D.O.R.A.

[Gman 0]

Hi and welcome,

Answering your questions...

1) Get your appointment NOW! As I wrote in a previous post it can take a while so get it now so you have a date to work towards.

2) AOS interview. Yes you're right - paperwork and interview in one. See earlier in this thread for packet information. And I think there's only one venue.

3) Biometrics. There are four locations where this can be done in Dallas. There may be other offices nearer you though... I don't know. You can ask at the interview.

4) Optional EAD/AP interview. This is optional since [a] you may get your greencard within the 90 days so there's no need and you may choose to wait for the greencard proper rather than get EAD and AP. I suspect this can only be in Dallas but I may be wrong - again, check with your interviewing officer.

Good luck to ya.

Gman

Edit: for ease of reference... here's the old DORA thread.

Edited March 29, 2006 by Gman

[tamarae 0]

Awesome Gman, thanks for clarifying.

Looks like the appointment in Dallas, but with my being out of town for work, I need to find out when I can be back before I start trying to make an appointment. I did sneak a peek at Infopass tho, and its offering the 24th and 25th of April at the moment.

Turns out there's a fingerprinting office here in town.. WOOHOO, that helps things a ton, at least from the driving standpoint.

I think our AoS packet is about ready, spent several hours tonight, and need to go visit the notary for the I-864 tomorrow, then its just up to waiting on the certified copy of the marriage certificate to arrive. Hopefully it'll turn up next week so we can copy it and stick it in the package.

I'm excited now, we're close to being ready to do this!

[tamarae 0]

One more quick question:

How far in advance does Infopass show available appointments?

Its only giving us the 25th of April at this moment, but I'd kinda like to aim for a Friday to try to juggle it with all of this out of town work stuff and trying to get kids taken care of so we can make the trip to Dallas.

Thanks all, I'm getting more and more freaked out every day..lol

[Inlove_tx 0]

Hello tamarae, and WELCOME!!!

Well, Gman pretty much answered all your questions!

As far as the Infopass appointments are concerned, try and check the site every few hours or so...I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes people cancel their appointments at the last minute, so a date "magically" appears on the site. Especially if you try around midnight or so...that's when I got mine!

For the AOS interview, you need to go to the Dallas office, but for the Biometrics they usually pick the closest office to where you live.

Here's the list of documents they gave us right before the interview and the order in which they requested them: make sure you have them and you will have the interview that same day...pretty cool, isn't it!

======================================

"Please place your documents in the following order (If Applicable)"

1. I-485, Application to Adjust Status

2. I-485A, Supplement (if applicable)

3. Birth Certificate of Beneficiary and Translation into English

4. G-325A, Biographic Information for Beneficiary.

5. Beneficiary Proof of Entry I-94 and/or Passport

6. I-864, Affidavit of Support and/or Sponsor

7. (Past 3 years) Income Tax Returns for petitioner & W-2 Statements

8. Current Letter of Employment or Three recent Pay Statements

9. Sealed Medical Envelope, Containing I-693 & I-693A

10. I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, or I-130 Approval Notice or Receipt

11. Marriage Certificate (If Applicable)

12. Copy of Petitioner's Passport

13. Copy of Petitioner's Birth Certificate or Naturalization Certificate

14. Copy of Petitioner's Birth Alien Resident Card

15. G-325A, Biographic Information for Petitioner

16. Evidence of Commingling of assets of Petitioner & Beneficiary (If Appropriate). Such documents include Birth Certificates of Children, Lease Agreements, Proof of Insurance, Bank Statements and Mortage Documents.

======================================

You don't apply for EAD or AP at the interview, because the goal of the program is to complete the entire AOS process within 90 days, and you won't need them. If they realize that they won't be able to complete your AOS within 90 days, they will send you a letter after about 70-75 days (we call it the "70th Day Latter"), scheduling a date for you to go to the office and receive your EAD and/or AP on the spot (paying the fee, of course).

Well, I guess that's it, for now. Please, feel free to ask any questions!

Again, WELCOME to our little corner and GOOD LUCK!

[Gman 0]

Infopass? Mwahah [evil laughter].

This is a huge PITA -- or at least as far as I can tell. I think I've already moaned about it on the old forums.

They seem to release dates 28 days or so in advance. Unfortunately get snapped up almost immediately. I've read (on VJ... can't find the post) that this is because some unscrupulous lawyers have interns constantly monitoring the site who book up available appointments (you can book with any old random data). Thus the lawyers can pop into the DORA offices pretty much at a moment's notice.

You *can* get appointments earlier than 28 days out, sometimes even the next day -- I eventually got mine within 8 days or so. You just have to be lucky enough to log on when they're available i.e. just after someone has cancelled an appointment. (I just spotted one for tomorrow at 9.15am.)

Unfortunately for good ole Joe Public we generally book using genuine details (Name, DoB, phone number etc.), which means you can only make one appointment. Fair enough? No... I don't think so. Because if you subsequently find an earlier appointment you have to cancel your existing appointment BEFORE you can snap it up. And I guarantee that by the time you cancel it and get back to the booking page someone else will have snapped up the appointment you wanted.... so just hope that at least your original appointment is there too. (I lost out on both appointments once.)

