Hershey

i guess im one of the lucky ones who can testify that DORA really works! i got my green card exactly 2 months after the infopass filing.

So,this just for couple living in Texas? I hope other district offices have the same kind of Rapid Adjustment.

not even for all of texas... only for dallas county, el paso county, and oklahoma city residents only.

my husband and i are residing here in dallas, and are therefore eligible for the DORA program. after completing my I-485 packet, we set an appointment through the infopass website. they took the whole packet and we were interviewed the very same day.

the civil surgeon will give your fiancee all the other required shots that were not given to her during her medical exam.

when i got the shots here in US, i didn't know that the USCIS has its list of civil surgeons designated to do the vaccinations. i got mine from a clinic who wasn't in their list. i was nervous to death that they wouldn't recognize it, but thankfully, it wasn't an issue. but i wouldn't recommend doing the same thing. i would go to a designated civil surgeon to be sure and not take any chances.

goodluck!

we (my husband and i) made the mistake of going to the SSA office right after our AOS-DORA infopass/appointment day and was told to come back until after the whole AOS process has been completed. the SSA officer said that they do not wish any conflicts regarding my status to arise so it would be best if we wait until i get my green card. we could have gotten a SS number for me as soon as we got married, but i guess i didn't do enough reading at that time, hehe. if only i'd known.

I am going through the dora system, when I take the forms and documents to file do I still need to have a cover letter. If so, do I just list the forms I am submitting rather than everything I am submitting with them (i.e photos, copies of passports etc etc).

Thank you

Poppy

I prepared a cover letter with the list of everything (forms and other requirements) I am submitting, just to be on the safe side. It wouldn't hurt if you make one.

thank u so much

and congrat for u recived ur green card

i used infopass for my appointment and i have appointment on 14 Feb.

thanks

you're most welcome! goodluck on your valentine date with the USCIS

Hi tweety and angela!

I filed my AOS with the DORA Program here in Dallas. Im sure that the same rules apply for Oklahoma. Yes, they do process K1 Visas because I myself is one. They're very quick, I'm telling you. I had my Infopass/Interview Appointment on December 11, 2006 and exactly 2 months after, I got my green card. I just got it in the mail yesterday!

I got mine yesterday!

How does DORA relate to the FBI namechecks I wonder? I mean, since everyone has to go through them surely there will be some people who get stuck in a namecheck and the whole 90 day thing won't work.

I'm sure there are cases like that. The Immigration Officer told me that if they cannot finish within 90 days due to some reason whatsoever, they will let the applicants know.

That is too funny

And the Welcome letter is a letter I got just before my GC arrived - complete with mispellings in it - oh well... did you get a case status message saying Welcome notice mailed? It just tells you your responsibilities as a permanent resident and to read everything carefully.

Hi everyone!

It really is so funny! I just got mine last Tuesday, and I noticed the misspelling too!

Glad it wasn't my name.

Hi Hershey, thanks very much for the help man!! that makes me feel at ease!, we have our appointment on Monday... Im glad it is allot less than i expected! Just to double check, did you have to pay anything for the I-130?? great if you didnt!

Well done on your approval, thats quick!! so lucky we live in the Dallas area!

Hi Dodger!

You're more than welcome! Glad I can help!

As far as I can remember, I didn't file any I-130 for and in relation to my adjustment, instead, I filed I-485 which is the 'Application To Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status'. Maybe you were referring to I-131 (Application for Travel Document) which allows your wife to travel outside of US while the AOS is still processing?

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Hi Savanphil!

The USCIS launched this pilot program, aim of which is to complete the AOS process within 90 days or less. Right now, it only applies to residents of Dallas, El Paso, and certain Oklahoma counties, which makes us very lucky because we don't have to wait for months and months before we get our green cards. I really hope they implement the same to the rest of the country. B)

Hi Dodger!

I had my AOS-DORA appointment last December 11, 2006 and I had to pay the total amount of $395.00, which covered the $325.00 filing fee for the I-485 and the $75.00 Biometrics services fee. It had to be in money order form because they do not accept cash or personal checks. It would be better if you have this ready before going to your appointment because they really wouldn't process your application unless your packet is complete. I had seen a lot of applicants who were told to complete their packets and/or have the correct money order fee and come back when everything is in order. Thankfully, I didn't have to experience that. I really owe it to the helpful members of VJ who never got tired of answering my questions.

Regarding the EAD, I asked the same question to the Immigration Officer who interviewed me (and my husband), and she was nice enough to explain to me that everyone who filed their AOS through the DORA Program need not file for an EAD since the ultimate objective of the program is to complete the adjustment within 90 days or less. However, if they cannot process and complete an application within the target date, they will inform the applicant, and at that time, he or she may file for an EAD.

I hope I was able to clear your mind about this. Goodluck on your application!

I already got my approval/welcome notice in the mail last Tuesday, and I'm now waiting for my green card.

Hi everyone! Just wanted to update y'all with what's happening to my DORA application.

I just got the the welcome notice in the mail yesterday, telling me that my application has been approved. I'm so excited to finally hear something from them! They also sent me an email saying that they have already ordered production of my card and that I should receive it within 3 weeks. Finally! I can start living a normal life, haha. DORA is the best! I hope they start implementing this all over US.

