coyote

I recommend that you join www.americanfamiliesunited.org, a group that is working with Congress to set a six-month time limit on administrative processing. Also, please sign my petition, which calls for a 90-day limit, and greater accountability throughout the process. Currently the government can take as long as it wants to conduct administrative processing. This is not the way America is supposed to work! We need accountability and transparency in this process.
thanks!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/falling-in-love-with-someone-from-another-country-is-not-a-crime/

I hope this isn't off-topic but I've started a petition asking Hillary Clinton and all the other relevant officials to streamline this process and build in the transparency and accountability that we normally receive from government agencies. Please consider signing, particularly if you are the U.S. citizen petitioner.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/falling-in-love-with-someone-from-another-country-is-not-a-crime/

I think it is so great that you are even asking this question. I agree with all of the remedies people have mentioned (except anything to do with religion, although that probably does help) -- but I also feel that there is no real remedy. My response is political action. I feel that the immigration process is inefficient and sorely in need of reform. My husband is now stuck in administrative processing -- our CR-1 visa has been approved but only conditionally to getting through this euphemism -- it's actually a security check.
Security, yeah, fine. But the problem is that the process is completely open-ended. It could take two weeks. It could take two months. It could take 15 months. I know someone whose wife was in administrative processing for 4 years -- until they sued. (She was in the U.S. and applying for a green card, so it wasn't as painful.)
I understand that the problem is not with the U.S. Department of State, but with the FBI. They have responded to pressure in the past, and speeded up name checks, but unfortunately the group that pushed them in this regard -- American Families United (www.americanfamiliesunited.org) -- which I found out about on this site, a great group and the only one representing us in the political arena -- is now unable to pay its lobbyists because it's run out of money. The folks who run it are very nice but not adept at fundraising, although they are trying.
So I guess I feel that it's not necessarily healthy to accept being treated poorly by a government agency that does not behave like any other in the U.S. -- there is no accountability, and there has been way too much political grandstanding on both sides of the illegal immigration issue, which only makes things worse for those of us who are following the rules.
In our case, with this administrative processing thing, American Families United is trying to institute a system in which, after six months, if a case hasn't been resolved, it has to go up before supervisory review and reasons given. Frankly, I think there should be a benchmark at 3 months; something where they have to give a reason for dragging it out further. The really horrible part of administrative processing and review (not exactly the same) is the uncertainty.
Clearly application processes should be both streamlined and more uniform -- no surprises -- and I can't see the need for so many redundant security checks. I think there are something like 3. Consulates should pick up their damn phones and drop the attitude. No more intimidation. It's a really terrible corporate culture.
If you have the time, I would suggest getting involved with American Families United and advocating for reform of both USCIS and the State Dept.'s Bureau of Consular Affairs -- which happens to be (still) headed by a Bush appointee with very unimpressive qualifications -- it's the same deal of security uber alles, forgetting that they are also providing a service to citizens who have rights -- and foreigners who have human rights and should be treated with dignity. Write a letter to Hillary Clinton. Get a petition going and send it to Hillary and to Janet Napolitano. A lot of changes can be made administratively.
I'm sure some people would rather meditate -- and it's probably better for your blood pressure. I can't say that thinking about this makes me feel better, but I do think that we would all feel better if the system improved.
Besides, it's the right thing to do. Reforms need to be made so people don't have to go through as much pain. And our government MUST be held accountable or there won't be so much demand to get into the U.S. -- we'll be just like everyone else.