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Helloo to everyone!! Best of luck on all of your applications!! Ok well here's my story.. I was born in Mazatlan, Sinaloa.. When I was a year old, my mother decided to take me and my older sister to live in the U.S. because life with my biological father was full of suffering and poverty. So we came to California (mom y mi hermana crusaron asi de atiro como illegales, por la frontera con los coyotes, pero como yo solo tenia un ano, pase en carro como un bebe con papeles! haha ^-^) In Cali, mom worked a ton and later decided Cali was wayyy to dangerous to raise my sister, my new baby bro, and me, so we moved to Iowa. In Iowa we moved around a few times, til we got to where we are now, where we've been for almost a decade!! It was here in Iowa that my beautiful awesome amazing wonderful mother not only learned English, but also got her GED!! If there is one person in this world that I love more than anything in the world, it my mami!! So anyway, unlike most of you, I ALWAYS knew, since I was a little girl, that I was in this country illegally and I don't have as many opportunities as others do... PERO, my amazing mother always told me to just hang in there and keep trying!!! Thanks to her, I always did great in school and was able to get some scholarships that don't require an SSN, regardless, college is still wayyyy expensive! I am going to the University of Northern Iowa and lets just say its not cheap!! That's why Im soooo excited that I got my EAD last week and am only waiting for the SSN now! That's my life in a nutshell, but I guess I left out all the negatives... Yea, I've been (am) poor, yea I had a shitty stepfather, yea it's been hard to find decent jobs, yea I've gotten pullled over and ticketed a bunch of times, yea life isn't easy.... Pero saben que???? YO NO ME RINDO PORQUE SIEMPRE HAY ESPERANZA Y CON LA AYUDA DE DIOSITO Y LA VIRGENSITA, SI SE PUEDE!!!!!! Best of luck to everyone, I honestly hope that everyone's process goes as smoothly as mine, and no matter what, don't you ever give up!! Don't ever give anyone the pleasure of seeing you give up!! Cuz we've all probably encountered someone in our lives that said we won't or shouldn't make it, pero con una chingada ya dije que SI SE PUEDE!! Adios, y que Dios los acompane!!

Hi guys my name is lili.I'm so glad and thankful that God has given us all the apportunity to finally be able to contribute.Even though I do feel like a failure because I did not finish high school.I'am currently enrolled in GED classes and already submitted my application.I must admit that I'm very intimated by some of you because of your education achivements.I hope they don't think that since I didn't even finish highschool I don't deserve it.Well everything is in the Lords hands may his will be done.

I was thinking about how to begin writing about this entire process of deferred action and how it has been. Today was my approval, the day I waited for so anxiously since its initial announcement. Many things came to my mind, memories. My life as undocumented has been one of struggles, loss of confidence, isolation, depression. I remember that day, friday 15, June 2012. It was just another regular day. I was sitting on the living room, it was about 2pm when I suddenly got the news from my mother about what had been announced. The feeling was unbelievable. I started cheering. Oh man, what a feeling that was. After having lived the life that I've lived since I've been here, DACA being what it is, was and it certainly is enough for me. Many might not be content but this is an opportunity and something is better than nothing. This is an opportunity for us to show America that we're a strong force and what they did, is the best thing they could've done. Overall, I've waited 52 days after sending my application. Took my Biometric appointment September 26th and got approved 33 days later. My processing facility was Vermont. My advise to those still waiting is that you must be patient. Every case is different, every adjudicator is different. Be positive! To those who about to apply the best advise you can get is not to rush on your application. Go over it multiple times, get somebody competent to go over it.

That's the attitude! porque si se puede! . Wish you the best and thank you for sharing your story

Thanks so much!! And best of luck to you too!! DOn't worry, I know you'll get it and good luck with your post-DACA approval plans!! ^-^

Rawf this is a quick summary of what I messaged him - Review of documents - Photocopy of Passport with Visa and I-84 if available Birth Certificate with a notarized translation Middle School transcript (if still in HS or recently graduated to prove 5+years) High School transcript or GED School ID's Proof of being present on June 15, 2012 - DACA announcement day 2 Passport pictures Deferred action application, work permit application, work permit worksheet. Any other information that might make your application stronger - letters from community leaders/teachers, bank statements, purchase receipts with your name, medical records, bills, employer letters, check stubs make sure they don't have a fake SSN listed. As far as the money order(s). I read the instructions and my understanding was to send 2 money orders. I have heard of people getting approved with only one, but I got approved as well with 2. Even if you don't want to want to work at this point, I would highly suggest to include a valid reason for working. Say you want to help your family, get internships in your field of study and or you want to work to pay for your college education. Take advantage of it. Hope this helps

If I'm correct, roadrunner helped you on this question. Please feel free to explain for others to read in the future. It's up to you :-)

Thanks you guys! Yes I'm ready to get that GED and better my self so that my family may have all that they deserve.But I haven't let these hurdles stop me and with God by my side everything is possible.

