9/11 EFFECT

Stephen Bander, a Miami immigration attorney, said his office has sued U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at least 15 times over the past two years over delayed citizenship applications.

Bander said that in his experience the applications that are typically delayed are those from male immigrants from the Middle East. Bander also said that generally immigration authorities approve the applications once a lawsuit is filed.
In the past, immigration-service officials have acknowledged that since the 9/11 attacks the naturalization process has lengthened because of more extensive background checks.

Before 9/11, immigration authorities generally approved applications if they did not find criminal or worrisome information when checking an applicant's fingerprints.

Since then, immigration authorities do not act on applications until they get a response in writing from the FBI -- regardless of how long it takes to complete the process.

Immigration law requires action on an application within 120 days after an applicant's examination.

Immigration lawyers say the 120 days begin counting after the applicant's interview. But federal officials have told courts across the country that an examination is not considered completed until background checks are in.