By Debbie McGoldrick

“I AM living just outside of Boston and I married an American citizen nearly three years ago. We filed our paperwork immediately after our marriage. I was illegal at the time. I have a receipt from immigration and was fingerprinted, but I have heard nothing since. Is this usual? I have work authorization and a Social Security number so it’s not urgent, but I thought I would have been processed by now.”

YOUR case definitely should have been processed by now. The Boston United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) office is currently processing 1-485 adjustment of status applications (which is what you would have filed) received on or before October 26, 2005.

It seems as if your case has fallen through the cracks, and it’s likely you’ll have to start from scratch. You should first visit www.uscis.gov to do a case status search on the site.

You’ll need the receipt number that was mailed to you after you filed your application to get started. If you prefer to speak to a customer service representative you can call 1-800-375-5283.

It’s true that USCIS and all its former incarnations, including the old INS has been slow in the past to process applications. But the agency is making strides to speed up its service, and it’s important for customers like yourself to also stay on top of what’s happening.

Letting three years go by without hearing word one way or the other is a mistake. Next time around, make sure and check in regularly with the website so you know exactly where you stand.

As a matter of interest, here’s a list of dates for adjustment of status processing times in other U.S. cities in New York, always one of the slowest offices because of the huge workload, those with cases filed on or before January 1, 2004 are being called for interview. In Chicago, the date is November 20, 2004.

But in other U.S. cities, the waits are significantly shorter. Here’s a nice one Yakima, Washington is December 6, 2005 and San Diego is March 1, 2006, which seems quite strange given the size of the city and the large immigrant population.

How does one take advantage of these shorter wait times? Applicants would have to relocate to the chosen city, though there is no minimum residency period required before benefits could be approved for qualified applicants.

Word of Warning

THERE’S lots of talk in the news again this week about immigration reform activity on Capitol Hill. On Monday President Bush publicly stated his support for passage of a new guest worker program, and the Senate has resumed debate on the matter again this week.

But for now that’s all that’s happening debate. Nothing has been passed. Just because President Bush talks about a guest worker program doesn’t mean that one can sign up today.

But predators and scammers are always on the loose when it comes to immigration, but be warned there’s no new worker program at this point in time to take advantage of.

The USCIS is making that point perfectly clear both on its toll free customer assistance number, and its website. Here’s the message from the agency that will be handling the lion’s share of the guest worker program processing, should it ever come to pass:

“Although Congress has been debating immigration legislation, all customers should be advised that currently no temporary worker program exists for aliens unlawfully present in the United States. Congress has not passed any legislation that would create a temporary worker program. Therefore, there are no benefits currently available because this program does not exist.

“Customers should not pay any fees or fines to any person or organization claiming they can help apply for or receive benefits for a temporary worker program. Be wary of persons or organizations that claim they can assist in applying for benefits that do not exist.”