermont, that is a good sign. 

transferred to Vermont? What do you mean? Can you explain?

[geowrian 22,335]

3 minutes ago, ELLENH said:

transferred to Vermont? What do you mean? Can you explain?

Vermont handles certain types of complex cases...namely those involving certain types of criminal offenses.

[ELLENH 3]

4 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Vermont handles certain types of complex cases...namely those involving certain types of criminal offenses.

i don't think my case will be transferred there as both of us background is very clean. That's why i was confused why USCIS is still doing security check. some of my friends got approved 3-4 weeks after RFE was received

[Carpe Vinum 2,308]

That is USCIS default answer to get you to stop asking questions)))

[ELLENH 3]

8 minutes ago, boris64 said:

That is USCIS default answer to get you to stop asking questions)))

that is what i guessed from the beginnig. But it seems it might mean other things as per advice from other experience people here.

[geowrian 22,335]

Often those 2 cases are not mutually exclusive.