So, I worked out a way to get around this:

1) Book an appointment NOW! :-) Hang on to it. Now... you can no longer use your genuine details (TRUE DETAILS) to browse for earlier appointments since when you enter your details you will just be taken directly to your existing appointment. So if you want to check for earlier dates you have to enter fictitious details.

2) When browsing under fake credentials (FAKE1) if you find a new appointment you want.... BOOK IT TOO! Now you have new appointment with fake details (FAKE1) and your old appointment under your TRUE credentials. You want to get the new appointment under your TRUE credentials without risking losing the old appointment:

[a] Open a new browser window and enter a new set of fictitious details (FAKE2) - don't click on to the final 'results' page.

Cancel your old appointment in the first browser window (TRUE DETAILS) and then IMMEDIATELY click the 'Continue' button on FAKE2 so you can rebook your old appointment under FAKE2 credentials. (Just in case.)

[c] Repeat the above by using your TRUE details to get to the page before the bookings screen, cancel your new booking under FAKE1 in one window and immediately click 'Continue' and book the appointment under your TRUE details.

[d] If successful, make sure you cancel your old appointment (FAKE2) so that another poor soul can get it.

That all seems pretty complicated and longwinded but it's not really. Note that, if you use fake credentials, make sure you remember them - that way you can cancel them or otherwise access the appointment.

Furthermore, constantly entering your details on the web site can wear down even the most dedicated of VJ'ers. When making my appointment I wrote an application that automatically does it all for you - so all you need to do is click a button (no more typing!). If you want it -- you're more than welcome. I just tested it and it still works.

That's far too much spout from me. Good luck.

Gman

Edited March 29, 2006 by Gman

[tamarae 0]

7. (Past 3 years) Income Tax Returns for petitioner & W-2 Statements

Is this still true for the 3 years thing? Because the uscis website for the I-864 now says:

A photocopy or an Internal Revenue Service-issued transcript of a photocopy or an Internal Revenue Service-issued transcript of your complete Federal income tax return for your most recent tax year, or an explanation if it is not submitted. Your W-2s and/or 1099 forms may also be required, see the I-864 instructions for details.

Just curious and reviewing the list to make sure we've got it all accumulated for when we do actually get the appointment.

We're both going to keep hitting Infopass as often as possible.. and pray a "good" appointment date crops up soon.

You guys are so full of knowledge and helpful. I really appreciate your time.

[Inlove_tx 0]

tamarae:

The list they gave us said three years, so we brought all of them at the interview, and they kept them. The officer, though, was actually interested more in the last year's tax return, and not much in the others.

I don't know whether it's changed now...my list is from last Sept.

Gman:

You can book the appointment under your name, and if another one shows up you can book it under your spouse's name...then go back and cancel the first one!

Edited March 29, 2006 by Inlove_tx

[Gman 0]

You can book the appointment under your name, and if another one shows up you can book it under your spouse's name...then go back and cancel the first one!

Sounds a good idea to me. I did it all in my name cos I read (on VJ I think) that it should always be in the petitioner's name -- not that they really care that much I'm sure.

[Inlove_tx 0]

No, I don't think they care...or, at least, we never had a problem with getting in, and we always booked the appointments (even the ones just to talk to an officer) under my hubby's name (USC). As long as both go to the appointment and present ID's, it can be booked under either's name.

[Gman 0]

It's really quite confusing when you change your avatar - I know it's Inlove_tx... but it feels like someone else!

[Inlove_tx 0]

It's really quite confusing when you change your avatar - I know it's Inlove_tx... but it feels like someone else!

Gman:

Thank you SO much for making me laugh...I really needed it today...it's so gloomy outside!

You cracked me up...thanks!

Anyway, if it can help, the pic in the avatar is pretty resemblant to my real pic!

[Gman 0]

Glad I made you laugh. And for what it's worth... I like the new avatar! Yes indeed. Ita vero.

[geordieluvr 1]

OK guys.... Our 90 days is next Tuesday... and we have had no 70 day letter... Could this be a good sign. We still have not had Stevens biometrics appt letter yet... which worries us but the info pass appt. lady told us everything look fine... I really hope since we haven't received the 70 day letter everything is moving along

[Gman 0]

OK guys.... Our 90 days is next Tuesday... and we have had no 70 day letter... Could this be a good sign. We still have not had Stevens biometrics appt letter yet... which worries us but the info pass appt. lady told us everything look fine... I really hope since we haven't received the 70 day letter everything is moving along

Well you never know but.... it all looks pretty good doesn't it?! So a hopefully-not-premature and timid *hurray* or possibly *yippee* might be in order. The missing biometrics sounds a bit fishy to me... but, I suspect, hubby's right to work is the most important thing here. Steven can get by waiting another month or so if he has to, right? Good for you anyway!

[geordieluvr 1]

Exactly... Hubby's working is vital!!! Steven.. well.. it just delay's getting his ss#...