We are so happy that this moment finally happened to me and
my wife – we have got our green cards in the mail box earlier
this week – and now we can go on with our lives…
… but back to the days of getting my DV2006 package a year
ago, it was really-really helpful to find the material in the forums,
like this one, about all the necessary steps and documents you
need to go through to eventually get your card. Now I realize that
somebody’s good/bad experiences with timelines were the most
helpful postings. Here I will list our steps and actions which
finally resulted in receiving most-wanted cards. Here are they:
[06-05-05]
Received DV2006 package, case #2006EU8XXX;
[06-28-05]
Sent DSP-122 to KCC; (with delivery confirmation)
Sent (regular) $750 check to DOS; (with delivery confirmation)
[07-05-05]
Check was cashed; received receipt from DOS;
[07-19-05]
Received the letter from KCC that they are aware now
about our intention to do AOS;
[01-30-06]
Hired a lawyer;
[02-24-06]
Prepared all the docs for filing AOS case, including
I-485, I-765, I-131.
[03-01-06]
Our number became current; our case was sent to
National Benefit Center USCIS in Chicago by FedEx;
asked for tracking number;
[03-02-06]
Package was delivered
[03-08-06]
Received I-797C receipts for all the forms;
[03-12-06]
Created an account at USCIS online service to be
informed about change in status of all our applications;
[03-22-06]
Took fingerprints at ASC;
[05-04-06]
Received the invitations to our interview scheduled in the
second half of June;
[05-19-06]
Received approved I-130;
[05-29-06]
Received approved I-765;
[06-XX-06] (two days before interview)
Talked to my lawyer so that he prepares I-134 with
myself as a sponsor; The list of all documents we brought
to our interview was listed in one of my previous posts in
this forum;
[06-XX-06]
Went to the interview; Officer asked all the necessary questions
about our past, including education, work experience, children,
common property, savings; It was fine and easy; Not easy moment
happened when she said that we need to leave the office and wait
in the hall for an answer: the officer did not tell us whether the
name check was finished; While we were waiting in the hall, our
lawyer left us to accompany other clients; Right after that moment
the officer appeared in the window and asked us for I-134; That
was really not what we expected as our I-134 form was in our
lawyer case; We said that we do not have it right now, however,
we can fill it out right away, and, what is more important, we
can present all our common assets which can prove that we will
not be a burden to US; It worked, though the officer left again to
continue working with our documents; Hopefully, when
the officer showed up the second time we have our lawyer with us
with I-134 filled up; The officer checked it, took our I-131,
I-765, and announced that we are granted “green cards”; Then
the officer stamped our passports and wished good luck.
[07-03-06]
Received the cards in the mail box!
This adventure assured me that successful experience with
DV lottery is equivalent to winning not one but several lotteries
at once on the go, including but not restricting to receiving first
package, successful delivery of your file, nice officer to consider
your case, approved fingerprints, approved name check, nice
officer on the interview. That drastically decreases a chance
you win any other lotteries in your life
Hope it is worth it.
This experience is just a particular case and may not be repeated
exactly for those who applied for AOS in the states other then ours.
Definitely you can not use it if you are doing Consular Processing -
totally different story.
Finally, this is what I found crucial in my case (though, it is only
my opinion, and it is not a dogma):
1. hire a lawyer; this is not the case when you should safe
your money; especially if you are really nervous to go to
interview alone (and you will be nervous for no reason) or not
sure what document to send; a chance to win the lottery may
be the first and the last one in your life!
2. read all possible forums on the subject; however, do not take
everything seriously as a particular experience may not be
applicable for your situation;
3. consider to do CP instead of AOS; AOS is very risky; if we had
opportunity to leave US we would definitely go for CP;
4. visit as many lawyer offices as possible just to talk; you do not
need to hire all of them, instead, during the conversation you can
get a lot of valuable information;
I wish you all the same result and be cool…
senya
my wife – we have got our green cards in the mail box earlier
this week – and now we can go on with our lives…
… but back to the days of getting my DV2006 package a year
ago, it was really-really helpful to find the material in the forums,
like this one, about all the necessary steps and documents you
need to go through to eventually get your card. Now I realize that
somebody’s good/bad experiences with timelines were the most
helpful postings. Here I will list our steps and actions which
finally resulted in receiving most-wanted cards. Here are they:
[06-05-05]
Received DV2006 package, case #2006EU8XXX;
[06-28-05]
Sent DSP-122 to KCC; (with delivery confirmation)
Sent (regular) $750 check to DOS; (with delivery confirmation)
[07-05-05]
Check was cashed; received receipt from DOS;
[07-19-05]
Received the letter from KCC that they are aware now
about our intention to do AOS;
[01-30-06]
Hired a lawyer;
[02-24-06]
Prepared all the docs for filing AOS case, including
I-485, I-765, I-131.
[03-01-06]
Our number became current; our case was sent to
National Benefit Center USCIS in Chicago by FedEx;
asked for tracking number;
[03-02-06]
Package was delivered
[03-08-06]
Received I-797C receipts for all the forms;
[03-12-06]
Created an account at USCIS online service to be
informed about change in status of all our applications;
[03-22-06]
Took fingerprints at ASC;
[05-04-06]
Received the invitations to our interview scheduled in the
second half of June;
[05-19-06]
Received approved I-130;
[05-29-06]
Received approved I-765;
[06-XX-06] (two days before interview)
Talked to my lawyer so that he prepares I-134 with
myself as a sponsor; The list of all documents we brought
to our interview was listed in one of my previous posts in
this forum;
[06-XX-06]
Went to the interview; Officer asked all the necessary questions
about our past, including education, work experience, children,
common property, savings; It was fine and easy; Not easy moment
happened when she said that we need to leave the office and wait
in the hall for an answer: the officer did not tell us whether the
name check was finished; While we were waiting in the hall, our
lawyer left us to accompany other clients; Right after that moment
the officer appeared in the window and asked us for I-134; That
was really not what we expected as our I-134 form was in our
lawyer case; We said that we do not have it right now, however,
we can fill it out right away, and, what is more important, we
can present all our common assets which can prove that we will
not be a burden to US; It worked, though the officer left again to
continue working with our documents; Hopefully, when
the officer showed up the second time we have our lawyer with us
with I-134 filled up; The officer checked it, took our I-131,
I-765, and announced that we are granted “green cards”; Then
the officer stamped our passports and wished good luck.
[07-03-06]
Received the cards in the mail box!
This adventure assured me that successful experience with
DV lottery is equivalent to winning not one but several lotteries
at once on the go, including but not restricting to receiving first
package, successful delivery of your file, nice officer to consider
your case, approved fingerprints, approved name check, nice
officer on the interview. That drastically decreases a chance
you win any other lotteries in your life
Hope it is worth it.This experience is just a particular case and may not be repeated
exactly for those who applied for AOS in the states other then ours.
Definitely you can not use it if you are doing Consular Processing -
totally different story.
Finally, this is what I found crucial in my case (though, it is only
my opinion, and it is not a dogma):
1. hire a lawyer; this is not the case when you should safe
your money; especially if you are really nervous to go to
interview alone (and you will be nervous for no reason) or not
sure what document to send; a chance to win the lottery may
be the first and the last one in your life!
2. read all possible forums on the subject; however, do not take
everything seriously as a particular experience may not be
applicable for your situation;
3. consider to do CP instead of AOS; AOS is very risky; if we had
opportunity to leave US we would definitely go for CP;
4. visit as many lawyer offices as possible just to talk; you do not
need to hire all of them, instead, during the conversation you can
get a lot of valuable information;
I wish you all the same result and be cool…
senya