Ron Babb

See, I did not even know of the email address RO_AH, above, found at:  https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-main-contactus.asp#contactinfo
 
The Manila consulate is pushing, in their emails,  their new Inquiry page:  https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/immigrant-visa-inquiry-form/   of which they seem not to directly respond to, but did take action on (after seven or more requests in a month) by sending a "new appointment" email to us.  Or was it because I sent an email to the White House.  
 
Anyway, you have to have some kind of reason to expedite you case else you float in the backlog for months.....

That's just the generic status description for cases under administrative processing.  No need to mind it much.
 
Now that your wife already passed sputum testing, keep following up with the embassy for a new interview schedule.
 

It's odd that USEM refused to issue your step-son's visa until his mother's case is approved.  Technically, IR2 has no dependency on any IR1.
 
In any case, you don't need to worry about your step-son aging out.  The age of an IR2 beneficiary is locked at the time of petition filing.  This won't change even when the case is at the embassy stage.
 
CSPA for Immediate Relatives -- "If you are an immediate relative, [...] your age is frozen on the date the Form I-130 or Form I-360 is filed. If you were under the age of 21 at the time the petition was filed, you are eligible for CSPA and will not age out. However, you must remain unmarried in order to qualify."
https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/child-status-protection-act-cspa
 

He has a family of five.  Assuming he is sponsoring only one of your immigrants that is $43,950 required for his income for a family of six.   Just an estimate.

https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/tips-for-filing-forms-online
 
Upload evidence
As part of the application process, you must provide evidence to support your application. These documents help us evaluate your application and verify your answers are true. Use a scanner or take pictures of each document. Make sure each image you attach is clear and that all text is readable. Files must not be larger than 6MB in size, and must be in one of these formats: PDF, JPG, JPEG, TIF or TIFF. Translations
If your documents are in a foreign language, upload an English translation along with the original.

Here is Thailand guidance now:
 
File your petition by mail with the USCIS Dallas Lockbox or online using the USCIS website. You can find additional filing information on the Form I-130 webpage.
If you are a U.S. citizen, the Department of State may accept a petition from you if you are filing for your immediate relative (spouse, unmarried child under the age of 21, or parent (if you are 21 years of age or older) at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in certain limited circumstances, as described in USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 6, Part B, Chapter 3. Please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction over the area where you live for further information.

The Philippine NBI clearance does not contain the word "police".