The dreaded DS-5535 thread for Montreal. Post here and support each other (split)

[WishIWasntHere 53]

1 hour ago, BornOnAThursday said:

I've been lurking this forum for a few days. My family is in a similar situation...

My mother won the 2022 Diversity visa and went for her interview with my younger sister (under 21) in Montreal on March 17, 2022. Apparently everything went smoothly and they gave them a 221g because they needed police certificates with fingerprints from RCMP (the one they had were from Toronto police and they didn't check fingerprints). Anyways, we sent these documents to the consulate on April 8 and we haven't heard back. The immigration officer said during the interview that everything looked good and that they only needed the police certificates to issue the visa so I don't know why they are taking so long. Furthermore, the CEAC status shows "Ready", as in ready for interview which is strange because they already had their interview. Last case update was on May 17.

The reason we are so anxious is because my younger sister is turning 21 on July 31 and she will lose her opportunity to immigrate if she doesn't get her visa before her birthday. We sent an email to the consulate about this last Thursday and they haven't replied to that. Not to mention, my mother needs to have her visa approved and immigrate before September 30th 2022 or she will lose her opportunity as well. We don't have any family in the US so we don't have the option of involving a senator.

 

I see some posts about WOM but I think they only work on cases that have been in AP for 6+ months. Unfortunately, we don't have that much time and it's only been 2 months since we submitted the requested documents. To me, seems like keep emailing and hoping for the best in our only option. Is there anything else we can do? How long does it usually take for them to respond to emails? 

Hey there! It seems to take a varied time for the consulate to respond, some people say a few days, others weeks (I have had emails go unanswered). You could wait for it, but if it’s pressing it might be good to consult a lawyer. Consultations are usually free and they might have better info to give you for your specific case. Previously it seemed like folks who were missing documents were moved along faster than people hit with the ds5535, but AP is a wild beast. I’m so sorry you are stuck in this with us, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. 

[talkingreckless 4]

Hi everyone,

 

Got the dreaded email for DS-5535 yesterday, I have been living in US for last 11 years (7 on F1 and 4 on H1b), have an apt, car, pay for all my things, have Bachelor and a master's from US, worked for 2 large companies, been here 11 years. I have been in admin processing twice before both times for my F1 visa but for my H1b the first time was quick and smooth.

 

Went to Ottawa may 31 to get my h1b stamp renewed (which I did back in 2019 and it took 10 days to get back but only gave me a 1 year visa)

 

Was told my visa was approved and will get it in 1-2 weeks and they kept the passport, but a day letter sent the email. Just reading through this forum it seems like most likey it will take a few months to process anything, so I won't be able to stay in Canada.

 

Can some tell me the process for asking my passport back because if I don't hear back in a week I am most likely gonna go back to my home country (Pakistan) and wait it out and hopefully don't lose my job....

 

 

Edited June 2, 2022 by talkingreckless

[LAMA9 118]

Hi All,

For those of you who DM'd regarding the group WOM Q&A, I started a group message.  I just posted the Q&A link for question submissions there and the Zoom link will be posted at some point tomorrow.  I noticed that some of you haven't read the one for this morning, so if you haven't checked your inbox today, please do so.  If you for some reason can't see the group message, please let me know and I can send it to you directly.

 

 

[LAMA9 118]

So sorry to hear that @talkingreckless. It is so unsettling how they can disrupt so many people's lives like this without the smallest amount of transparency or compassion.

Use the public inquiry form and select "passport returns" in the drop down.  From what I see on a Montreal consulate FB group it takes anywhere from 1-2 weeks for them to return your passport upon submission of this form.

Good luck!

 

https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy.../public-inquiry-form/

 

 

[LAMA9 118]

All details for tomorrow's Q&A Zoom have been DM'd to you.  It is tomorrow starting at 11:00 AM EST until 12:00PM EST.  Changed from 12-1.  

 

Please remember to submit any questions you have through the form before the meeting. 

 

 

[BatmanFlow 481]

35 minutes ago, LAMA9 said:

All details for tomorrow's Q&A Zoom have been DM'd to you.  It is tomorrow starting at 11:00 AM EST until 12:00PM EST.  Changed from 12-1.  

 

Please remember to submit any questions you have through the form before the meeting. 

