The Immigration and Naturalization Service has issued a memorandum regarding it benefits-related fingerprint clearance policy that outlines steps taken to improve the process. The efforts are focused on the processes associated with receiving fingerprint cards, forwarding them to the FBI, connecting hits (identifications) to files, and reprocessing those returned by the FBI as rejected and/or unclassifiable. The step outlined that will most concern readers is one stating that a final benefit (i.e. adjustment of status or naturalization) shall not be granted less than 120 days from the date the fingerprint card was forwarded to the FBI. While adjustments and naturalizations normally do not occur in less than 120 days, with the new direct mail program for adjustment applications expected to greatly speed up processing, the new 120 days requirement could definitely slow down overall processing.
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