DREAM Act Portal Forum - Hey guys, I got approved. wtf?(August 2012 club member)

I applied late August of last year and am just now getting approved. I received an RFE 2 months ago & got an approval on the 22nd. So close to 1 year of waiting.. but better late than never I guess.

To all those still waiting.. You've all heard this time & time again but not checking to see if you've been approved helps IMMENSELY. I was borderline suffering from depression from seeing the dreaded "Initial Review" everyday I checked my application number on the USCIS website. I stopped checking it around late March - early April, stopped checking the forums, & legitimately managed to forget about the whole DACA thing. I received an RFE a little later & submitted it thinking , "Whatever. It's taken this long to receive anything at all. So I might as well expect to wait another couple of months." Shortly thereafter, I looked for work, found a job, & kept myself busy for a while. I was getting ready for bed on the 25th & randomly checked my case status after months of not remembering it & it said I got approved on the 22nd lol. EAD came in the mail the very next day. Just waiting on my SSC now.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, August 2012 Applicants. I can't offer much personally(& I genuinely wish I could).. but I do sincerely hope that anybody still waiting from August of last year hangs on. You were one of the first ones to apply , just like I was, & I understand just how much waiting this long & struggling can wear you down mentally & emotionally. It's drains everything out of you & in basic terms, it FU***** sucks.

The best advice I can offer is keep busy & find work. No matter how much it pays or how hard the work is, take what you can get & do whatever you can to obtain & keep anything you manage to get. Having more money in your pocket makes it all easier & will also keep you away from checking your case status. Keep your heads up guys. I won't be checking the forums very often anymore but until next time; I wish you all the very best & god bless.

(**also: I almost forgot..with my RFE I included a sincere, hand-written letter to whoever was reviewing my case & placed it on top of everything else I submitted. Idk if that helped, but I figured it was worth a shot & for some reason I feel like it did something.. & something is better than nothing)