 

 

thank you for setting this up Lama!

[Bill22 8]

Hey guys I have submitted my DS5535 back in January and have been waiting since. 

I am really considering getting a lawyer and seeing what they can do to help (if they can help speed it up at all).

Any suggestions as to which law firm would be best? I am a Canadian citizen. 

[LAMA9 118]

32 minutes ago, Bill22 said:

Hey guys I have submitted my DS5535 back in January and have been waiting since. 

I am really considering getting a lawyer and seeing what they can do to help (if they can help speed it up at all).

Any suggestions as to which law firm would be best? I am a Canadian citizen. 

Hi @Bill22- welcome.

not sure if you read the above posts but there is a WOM group suit webinar tomorrow if you are interested.  I will DM you the info.  Hacking Law and Goldstein Law seem to be the most popular on these sights for WOM, but many, many lawyers do them.  I had reached out to Hacking last week and they wouldn't take a K1 DS-5535 at this time, but not sure of your case specifics.  

 

A few people on here are using Josh Goldstein right now - I have my second call with them tonight.  

 

 

[herecomestherain 77]

Hi everyone, just an update on the trends we're seeing.

 

For me, seeing this information helps me feel a bit more in control of my life and I can know what to expect.

 

I find it extremely horrible that of the cases I've seen online, only 4 cases have been approved in the last 3 months, two of which had a WoM. Meanwhile on K-1 groups, people are jumping for joy and getting their visas at breakneck speeds. Most of these people have applied long after we have. I am happy for them, don't get me wrong. But it is hard not to be jealous, let's be honest.

 

It seems like WoM is the only way to get a case to move forward these days. Immigration is severely unstaffed and seems to be prioritising new cases and interviews instead of closing out cases that have been open for months. It's heartbreaking.

 

Of the cases reported online regarding Montreal Embassy

 

OPEN CASES:

No. reported open cases on VJ and FB: 41

Oldest Case: 244 days

Newest Case: 32 days

Average days open: 151 days

 

Interview Month:

October 2021: 7

November 2021: 4

December 2021: 7

January 2022: 4

February 2022: 12

March 2022: 5

April 2022: 1

May 2022: 1

June 2022:

 

APPROVED CASES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS

Cases approved in the last 3 months: 4 (2 of which had Writ of Mandamus).

Average days open of cases approved in the last 3 months: 159 days

Oldest case approved in last 3 months: 204 days (WoM)

Shortest case approved in last 3 months: 117 days

 

APPROVED CASES 2022

Cases approved this year: 21

Average days for approval in 2022: 107 days.

 

Maybe we should all contact our senators with these numbers and show them what is actually going on. We should not have to pay 5K to be with our loved ones. We should not have to pay for two medical exams because we were asked to get one even though they knew they were going to hand us a DS-5535 and put us in AP.

 

I'm sure they are overwhelmed with applications but they need to allocate resources to the backlog in AP.

 

[throwitaway 190]

2 hours ago, herecomestherain said:

Meanwhile on K-1 groups, people are jumping for joy and getting their visas at breakneck speeds. Most of these people have applied long after we have. I am happy for them, don't get me wrong. But it is hard not to be jealous, let's be honest.

 

 

 

I’m just catching up - are you saying that the trend for DS 5535 at Montreal skews towards a certain visa class? 

[herecomestherain 77]

10 minutes ago, Throwitaway1988 said:

I’m just catching up - are you saying that the trend for DS 5535 at Montreal skews towards a certain visa class? 

No, it’s just the group I am a part of because I have a K-1 visa.

[BatmanFlow 481]

submitted my passport return request last Monday. No email or acknowledgment email so far. Really hoping to hear something this week

[LAMA9 118]

50 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

submitted my passport return request last Monday. No email or acknowledgment email so far. Really hoping to hear something this week

Did you use the drop down in the public inquiry form?  I read that is the preferred and fastest method.

[LAMA9 118]

Deleted, posting in DM chat.

Edited June 6, 2022 by LAMA9

[BatmanFlow 481]

32 minutes ago, LAMA9 said:

Did you use the drop down in the public inquiry form?  I read that is the preferred and fastest method.

yes drop down and selected "passport return" option. didnt hear anything so far