mz.lili ... don't feel intimidated and if you are taking GED classes that shows determination, shows that you want to accomplish what you didn't finish and i'm sure you will my best wishes to you God bless

I understand why you think that way. I myself almost dropout of high school during junior year because I knew I wasn't going to be able to able to afford college. I don't know why something inside me made me give it all I have and graduated on time. Since 2004 I've been working and make money barely enough to get by. I think that's why dreamers are going to do a lot cause we know how to appreciate the opportunities that would come.

when you are married, they use both incomes and both credit scores. having 2 incomes is always better then just one. his credit shouldnt take too big of a hit because you have no credit as opposed to if you had bad credit then his credit score would get lowered big time. if i were you, i would wait a year if you want to buy a house and then see if you could qualify for a FHA loan. an FHA loan is based on your income and a few other things but it helps because then you cant buy a house that you cant afford. google FHA loan and look for information on it. good luck

How about we inform ourselves before saying such things? I do not have a ssn and I do own two credit cards. My credit score is above 700 as well. All you need is an ITIN. So yeah it is possible and NO you do NOT need a SSN. Just for the record, one is a visa and the other one is an American Express.

there is no FAST and EASY way to build credit. it takes time and patience and VERY VERY good money management. it also takes a lot of responsibility. if you plan to open a credit card, buy things, then not pay for what you bought, you're basically stealing. this is one article that i read when it come to establishing credit. i think it's useful. http://www.ehow.com/how_4613092_establish-credit-fast.html

Wrong! You need a SSN to apply for a credit card.. And you DO NOT start with a 700 credit score, it takes years to build and establish good credit!

Here is some information I found that tells you what some of the things are that your credit score is based on. 1. Payment history 35%- It's important that whatever bill you may have to PAY ON TIME. Even bills that you may pay every month doesn't always show on your credit until you don't pay and become delinquent and then they'll report you. At one point in time, rent, utilities, car insurance, cell phone bills, were not reported as items to build credit. But that's changed, thanks to PRBC. PRBC allows you to self enroll and report the payments I mentioned along with others as a way to establish credit. By enrolling and having your monthly payments verified for a fee and reported after a year, you could qualify, for a mortgage! 2. Amount owed vs. available credit 30%- It's important that when you have credit cards, you don't use all of your available credit. You should use no more than 30% of your combined available credit from all your credit cards. 3. Length of time establishing credit 15%- The older the accounts, of course the better. but since you just got your social security number normally that would be rather hard. I do however have an idea that would help you get some established credit 100% legally. If you have a close friend or family member with excellent credit, ask them to add you as an authorized user on one or two of their oldest credit cards in good standing. They can keep and destroy the card that would be in your name as this would only be for reporting purposes only. Ideally the type of account that would be established for 3 years or more, with a high credit limit, low balance(30% or < the available credit), and a perfect payment history. If you're able to do this, once you're added the activity from that account will reflect on your report giving your score a boost. 4. Types of credit established 10%- The scoring system's designed to where 3 revolving (credit cards) and 1 installement (car loan, mortgage, furniture, appliance loan) would make for a fairly balanced mix of credit. You shouldn't load up just on all credit cards. Mix the different types of credit up if you can. The easiest credit card to get would be a secured credit card. A way to think of this would be as building credit with a savings account, because that's pretty much how it works. You put a deposit upfront that's usuall tied to a savings account to get the same amount of the deposit in a line of credit. The deposit doesn't pay for anything your charge or the minimum payment you may pay each month, unless you become so delinquent and the account's charged off and they use that deposit to offset the cost. But if you're wanting to build excellent credit you're not wanting to let that happen. 2 advantages of secured cards are that you can control the credit line by adding to the deposit to increase it instead of having to request for approval for an increase and the deposit is gathering interest while you're building credit. As long as you make your payments on time keep the balance < 30%, usually after a year the deposit is no longer needed and refunded back, and either the card converts to a regular unsecured card, or a better card is offered. I posted a link to Orchard Bank, which is a good place to start out building credit. You may get approved for a regular one with a small limit, and if all else fails, they offer secured cards to start out with. 5. Inquiries and New accounts vs. Established accounts 10% Each time that you apply for credit, your score drops up to 5 points, and if you're approved for the account, it can take up to a year for your score to reflect that increase. Also you want to apply sparingly, as multiple inquires in a short period can be seen as a red-flag to lender which give them the impression that you're desperate for credit. By becoming an authorized user, that satisfies having an established account which will attract potential creditors to give you and extend credit.

When you open a credit card line for the first time they usually give you a pretty high credit score based on your parent's score. If your parent's credit score is low, then they think you will also be. If your parent's doesnt own any credit cards, then your starting score will be over 700. What you can do is apply for a credit card (You don't even need a ssn to apply) and use 30% of the total credit line.. pay for it in full before the end of the month, within a year you should have a wonderful credit score allowing you to get a car or a house depending on your state laws.