US IMMIGRATION NEWS

USCIS Eliminates FBI Name Check Backlogs

Wednesday, 1 July 2009

On Monday, June 23, 2009, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the backlog for Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) name checks pending more than six months had been eliminated. Having completed all the requisite milestones, resulting in the elimination of the FBI National Name Check Program (NNCP) backlog, the two organizations declared that the process of checking names against the FBI database will now be quicker.

The FBI's National Name Check Program is used by the USCIS to run background checks on people who wish to obtain a Green card or naturalization. Elimination of the name check backlog was a measure designed to increase USCIS' ability to make timely decisions about immigration applications and petitions, without compromising the security and integrity of the U.S. immigration system. The ultimate goal of the initiative being, to complete 98 percent of name check requests submitted by USCIS within 30 days, with the remaining two percent within 90 days.

As recently as 16 months ago, more than 349,000 name checks were pending, 150,000 of which had been pending for more than six months. The FBI reported that post September 11, 2001, there was a dramatic increase in name checking requests from the USCIS, which created a backlog and massive delays in the application process for the USCIS as they were forced to wait until the FBI cleared people’s identities.

Consequently, the delays triggered public outrage after the Justice Department inspector general did an audit in 2008 and determined that the FBI's Name Check Program, "[relied] on outdated technology and poorly trained workers. Some immigrants awaiting resolution are denied the right to work or to study. And, significant in an election year, they are denied the chance to vote."

The improved performance levels announced Monday were accomplished in large part through a cooperative effort between the USCIS and the FBI and involved increasing NNCP staff; name check process improvements initiated by the FBI; refinements in the name check file search criteria; training NNCP staff on USCIS adjudication requirements and the applicability of name check search results to USCIS adjudications; and other cooperative measures including assignment of USCIS personnel to the NNCP.

As a result of the backlog elimination, USCIS has stated that it has been able to resume normal processing of most cases, which typically end in a final determination of eligibility.

For additional information regarding the above or for assistance with your US visa application please visit migrationexpert.com.