DS-5535 (PAKISTAN)

[long_journey_2003 1]

good news,
I got in touch with someone on telegram , and it seems like that 2 cases who interview in ISB since May 2023, both were given DS5355
One was cleared within 5 months. 
One was Cleared within 7 months. 
so it seems like ISB is moving faster for 5355 than other consulates.

[brkendream 11]

On 2/23/2024 at 11:39 PM, long_journey_2003 said:

good news,
I got in touch with someone on telegram , and it seems like that 2 cases who interview in ISB since May 2023, both were given DS5355
One was cleared within 5 months. 
One was Cleared within 7 months. 
so it seems like ISB is moving faster for 5355 than other consulates.

Hello there , How are you , Any update on your case ? On my case 20 days gone , Still no reply(last date is still same interview date on ceac , which worries me now ).

Oh that's a great news , , This post of yours not only gives hope but also make my research online on Ds-5535 even more clear now(atleast for me),, This 5 months AP clearing case  means, fewer checks  and one security check after the other( this means all the security checks not started simultaneously to safe time).

So the person from future who is reading this and in Ds-5535 AP for immigrant visa , so far you already know that anything can trigger Ds-5535. But don't worry and keep reading. There a 3 to 4 main  security checks if you have travel history but never visited USA and you are not from 7 banned countries(and don't have any connections)if you are from those 7 countries then don't worry  their are 5 to 6 security checks , keep in mind if you don't have troubled past (let me say it "if you are not a security threat")  then each security check will take about 40 to 50 days to clear (3*50=150 days = 5 months). Some times if you are out of luck then your 1 normal security check can trigger/start 1 extra extensive security check or your file just go into waiting list for some superior officer to sign and clear at that security check. This will cause extra time delay and that time will add into your overall AP waiting time.. Don't forget to add 1 month for your embassy or consulate if you get your AP clear before your medical expiry date(if your medical expire then this will take 4 to 6 weeks).  

[brkendream 11]

I don't know if this info help any body in future who is reading this , I came across 2  AP(ds-5535) cases in Pakistan (Islamabad embassy) , both mail and both got Ds-5535 (yellow slip) on interview date , so here is the short summery.

Case 1. Category IR-1 , Male from Pakistan , Never visited any country , family business(normal) , I am not typing his full name , but one main part of his name is Osama , According to him interview went good but in the end of the interview he got yellow slip and passport return  , It took full 4 months to clear AP and he got his Visa in 2nd week of 5th month.(My guess just because of one part of his name this poor Pakistani male Muslim guy who never left Pakistan spent 4.5months in AP).

Case2. Category IR-1 , Male from Pakistan , well-off family , interview went well , got yellow slip (Ds-5535)in the end. He visited  many countries , especially Iran and KSA many times(religous purpose ) , Also with heavy Muslim name (just like case 1 name problem also there), His case is  still in AP after 1 year and 5 months. 

So readers , there is no way to predicate when your AP will end (but one can guess the reason why his/her case is in AP) , this all depend on your luck , Visa officer and the queue at any security check where your case file will go.. 

 

[brkendream 11]

On 2/23/2024 at 11:39 PM, long_journey_2003 said:

good news,
I got in touch with someone on telegram , and it seems like that 2 cases who interview in ISB since May 2023, both were given DS5355
One was cleared within 5 months. 
One was Cleared within 7 months. 
so it seems like ISB is moving faster for 5355 than other consulates.

hello 

Any update on your case ? Thanks in advance for telling. 

[long_journey_2003 1]

On 5/15/2024 at 6:06 PM, brkendream said:

hello 

Any update on your case ? Thanks in advance for telling. 

Nope still waiting …

[brkendream 11]

crossed 4 months mark in AP under Ds-5535 ,After 1 month gap, Emailed embassy,  No response from embassy . This was my second email to them , sending them email after 1 month started after 3 months in AP. 

This waiting period and especially ignoring by embassy is painful and hard ...............

[Nasir Shah 1]

F4 category 4of 6 members get visa and 2 get Ds5355 on 29 jan 2024, my self spouse of main Applicant and my son 18 years old any one know when it comlete

[brkendream 11]

On 6/3/2024 at 4:25 AM, long_journey_2003 said:

Nope still waiting …

Hello Sir , Any new update , Its quite as grave yard and cold as ice on my side 😔🤕

[brkendream 11]

On 7/7/2024 at 11:30 AM, Nasir Shah said:

F4 category 4of 6 members get visa and 2 get Ds5355 on 29 jan 2024, my self spouse of main Applicant and my son 18 years old any one know when it comlete

Shah G , there is no set time limit, 4 Persons with visa need to fly out of Pakistan, For remaining 2 this is just a wait game, painful, horrible wait game. 

