GC in 89 days, DORA ROCKS !!!
Hi,
Just got an email last night. I was on the internet around 11-11:30 last night when I got a new email notification from "CRIS". I immedietly opened my inbox and was amazed to find my case had been approved. The email was for I-130. When I went to USCIS.GOV website to check for my I-485 status, I couldnt find my case status online. I have heard thats normal and it should say approved in a day or two.
Heres the whole story from START.
I started looking for DORA appointment around end of july. Got one for sept 6 after trying for more than a week. Then in 1st week of august I found another opening for 11th AUG. I tried getting it but couldnt since I already had one for 6th sept. So I got it in my wifes name. Now the problem was I wasnt properly prepared as it was too soon. Got everything together the best way I could and left for dallas a day early. A day before my appointment I went to catholic family services (CFS) Immigration counselor in Fort Worth just be sure to get there before 8 am. They charged $25 ( not sure if it was $20) for it. The counselor went through all my documents pointed out my mistakes in all the forms, advised me about the interview, gave some advise to my wife. He was real nice, worth it (which is really cheap). Then we started looking for motels, found days Inn for $45 which is less than 10 mins drive from DALLAS DO. slept for most part of the day as we were driving most of the night before. Woke up in the evening started getting all the forms straight. Had to refill some ( as pointed out by CFS,Fort Worth). We ended around 4 am at Fedex Kinkos (open 24 hrs) getting all photocopies and is around 15 mins drive from Days Inn. Came back slept for couple of hrs and were at DALLAS DO around 7:45. This is where I got my biggest shock. There was a security guard checking everybody's appointment letter as soon they got in line. He informed us that we were at wrong place. The Dora Office is seperate and is further down the road. We barely made it for our 8am appt. Waited in waiting room without food for 3 hrs.
The interview:
It was going smooth till she asked for photos. For watever reason I had only two. She said thats it??. Then she started looking at our bills/mail. 90% was in my name, she asked us why. I told her its my Indian culture where husband takes care of all financial matters. She wasnt convinced, asked my wife to step out asked me some basic questions, all the while writing something on a paper, and then did the same to my wife. At the end she gave us a printout and informed us we were accepted in DORA and also gave another letter ( RFE ) asking me to send more photos and mail in my wifes name in a month. While I was out she asked my wife to send any/all junk mail in her name like credit card offers, magazine offers etc. She also told us to transfer some bills in my wifes name as we will need them in 2 yrs for renewal of GC.
Sent the requested stuff in 3 weeks. Got scared if they recieved it or not so sent them another packet with same stuff 4 days before the deadline for RFE.
Got FP appointment for sept 23. At the appointment I was sent back due to a cut on my right thumb and told to return ASAP after it heals. They also wrote a note on my FP appointment letter. Informed me No appoitnment was needed to come back. Got another letter from USCIS stating if I didnt get my FP done by Oct 15th my application would be denied. I never informed USCIS about why I didnt have my FP done on 23rd sept and I am guessing neither did the ASC staff cared to do that. Went back on OCT 11th had my FP done in 10 mins, the place was empty around 2 pm in LUBBOCK.
I was scared that my case would be delayed because of my RFE and then the delay in FP. But DORA rocks. A days before my 90 days would be up IAM APPROVED. Never recieved any 70 day letter.
This forum really helped with the whole process !!!.
Hi,
Just got an email last night. I was on the internet around 11-11:30 last night when I got a new email notification from "CRIS". I immedietly opened my inbox and was amazed to find my case had been approved. The email was for I-130. When I went to USCIS.GOV website to check for my I-485 status, I couldnt find my case status online. I have heard thats normal and it should say approved in a day or two.
Heres the whole story from START.
I started looking for DORA appointment around end of july. Got one for sept 6 after trying for more than a week. Then in 1st week of august I found another opening for 11th AUG. I tried getting it but couldnt since I already had one for 6th sept. So I got it in my wifes name. Now the problem was I wasnt properly prepared as it was too soon. Got everything together the best way I could and left for dallas a day early. A day before my appointment I went to catholic family services (CFS) Immigration counselor in Fort Worth just be sure to get there before 8 am. They charged $25 ( not sure if it was $20) for it. The counselor went through all my documents pointed out my mistakes in all the forms, advised me about the interview, gave some advise to my wife. He was real nice, worth it (which is really cheap). Then we started looking for motels, found days Inn for $45 which is less than 10 mins drive from DALLAS DO. slept for most part of the day as we were driving most of the night before. Woke up in the evening started getting all the forms straight. Had to refill some ( as pointed out by CFS,Fort Worth). We ended around 4 am at Fedex Kinkos (open 24 hrs) getting all photocopies and is around 15 mins drive from Days Inn. Came back slept for couple of hrs and were at DALLAS DO around 7:45. This is where I got my biggest shock. There was a security guard checking everybody's appointment letter as soon they got in line. He informed us that we were at wrong place. The Dora Office is seperate and is further down the road. We barely made it for our 8am appt. Waited in waiting room without food for 3 hrs.
The interview:
It was going smooth till she asked for photos. For watever reason I had only two. She said thats it??. Then she started looking at our bills/mail. 90% was in my name, she asked us why. I told her its my Indian culture where husband takes care of all financial matters. She wasnt convinced, asked my wife to step out asked me some basic questions, all the while writing something on a paper, and then did the same to my wife. At the end she gave us a printout and informed us we were accepted in DORA and also gave another letter ( RFE ) asking me to send more photos and mail in my wifes name in a month. While I was out she asked my wife to send any/all junk mail in her name like credit card offers, magazine offers etc. She also told us to transfer some bills in my wifes name as we will need them in 2 yrs for renewal of GC.
Sent the requested stuff in 3 weeks. Got scared if they recieved it or not so sent them another packet with same stuff 4 days before the deadline for RFE.
Got FP appointment for sept 23. At the appointment I was sent back due to a cut on my right thumb and told to return ASAP after it heals. They also wrote a note on my FP appointment letter. Informed me No appoitnment was needed to come back. Got another letter from USCIS stating if I didnt get my FP done by Oct 15th my application would be denied. I never informed USCIS about why I didnt have my FP done on 23rd sept and I am guessing neither did the ASC staff cared to do that. Went back on OCT 11th had my FP done in 10 mins, the place was empty around 2 pm in LUBBOCK.
I was scared that my case would be delayed because of my RFE and then the delay in FP. But DORA rocks. A days before my 90 days would be up IAM APPROVED. Never recieved any 70 day letter.
This forum really helped with the whole process !!!.
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