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

[Ontarkie 14,221]

2 hours ago, Hello100 said:

What happens if your Visa is approved consequently when your medical just expired? Can you cross the Port of Entry with the issued Visa even if your medical expired, or must both the medical and Visa be current and updated?

They would not issue it if it will not make it to you in time. The Visa itself would expire the same day the medical expires.

[Hello100 50]

What do you guys reckon is "easier," per se, crossing a land border or airport Port of Entry?

[UiiiU 7]

Does anyone know how long an embassy takes to reply to an email? The automatic reply doesn't list the usual "5 business days" anymore.

[Danii 312]

4 hours ago, Hello100 said:

What do you guys reckon is "easier," per se, crossing a land border or airport Port of Entry?

For activating your visa or general travel? I think in general the answer would be the airport, but it varies. From my experience, Montreal is very easy, then Toronto and then Ottawa. Airports are more experienced with activating visas and take only a few minutes. Things have taken longer for some people at land borders and sometimes say things that aren't true because they genuinely don't know anything about the visa/process. However, this probably doesn't apply to very popular land borders such as the peace bridge crossing/Windsor, lots of ppl cross daily without issues. 

Edited March 18, 2022 by Danii

[Hello100 50]

10 minutes ago, Danii said:

For activating your visa or general travel? I think in general the answer would be the airport, but it varies. From my experience, Montreal is very easy, then Toronto and then Ottawa. Airports are more experienced with activating visas and take only a few minutes. Things have taken longer for some people at land borders and sometimes say things that aren't true because they genuinely don't know anything about the visa/process. However, this probably doesn't apply to very popular land borders such as the peace bridge crossing/Windsor, lots of ppl cross daily without issues. 

Yes, I'm talking about for activating the Visa. I'm from Windsor, so for me it makes more sense to cross through that famous/busy land crossing. I was assuming that at the land crossing they will have a lot more time to question you while at the airport it's a shorter time. It's not like I have anything to hide, but it's about which is slightly less difficult, if you will.

[ice-qube 649]

3 minutes ago, Hello100 said:

Yes, I'm talking about for activating the Visa. I'm from Windsor, so for me it makes more sense to cross through that famous/busy land crossing. I was assuming that at the land crossing they will have a lot more time to question you while at the airport it's a shorter time. It's not like I have anything to hide, but it's about which is slightly less difficult, if you will.

Were you approved??

[Hello100 50]

3 minutes ago, ice-qube said:

Were you approved??

You're very optimistic, of course not, imagine being approved after waiting just 98 days in AP. I'm just asking for when I potentially get approved one day, whenever that is.

[ice-qube 649]

5 minutes ago, Hello100 said:

You're very optimistic, of course not, imagine being approved after waiting just 98 days in AP. I'm just asking for when I potentially get approved one day, whenever that is.

Lol, yes, I am very optimistic.After... umm... what is it today, 144 days in AP, I am like, hey man it must be any moment now, right???

 

[Hello100 50]

4 minutes ago, ice-qube said:

Lol, yes, I am very optimistic.After... umm... what is it today, 144 days in AP, I am like, hey man it must be any moment now, right???

 

Any moment, indeed. In due time. Technically, you are one day closer today than you were yesterday, and tomorrow you will be another day closer than you are today, etc.

[ice-qube 649]

Just now, Hello100 said:

Any moment, indeed. In due time. Technically, you are one day closer today than you were yesterday, and tomorrow you will be another day closer than you are today, etc.

 i remember when i was at the interview and CO told me they are putting me in AP. I was cold-cocked, and in my head I was thinking bad scenarios like, "omg, is this going to be another six months? a year? what?"

 

Well, the first marker is quickly approaching, so seems like I will, in fact make that one!

[ice-qube 649]

37 minutes ago, Danii said:

For activating your visa or general travel? I think in general the answer would be the airport, but it varies. From my experience, Montreal is very easy, then Toronto and then Ottawa. Airports are more experienced with activating visas and take only a few minutes. Things have taken longer for some people at land borders and sometimes say things that aren't true because they genuinely don't know anything about the visa/process. However, this probably doesn't apply to very popular land borders such as the peace bridge crossing/Windsor, lots of ppl cross daily without issues. 

I just wonder how one gets to keep working for the border patrol--the people who are literally guarding access to the country--without actually knowing, like, the stuff that the job entails?

[GraceFace33 35]

19 hours ago, Hello100 said:

What happens if your Visa is approved consequently when your medical just expired? Can you cross the Port of Entry with the issued Visa even if your medical expired, or must both the medical and Visa be current and updated?

I had this worry/question too before I was approved. I think I may be one of the only ones on here who got the visa just days before medical expired. Visa was issued 2/18, we got it in hand 2/22 and our medical expired 2/25. Crazy right?! 
 

Our visa expires date was 2/25. Even the person at the border was surprised that our issue date was 2/18 and expiry 2/25. We crossed 2/22 and didn’t waste time. 
 

I think they only issue it is they think it will be delivered before your medical expires. If not, they will let you know it’s approved but you need to send in another medical. Hopefully that will not be the case for you.  

[Randomwalk 20]

1 hour ago, Hello100 said:

Any moment, indeed. In due time. Technically, you are one day closer today than you were yesterday, and tomorrow you will be another day closer than you are today, etc.

Thank You for the positive words! Indeed we are days closer than we were yesterday! Thanks 😊 

[ice-qube 649]

33 minutes ago, Randomwalk said:

Thank You for the positive words! Indeed we are days closer than we were yesterday! Thanks 😊 

It can be taken either way, I suppose…

[ice-qube 649]

5 hours ago, UiiiU said:

Does anyone know how long an embassy takes to reply to an email? The automatic reply doesn't list the usual "5 business days" anymore.

The correct answer is: how do you know they will reply at all? I would say they reply to 1 in 3, maybe 1 in 4 emails…