Goodluck on everybody's applications and congratulations to those who got approved!

Hi Jo!

I just read this thread today and I'm so sorry to hear about how your daughter's petition turned out. I'm sure that this is a tough time for your family. Just hang in there and be strong! I'm sure that there's a way to turn the USCIS' decision and let your daughter stay here for good. I'm hoping and praying for the best! God bless!

Hi everyone! My husband and I just got back from our AOS-DORA interview today and I'm so happy that everything went well. It was exactly how Jo had described it.

We got there around 10:30 this morning, went through the security check and all that. The officer at the window said that we should leave our appointment letter and wait to be called, which was what we did. After more than 2 hours of waiting, the officer called my name and asked for my I-485 packet. I handed her everything plus the $395.00 money order, and was then told to be seated while they review my papers. They were having some sort of technical/computer problems so the processing were running a bit late than normal--that's what the officer at the window said. After another 30 minues or so, they called my name again to hand me the "Congratulations" letter stating that I am admitted to the DORA Program. They also wrote down the approximate time of my interview, which should be about 15 minutes later. But since they were running late due to some problem, we had to wait for another hour before an Immigration came out of Door #2 and called my name. The interview lasted about 15 minutes, and it was great. The lady officer was so nice and didn't ask a lot of questions. She did ask me about my birthday, address, and other basic information, but that's jst about it. We showed her some of our pictures from the time we met up to the wedding. She also asked for some assets, or evidence thereof, that would show joint ownership. We had to give her a copy of my husband's insurance showing me as his beneficiary. That's it. I just have to wait for the fingerprinting schedule, which I hope won't take long.

Thank you so much for all your help. I now think its funny that I had to panic about this when it was so easy, haha. I hope my little experience would be helpful to future applicants too! Goodluck to us all!

Wow that was a detailed one! Thanks jo for posting that in here. That sure helped me and a lot of other applicants. We have the same appointment time so I guess we'll be waiting for a couple hours just like you did. I think I can finally stop stressing over this appointment since I have heard a lot of experiences from everybody about how easy it was. Thanks so much and goodluck in your case! I do hope that everything will be fine for your family. I'm sure it will be.

Thanks cbd2cai!

Hi antoniostar! Its to nice to hear from someone who had just recently done this DORA process. I'm glad to hear that your application has gone so smoothly and easily. I hope they will ask us the same questions, and be as easy on us as they were on you, haha. Thanks and Goodluck on your application as well!

Thank you so so so much Inlove_tx! I do appreciate all the infos. And it really helped... I don't feel as tense anymore, hehe. And about the EAD thing... thanks for clearing that up. I was thinking of the same thing but couldn't be certain about it. I guess I should go ahead and get my SSN since I still don't have one. I really hope they will be able to complete all cases in 90 days or less. I think we're ready for our interview on monday. We'll be there as early as we can. I hope everything goes well. I will let you know how it went.

Thanks so much again!

I'm glad that there is a DORA thread in here, and that there are people who have done this process ahead.

I have my infopass appointment on monday for my I-485 and I'm a little nervous about it. I've read a lot of posts and it seemed that the DORA program is faster and easier, which I hope will be the same for me. I just have a couple of questions, though, and if someone, anyone knows anything about these things, I'd really appreciate to hear from yo:

1. Our appointment time is at 11:15 AM. Do we (my USC husband and I) have to be there hours before or can we just show up like 30 mins before?

2. What do we need to do when we get there?

3. Would the Immigration Officers make the interview right there and then? If so, what sort of questions do they ask?

4. If I filed for an EAD at the same day, how soon can they issue the same to me so that I can start working?

5. What other documents/evidence should we bring just in case they ask for it?

I hope that someone could help me out here. I'm sure that this interview will be easier than the k1 visa interview, but I'm still a little bit panicky, hehe. I would love to hear from you.

Thanks!

Paitently Waiting,

Just wanted to update you on our K1 visa status!

We are APPROVED!

After all my complaints, delbros had delivered her visa in just 2 days!

She received her visa in hand on 9-27-06!

Thanks so much for the encouraging words! I wish everyone the best of luck!

I just called that high dollar phone number from the USA 1-888-877-9888 to see what is the status. They tell me that it is in processing and that 3 things could happen.

1. It gets approved

2. It gets put on Admin Review

3. Or it gets denied

Therefore, even if the consular says it is approved, that doesnt mean squatt!

I think that this system sucks! (Is it ok if i vent for a minute?)

After waiting for God knows how long, paying 10's of thousands of dollars for lawyer fees, flights, etc.... You still have to wait for those idiots to get their A$$'$ in gear to check over your paper work one last time!

arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh! (Pulling hair out)

Is their a phone number and someone that i can call and talk to there to find out for sure what is its status?

I am about to freak out if i dont know for sure!

Patiently Waiting,

Thank You for replying!

I am not sure if it was a sticker that she had seen. She says it was a 3x7 white card, like a note card, that said "IV-APPROVED" Is this the sticker that you are referring too?