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

[Danii 312]

@GraceFace33 CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I'm so so so happy for you and that you got approved before the medical expiry. Best of luck on the rest of your visa journey/move to the US 🎉🎉🎉

[Hello100 50]

Does anybody know what an ombudsman is and how they might help?

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

18 minutes ago, Tony Nikolovski said:

Does anybody know what an ombudsman is and how they might help?

In general it is an official that helps investigating complaints.

Unfortunately there is no ombudsman appointed for embassy/consulate issues. That's why the path to go is a congress representative.

[Rosinasaur 58]

With Gracefan issued, I will now take my place as the leader of the pack, at 137 days, with my coleader BatmanFlow. 

 

I'm both happy and jealous at the same time. Congratulations!

[ice-qube 648]

35 minutes ago, Rosinasaur said:

With Gracefan issued, I will now take my place as the leader of the pack, at 137 days, with my coleader BatmanFlow. 

 

I'm both happy and jealous at the same time. Congratulations!

Nipping at your heels, R

[Ontarkie 14,143]

7 hours ago, GraceFace33 said:

OMG ISSUED!!!!! I am the one at the top of the spreadsheet. Leading the pack with 168 days since interview and I can’t believe it I’m crying!!! 

Here is a quick timeline since the interview:

Sep 3-interview 

Sep 28- case status update with email request for additional court records (sent next day)

Oct 8 - case status update 

Oct-Dec - I sent email inquiries every other week, received copy pasted responses to about 50% of them. 
Jan 2- submitted a public inquiry 

Jan 5 - received a specific response asking for clarification on a court record (responded right away) 

Jan 18 - Case status update
Feb 2- Put request in with Congresswoman to inquire and let them know our medical exam expires in 4 weeks.

Feb 7 - Congress office sent inquiry 

Feb 10- case status update 

Feb 11- case status update and specific follow up question sent to Congress in reply to inquiry (sent answers right away. Asked Congress to follow up again on inquiry letting the consulate know we sent answers and our medical now expires in 2 weeks. 

Feb 14- case status update 

Feb 15-case status update 

Feb 16- case status update 

Feb 17 - ISSUED AP

Feb 18 - ISSUED FP and tracking email sent. 

 

This is the craziest thing I’ve ever experienced! We will be getting the passport literally days before the medical expires! 
 

my overall tip: for us contacting the congresswoman directly impacted our case and brought movement. So I suggest all do this. It may also depend on your state though. Our office was extremely helpful and quick to inquire. 
 

thank you @Danii for everything!  Good luck everyone. Especially @ice-qube. If I we got ours before the medical expired, so can you! 

This is great news. Just remember your visa expiry date will be the same day your medical expires. Don't wait to cross over you can always go back and settle things after. 

[ice-qube 648]

Just now, Ontarkie said:

This is great news. Just remember your visa expiry date will be the same day your medical expires. Don't wait to cross over you can always go back and settle things after. 

Since this is quite possibly to happen to me, is it ok in that event to come back for that even if you haven't received physical Green Card yet?

[Ontarkie 14,143]

1 minute ago, ice-qube said:

Since this is quite possibly to happen to me, is it ok in that event to come back for that even if you haven't received physical Green Card yet?

Oh yes, the stamp you get when they process the visa will be your temporary green card.  

[ice-qube 648]

2 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

Oh yes, the stamp you get when they process the visa will be your temporary green card.  

I guess I am quite paranoid they will be give me some hassle that I don't foresee. I didn't even see this DS-5535 garbage as a remote possibility in my case, for example--and man was that a blind spot. 

[Ontarkie 14,143]

4 minutes ago, ice-qube said:

I guess I am quite paranoid they will be give me some hassle that I don't foresee. I didn't even see this DS-5535 garbage as a remote possibility in my case, for example--and man was that a blind spot. 

Oh I bet you are. I would be too. 

[BatmanFlow 481]

3 hours ago, Rosinasaur said:

With Gracefan issued, I will now take my place as the leader of the pack, at 137 days, with my coleader BatmanFlow. 

 

I'm both happy and jealous at the same time. Congratulations!

 Not sure if I should laugh or cry with sharing this honor 🤣😭

[ice-qube 648]

2 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

 Not sure if I should laugh or cry with sharing this honor 🤣😭

Why select only one of them? lol

[ice-qube 648]

8 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

Oh I bet you are. I would be too. 

I was astonished at hearing the story about the couple the other day where the wife crossed at 1000 Islands and they told her she can't immigrate unless she proved she quit her job and sold her house etc.... like seriously what the f....

[BatmanFlow 481]

1 minute ago, ice-qube said:

Why select only one of them? lol

I suppose you’re right, this whole process is saddening and amusing at the same time. 
 

I mean my mom is almost 60, she was in US a week before she had to get her interview done. I mean if they allowed her in the country multiple times, and now they need to vet her extensively, it’s is quite alarming. 

[ice-qube 648]

3 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

I suppose you’re right, this whole process is saddening and amusing at the same time. 
 

I mean my mom is almost 60, she was in US a week before she had to get her interview done. I mean if they allowed her in the country multiple times, and now they need to vet her extensively, it’s is quite alarming. 

It's like the height of bureaucratic insanity, all of this. Perverse. Makes no sense. At least some can trace their problems to being connected with some high-risk countries like Pakistan (seems to be common in this thread and others). I would almost feel comforted if I could do that. I don't have any good explanations.