DORA process I 130

soniya9

Registered Users (C)
Does my spouse who is the USC file for the I 130 first through the DORA process and then I do the rest of the forms(I 485, I 765, G 325a, etc?)

or is everything done at once?
 
soniya9 said:
Does my spouse who is the USC file for the I 130 first through the DORA process and then I do the rest of the forms(I 485, I 765, G 325a, etc?)

or is everything done at once?

Hi:

Everything is filed together on the day of your interview, which you schedule by Infopass. You need to have EVERYTHING ready. Best wishes.
 
Thanks for your reply!

Is there any other link where I can get complete information on the DORA process as the USCIS link for it is not working?

Also, Please confirm the forms that my USC husband and I need to file with me being currently on H1 B?

Husband USC
1. I 130 petiton
2. I 864a
Wife H1 B
1. I 485
2. I 765
3. I 131
4. I 864
5.G 325a

Or does the husband also need to file I 485, I 765, I 131, etc? I am little confused?

Also, we just got married in December, would this in any way effect the DORA process? I mean we don't have anything together as yet? Like accounts or lease agreements, etc. We do have the phone bills and e-mails, I have known him for about a year and half when we got engaged and another year until the wedding.

Thanks
 
soniya9 said:
Thanks for your reply!

Is there any other link where I can get complete information on the DORA process as the USCIS link for it is not working?

Also, Please confirm the forms that my USC husband and I need to file with me being currently on H1 B?

Husband USC
1. I 130 petiton
2. I 864a
Wife H1 B
1. I 485
2. I 765
3. I 131
4. I 864
5.G 325a

Or does the husband also need to file I 485, I 765, I 131, etc? I am little confused?

Also, we just got married in December, would this in any way effect the DORA process? I mean we don't have anything together as yet? Like accounts or lease agreements, etc. We do have the phone bills and e-mails, I have known him for about a year and half when we got engaged and another year until the wedding.

Thanks

Hi:

We had filed about a month after we were married. You don't need a world of documentation, but try and add each other on a checking account, credit card etc. ---- you can accomplish that in a month. Take pictures, make sure utility bills go to the same address, have relatives/friends write affidavits etc.
You don't need everything ---- they want to get a general picture. Just be honest and tell them you have not been able to comingle everything yet.

These are the basic forms you need:
I130(USC)
I485 (you)
G325A (4 pages) (USC)
G325A (4 pages) (you)
I864 (USC) --- if your husband does not meet requirements by himself, consider a co-sponsor to file a separate I864 in addition to your husband
I694 (medical form, supplied by the doctor in a sealed envelope ---- you will get this when you get the results of the medical exam)
PLUS any supporting documents requested by these forms. Read the forms carefully ---- they specify these very clearly.

Since you are on H1B(I assume you are still in-status with a valid, unexpired visa), you need not apply for I131(AP for travel) or I765 (EAD to work). You can used an unexpired H1B visa to work and travel, subject to the H1B conditions until you get the GC.

Even for people that are not on H1B, I131 and I765 are not mandatory --- they are for IF you want to work and travel during AOS.

Best wishes
 
Thanks for your reply.

The other question that I had was, what is considered my alien registration #? Is it my SSN?
 
Yes, I am in status with a valid H-1B(valid until october this year), but I have a new job offer and want to start working for the new employer as soon as possible. Also, I want the travel document, if I might have to travel abroad for any reason in the mean time.

Does the USCIS issue the EAD on the same day as the interview through the DORA process?

I have the offer letter from the new employer and would turning this in to the USCIS let them issue me an EAD as the GC will take atleast 3 months to be issued?
 
soniya9 said:
Yes, I am in status with a valid H-1B(valid until october this year), but I have a new job offer and want to start working for the new employer as soon as possible. Also, I want the travel document, if I might have to travel abroad for any reason in the mean time.

Does the USCIS issue the EAD on the same day as the interview through the DORA process?

I have the offer letter from the new employer and would turning this in to the USCIS let them issue me an EAD as the GC will take atleast 3 months to be issued?

Hi:

Unless you were given an A# in some process before, you don't have it. It is NOT your SS#. If you don't have one, put NONE or as per instructions.

Unfortunately you will not receive an EAD at the appointment ---- in fact, DORA discourages filing EAD since it is a 3 month pilot program to get the GC (that is the aim of the program). You are given the option to file for AP and EAD towards the end of the 90 days ---- traditionally people received a 70 days letter advising them to file for these if needed, since the application will likely not be approved within 90 days. Therefore, should you file, you will still wait perhaps 90 days after that. I hope your new employer can wait for 3 or more months.

If you stay with your current employer, your employment is authorized and you CAN travel just with your valid H1B visa.
 
Alien #?

Thanks again.

Would I have an alien # as part of my H1 paperwork? or would it have been a part of my previous status, which was F1?

Basically, as I have been on non-immigrant visas, all through my stay in the US. First F1 and then H1, where would I have to look for my alien #?

I-797 petition for H1?
F1 visa in the passport?
H1 visa in the passport?

or was I never given an alien #?
 
