I made an Infopass appointment on Tuesday (3/3) for Wednesday (3/4); time was 2:00pm to inquire my 485 status.
My last visit to USCIS was July 2007 when my PD was current. It took me two hours from entering the USCIS building to exiting the building. I had to stand in the line for 30 minutes to go through the Security Check to enter the building, and once I were on USCIS floor, I had to wait for another 10-15 minutes to be checked in, then I had to wait 10-20 minutes in the line to talk to person IO at the reception window (normally the first couple of windows). It took another 15-30 minutes before my number was called by a specialized Immigration Officer. And I finally talked with an IO for less than two minutes. The result was your case was pending.
So this time, I planned three hours half of hour for travel each way. I am located only 5 miles away from this federal government building. I walked through the building security check at 1:50pm no line and no waiting. To my surprise, when I arrived at the USCIS floor, I found the waiting room was empty. Immigration Recession? Tow IO who checked my ID and other docs were very courteous, when I walked into the waiting room approaching the line area, two IO from behind two windows called me to their window, I walked to the windows closer to me, and the IO joked to me and said another IO charged more. After he checked my documents, and gave me a number and said a specialized IO would take care of me. Then I was called to another window immediately. A mid-age female, African IO processed my inquiring. She was even more patient and dug out more info than customer service through phone. Eighty percent of my time in this visit spent with her. Here was the first time info to me:
1. My background check is completed.
2. My 8/2006 code finger printer was updated as done in 1/2009.
3. My case is being reviewed at NSC.
She also sent an email request to NSC even I told her I requested at national customer service three weeks ago, and asked me to leave the mailing address so that they can forward the response from NSC to me.
The entire visit lasted about 40 minutes.
My pleasant visit was spoiled by a $50 of "illegal parking" ticket at the end.
I guess these IO are less stressful on the job in the recession, and may be bored at the job and willing to answer questions now. Therefore you can get more info about your case from Infopass.