I will tell you what I learn online so far, keep sending Islamabad embassy email after every 30 days and keep asking them for update, Involve congressman after 9 months in AP and start WoM proceedings after 12 months in AP. And keep praying. 

Thats about it, you or I or anyone else in AP under DS-5535 cannot do anything more than wait and time his/her congressman inquiry and WoM case filling time frame.  

WoM is very expensive and time consuming too and without any success guarantee. For WoM one need good USA immigration lawyer and WOM will cost hell lot of money in Pakistani rupees(cost for one person in US $ is 3000 to 7000 depend on lawyer and for WoM one need very good lawyer)

[long_journey_2003 1]

On 7/13/2024 at 9:27 AM, brkendream said:

Hello Sir , Any new update , Its quite as grave yard and cold as ice on my side 😔🤕

Nope nothing 

 

again from what I have seen it takes 1 year from day 5355 to get clearance 

[brkendream 11]

On 7/24/2024 at 2:48 AM, long_journey_2003 said:

Nope nothing 

 

again from what I have seen it takes 1 year from day 5355 to get clearance 

Hello sir,

Any update on your side ? I completed my 6th month and still no reply from US embassy Islamabad. 

On 7/7/2024 at 11:30 AM, Nasir Shah said:

F4 category 4of 6 members get visa and 2 get Ds5355 on 29 jan 2024, my self spouse of main Applicant and my son 18 years old any one know when it comlete

Hello Shah G ,

Any update on your side? 

[long_journey_2003 1]

On 8/24/2024 at 10:44 AM, brkendream said:

Hello sir,

Any update on your side ? I completed my 6th month and still no reply from US embassy Islamabad. 

Hello Shah G ,

Any update on your side? 

No updates yet 

 

it’s taking usually 9 months to 1 year before u hear back from

the us consulate 

[brkendream 11]

7 months completed in Ap,  4th email (each with 1 month gap) is on the way to Islamabad embassy. So far i got no reply from them and only had 1 last case update date change in 7 months . 

This got so pain full that words can't describe it. 

[mish.mavi 0]

So far, no movement.

 

My husband (Pakistan, IR-1) is still waiting since Nov 6, 2023, DS-5535 plus supplemental docs. Almost 10.5 months.

 

I have talked to another applicant regarding those who were born in the List of 26 Countries with a similar situation (technology background), and those F-1s have been waiting 1.5-2.5 years for AP. I am not hopeful that the 1 year mark for waiting is accurate.

 

On our WhatsApp group for Pakistan AP, another petitioner's parents (IR-5, DS-5535) got a medical request, so that's good news. They had interview on the same day as my husband. So they got medical request about 10 months after submitting DS-5535.

[brkendream 11]

On 9/19/2024 at 10:43 AM, mish.mavi said:

So far, no movement.

 

My husband (Pakistan, IR-1) is still waiting since Nov 6, 2023, DS-5535 plus supplemental docs. Almost 10.5 months.

 

I have talked to another applicant regarding those who were born in the List of 26 Countries with a similar situation (technology background), and those F-1s have been waiting 1.5-2.5 years for AP. I am not hopeful that the 1 year mark for waiting is accurate.

 

On our WhatsApp group for Pakistan AP, another petitioner's parents (IR-5, DS-5535) got a medical request, so that's good news. They had interview on the same day as my husband. So they got medical request about 10 months after submitting DS-5535.

Sorry to hear painful  situation you are in , I also share same pain , family parted/separated just because of one extra form that too after interview (interview that came after years of waiting) is horrible. 

Wait time extremely depend on Geopolitical situation, 9 to 12 months is for 50% of cases(just like you give one example in your post) , 13 to 18 months are for 30% of cases and 19 to 24+ months for remaining 20% of cases. Maybe Afghan in Pakistan waiting for USA visa also effecting Pakistanis waiting for USA visa applicant time line. 

Rumor in Islamabad is that Afghan national getting all the priority from last 3/4months (1000's of them getting USA visa) , people are talking about 1000s of them leaving the homes they were renting in Islamabad (of course they will not go back to Afghanistan). 

Please keep us updating about your case , stay strong , Keep me and all others in AP under Ds-5535 in your prayers . As I keep all in mine. 

Thank you.