I'm new on this board, though I've been reading all the threads a lot.
I applied with DORA a while ago and since then I've done nothing but just sit and wait for time to go by and things to (hopefully) happen.
Anticlimacus, I read your post and I think you are VERY right. What you described is exactly what I've been doing all this time, and even before applying. I spent (and still do) hours and hours online searching for immigration discussions and opinions and, I must say, one of the reason our interview was so smooth and relaxing is because of you guys, because of the forums I've been reading, and because knowing about other people's experiences and suggestions made me feel ready and prepared.
Honestly, I don't know if I would be that ready and prepared without it. Anyhow, we passed, I couldn't be any happier, and now I know that I just have to PATIENTLY sit and wait.
And that's the problem.
Let me tell you, dear Inlove, that I TOTALLY understand you and how you feel.
As I said, I know what Anticlimacus said is absolutely right, but it's not that easy. We're people, we think, we have feelings, and it's not simple at all to sit and wait for things to happen, when you're used to being a REAL person with a REAL life.
Applying through the DORA program means that for an average of 90-whatever days you're nothing. You're not an immigrant and you're not a non-immigrant, you can't have a SS#, you can't drive, you can't apply for EAD nor for AP, therefore you can't work nor leave the country and go visit your family no matter what. I'm sorry, but no matter how hard I try, it's been hard for me to think about ANYTHING else but immigration sh** ever since I applied.
Ok, I'll sit and wait...and do what? My husband is at work everyday and I'm stuck at home alone doing nothing all day. Well, it's easy to go online and read about other people's experiences, as a matter of fact it's the only thing that keeps me going, right now.
You guys are the only people that can understand how it feels to go through these morally devastating AOS applications. And believe me, it's even harder when on the other side of the world you have a family who cares for you and a mom/dad/brother/sister who call you everyday crying because they miss you and want to see you, and you know you're stuck here doing NOTHING for months.
I know that if an emergency arises, you're allowed to ask for AP even though you didn't get the 70th day letter and even though the 90 days are not up (I was told this during the interview), but how true is that? How possible is it to convince the heart-deprived USCIS officers that it's VITAL for you to go back home?
This is what kills me. Knowing that you're considered NOTHING for months, even the simpliest rights as visiting your home country are denied to you, no matter how important it is, and it's not like I could ever think: "Ok, I'll be on vacation for the next 3-whatever months, I'll sleep in in the morning while my husband goes to work everyday, I'll just watch tv for hours relaxing on the couch and I'll just wait for my life to go by"...as appealing as it might sound, believe me, it's not.
I've studied hard and worked all my life, I've always been independent and free to do whatever I wanted and it's not easy for me to have NOTHING to do, day after day, after day, after day...I'm starting to feel like a vegetable, I can't get up in the morning because I know there's nothing to do after I get up, and it's depressing.
Thanks Anticlimacus for your words, I wish I could follow your suggestions and, believe me, I'll try.
But Inlove, I understand you completely, and I'm with you, right now...please, PM me if you want, I'd love to talk to you.
Sorry about this LONG message, just my 2 cents. Good luck guys, and congratulations robsausa!
