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

[DamAk 33]

28 minutes ago, Tony Nikolovski said:

I think it is too. I majorly messed up at the interview when the Consular Officer asked me where I traveled to in the last 5 years. I mentioned Serbia as one of the countries, and I stupidly replied, "I traveled to my 'home country' of Serbia" (even though I'm born and raised in Canada). She then asked me, "YOUR home country or your parents'?" where I then replied "Oh yeah, my parents'" (even thought that was also not technically accurate as my mom is born Canadian and my dad was born in Macedonia not Serbia). I didn't even clarify that I was born in Canada, but I didn't think I needed to if I already provided my long-form birth certificate which clearly states this. I should've clarified, "BORN AND RAISED IN WINDSOR, ONTARIO––BORDER CITY WITH DETROIT, MICHIGAN." I might've had a better chance if I said that...maybe.

Honestly looking back, there were some things I wish I clarified more during the interview too. Thinking about it scares me because who know what innocent thing you say might trigger something, makes me want to just sit in a corner and cry lol.

But tbh I think just the fact that you visited Sebria might have triggered it for you rather than what you said, who knows. 😞

[Ontarkie 14,225]

Mod hat on 

 

Folks some of these comments are crossing the line of TOS Violations. Please get back on topic and not generalize groups of ppl.

[ice-qube 649]

1 hour ago, BatmanFlow said:

to be honest, i think saying born and raised in windsor might have caused more issues....jk jk. i bet statement you made might have triggered it, which is a bummer.

lol, Windsor punchlines too easy. I often wonder if something I said at the interview (and I really not sure what that something would be) triggered me getting AP, but it seemed to me that the interview was fine up to that point that the CO told me I was being refused. To me, it really felt that I was already marked to get AP, and my interview was just a somewhat darkly humorous formality that involved me spending money to get there and getting my hopes up.

[BatmanFlow 481]

2 minutes ago, ice-qube said:

lol, Windsor punchlines too easy. I often wonder if something I said at the interview (and I really not sure what that something would be) triggered me getting AP, but it seemed to me that the interview was fine up to that point that the CO told me I was being refused. To me, it really felt that I was already marked to get AP, and my interview was just a somewhat darkly humorous formality that involved me spending money to get there and getting my hopes up.

the crazier part is that there are people who are approved during interview and then they get an email for DS5535 after a day or two, now that is absolutely gut wrenching.

[ice-qube 649]

2 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

the crazier part is that there are people who are approved during interview and then they get an email for DS5535 after a day or two, now that is absolutely gut wrenching.

I know!! I cannot believe that. I struggle to even come up with a possible banal bureaucratic justification for that indignity. It is gross.

[Hello100 50]

19 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

the crazier part is that there are people who are approved during interview and then they get an email for DS5535 after a day or two, now that is absolutely gut wrenching.

This is merely speculation, so don't take my word on this, but perhaps it's because after further contemplation, they didn't like the interviewee's hairstyle or fashion sense.

[ice-qube 649]

Just now, Tony Nikolovski said:

This is merely speculation, so don't take my word on this, but perhaps it's because after further contemplation, they didn't like the interviewee's hairstyle or fashion sense.

Lol. Well there were plenty of criminals-against-fashion in the consulate that day I went. The tired, huddled masses were definitely there at the gate knocking, so to speak. So maybe they prefer one looks like a bum?

[Hello100 50]

3 minutes ago, ice-qube said:

Lol. Well there were plenty of criminals-against-fashion in the consulate that day I went. The tired, huddled masses were definitely there at the gate knocking, so to speak. So maybe they prefer one looks like a bum?

That reminds me for some reason. When I went for my interview, it was in December. It was -14 Celsius in Montreal. Did they make you wait outside for an hour and a half, and another hour and a half inside, thereafter? After people travel from all across Canada to attend interviews on time, they make you wait outside like a stray dog (even though you came on time).

[ice-qube 649]

Just now, Tony Nikolovski said:

That reminds me for some reason. When I went for my interview, it was in December. It was -14 Celsius in Montreal. Did they make you wait outside for an hour and a half, and another hour and a half inside, thereafter? After people travel from all across Canada to attend interviews on time, they make you wait outside like a stray dog (even though you came on time).

YES. I waited outside in cold wet October air, and while not nearly as bad as December, it was quite unpleasant. Must have waited out there nearly an hour shivering. Inside, I waited no less than 3 hours. 

[OceanWater 60]

28 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

the crazier part is that there are people who are approved during interview and then they get an email for DS5535 after a day or two, now that is absolutely gut wrenching.

Yep, I got told at my interview early February for my K1 that my case was simple and would be issued a visa the following day. Got home and had my case refused. Been stuck in Montreal in a storage room ever since. 

[ice-qube 649]

3 minutes ago, JR90 said:

Yep, I got told at my interview early February for my K1 that my case was simple and would be issued a visa the following day. Got home and had my case refused. Been stuck in Montreal in a storage room ever since. 

Welcome to the party... my file seems to be in the same storage room for 4.5 months + now. Been married to my wife 9 years, in my case, but thanks to the cooperation of COVID and this incredibly humane process, I have lost over 2 years of that time I could have been there with her. And counting!

[OceanWater 60]

4 minutes ago, ice-qube said:

Welcome to the party... my file seems to be in the same storage room for 4.5 months + now. Been married to my wife 9 years, in my case, but thanks to the cooperation of COVID and this incredibly humane process, I have lost over 2 years of that time I could have been there with her. And counting!

Whatever they’re doing to your case is disgusting. I know K1 applicants were suing the government as they weren’t processing K1 during peak COVID… have you considered speaking to a immigration lawyer? 
 

I’m living in a storage unit in my family’s house. I got rid of my apartment thinking my application would be approved following the interview… big mistake. 

Edited March 2, 2022 by JR90

[BatmanFlow 481]

3 minutes ago, ice-qube said:

Welcome to the party... my file seems to be in the same storage room for 4.5 months + now. Been married to my wife 9 years, in my case, but thanks to the cooperation of COVID and this incredibly humane process, I have lost over 2 years of that time I could have been there with her. And counting!

damn! 9 years! was she in toronto precovid? did you get a reply from your rep? i know its been about two weeks since you got some last updated dates. I wonder if that was rep inquiry or something actually happened. I would assume if they actually actioned on rep inquiry, then your rep wouldve sent something back to you already

[ice-qube 649]

2 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

damn! 9 years! was she in toronto precovid? did you get a reply from your rep? i know its been about two weeks since you got some last updated dates. I wonder if that was rep inquiry or something actually happened. I would assume if they actually actioned on rep inquiry, then your rep wouldve sent something back to you already

Yes she was living here with me in Toronto for 7 years. Then she decided to go back to Miami to start a master's program in August 2019--we had our application in in June 2019--and now she is about to be done that program and I am still in limbo lmao. For real. They have not updated anything since. No word from the rep's office, no.

[ice-qube 649]

7 minutes ago, JR90 said:

Whatever they’re doing to your case is disgusting. I know K1 applicants were suing the government as they weren’t processing K1 during peak COVID… have you considered speaking to a immigration lawyer? 
 

I’m living in a storage unit in my family’s house. I got rid of my apartment thinking my application would be approved following the interview… big mistake. 

So you are literally in a storage unit lol. Damn dude. Yeah. My condolences. Quite frankly, a immigration lawyer is not likely going to do much... unless I want to pay big money to file a mandamus suit and I am not prepared to do that. I don't have money to just burn on that ($5000 USD or more).