Why does the Online Application Status Check take so much longer than it used to?
The NSSAR originally stored the Application Status check data online in html format on their web site. Each state had it’s own html file, or series of files, in which only data from that state was stored. When SARApAid needed to compare data, it would download only those files necessary for the comparison. For example, if your application was filed in the state of Texas, only the Texas file(s) had to be downloaded in order to check the status of your application. Once the file(s) were downloaded, the html code could be parsed (searched) directly for the data needed to compare with your application file. Downloads and searches were fast because no extraneous data had to be handled at any time. The NSSAR has since changed to a pdf format for the file containing Application status information, and the data for all states, countries, etc. is stored in a single file. Although this is probably more convenient for someone who is manually checking their application status by browsing the NSSAR
