See this at immigrationportal.com:
http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/gc_1172359525682.shtm
4. Reviewing Processing Delays Caused by USCIS Security Screening
FBI name checks significantly delay adjudication of immigration benefits for many customers and may not achieve their intended national security objectives.
* The Ombudsman receives numerous inquiries from individuals regarding FBI name check delays; stakeholder organizations and USCIS personnel across the country regularly raise the issue of FBI name check delays as the most significant problem preventing completion of cases.
* As of May 2006, USCIS reported 235,802 name checks pending, with approximately 65% (153,166) of those cases pending more than 90 days and approximately 35% (82,824) pending more than one year.
The Ombudsman fully supports robust and thorough screening of foreign nationals. At the same time, the Ombudsman is seeking a review of the current FBI name check process to ensure that it meets our national security goals while not unduly delaying adjudications for legitimate applicants.
You can send your comments, examples, and suggestions to address this issue to the Ombudsman at cisombudsman.trends@dhs.gov.
Please note: If you are attempting to a case problem to the attention of the CIS Ombudsman, please follow the instructions listed under case problems.