I think I might have one as I received an EAD card for my OPT in the F1 status.
Thanks again for all your help! I will keep you posted.
 
soniya9 said:
I think I might have one as I received an EAD card for my OPT in the F1 status.
Thanks again for all your help! I will keep you posted.

Please do. Check on your EAD card --- it should have A# on it somewhere.
 
Medical Exam

On the I 693 form it says "schedule an appointment with a physician on this list?" I couldn't see any names of physicians on there? Also, we just got our appointment for the DORA process on infopass, so I am unclear as to when the medical is done? before or after the interview?
 
soniya9 said:
On the I 693 form it says "schedule an appointment with a physician on this list?" I couldn't see any names of physicians on there? Also, we just got our appointment for the DORA process on infopass, so I am unclear as to when the medical is done? before or after the interview?

Hi:

You need to use the USCIS website to find a doctor in your area. (you can use any doctor listed there.) You MUST make an appointment, see the doctor and get your results (normally takes 2 days, since you have to go back for the TB reading) BEFORE the interview.

The interviewing officer will expect a sealed envelope with the forms at the interview as part of your documents. DO NOT OPEN the envelope before the officer does so.
 
EAD on DORA interview

Thank you.

The other thing is that my new employer insists on me begining to work by the end of this month and is ready to help with anything that would be required with the USCIS at our interview scheduled for next week to help receive an EAD. I am currently working with a local goverment and will also be moving to a local government.

Would I have to request some sort of a letter from my new employer addressed to the USCIS expressing the urgency for me to start employment. Would this help in anyway to receive the EAD faster? Do you know if this has been done previously in the DORA process?
 
Hi Pianoplayer

You had mentioned that we need to have affidavit of support from relatives and friends. What is this affidavit of support for? and is there a sample that I can refer to somewhere?

I have my interview scheduled for tomorrow and need to get this done ASAP.

Also, is there a penalty if I am uanble to make it to the interview tomorrow, due to not having completed all required paperwork?

let me know.

Thanks
 
soniya9 said:
Hi Pianoplayer

You had mentioned that we need to have affidavit of support from relatives and friends. What is this affidavit of support for? and is there a sample that I can refer to somewhere?

I have my interview scheduled for tomorrow and need to get this done ASAP.

Also, is there a penalty if I am uanble to make it to the interview tomorrow, due to not having completed all required paperwork?

let me know.

Thanks

Hi:

I am not quite sure what affidavit of support you are talking about. The I864 is a financial affidavit completed by your USC spouse (and an additional I864 by a co-sponsor if your spouse does not meet the financial requirements by himself).

I suspect you are talking about just regular letters from family/friends testifying to your relationship. These are NOT mandatory and are merely suggested as evidence. If you want to use these, the relatives/friends can write a brief letter (including their address, contact information, signature) about how they know you and your spouse, how they've seen you together as a couple etc. etc. 2 letters will be enough.

But please DO NOT CANCEL YOUR INTERVIEW because of these letters. They are not required.

There is no penalty for cancelling the interview, but why? Get the documents done before tomorrow if at all possible. If it were me, I would work through the night. Unless there is some vital document you can't obtain by tomorrow, get it done.

If you must cancel, do so online at the Infopass webpage.
 
Hi Pianoplayer

The other question that I had was about the affidavits u mentioned in the previous treads. What affidavits are these? Are these confirming our wedding? Is there a sample affidavit available somewhere I can refer to? Also, is there a birthdate affidavit required for family based green card?

Also, I have my interview tomorrow and might have to postpone it due to lack of documents? Is there a fine for cancellation?
 
soniya9 said:
Hi Pianoplayer

The other question that I had was about the affidavits u mentioned in the previous treads. What affidavits are these? Are these confirming our wedding? Is there a sample affidavit available somewhere I can refer to? Also, is there a birthdate affidavit required for family based green card?

Also, I have my interview tomorrow and might have to postpone it due to lack of documents? Is there a fine for cancellation?

Hi:

As I have stated, no fine for a cancellation. No affidavit needed for birthdate, assuming that you have a valid birth certificate. The affidavits are described in my reply to you above. They can be simple letters by friends/relatives (no more than two needed, with a signature, contact info and address for person writing it), stating how they know you, that they believe in your marriage, that they have seen you as a couple together etc. etc. Again, these letters are NOT REQUIRED ---- if you have sufficient other evidence, you need not provide these. There are some sample affidavits on the Internet, you can try Google if you want one, but you can make up your own one.

Go through the list of documents carefully and see if you can get it together before tomorrow. It would be nice to get this done wouldn't it?

Good luck.
 
Thanks Pianoplayer,

I am sorry about the double posts, didn't realize it moved to the next page:)(duh!). I didn't see your message till now and postponed my interview. We will keep trying to see if we find an opening again this week. You're right about getting this done! Can't wait!

Thanks again for all your help...oh that reminds me...I do have my birthcertificate, but have a photocopy of it, because I was born outside the united states and my mom in India has the original. Would the photocopy work?
 
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