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

[ice-qube 649]

As we wind down another week... still in the black hole where matter and light do not escape. No surprises. Alas.

[Idlewild 26]

Perhaps an odd question, but figured you folks would know best:  is it possible to fill out a DS-5535 form with all the details ahead of the consulate interview, so you can just hand it over right-then-and-there?

 

I hope my sponsored spouse will not have to go through this, but in preparation, I have requested/received full travel history from Canada and the US customs offices.  I was thinking I might save a little time, if we filled out all the travel history ahead of time, and brought the form to the interview.

[A.Jon.Satko 10]

Has anyone requested their passport back during the investigation time? If so, how long did it take?

Wishing everyone a great weekend ahead and good news on their green cards!

[BatmanFlow 481]

4 minutes ago, Idlewild said:

Perhaps an odd question, but figured you folks would know best:  is it possible to fill out a DS-5535 form with all the details ahead of the consulate interview, so you can just hand it over right-then-and-there?

 

I hope my sponsored spouse will not have to go through this, but in preparation, I have requested/received full travel history from Canada and the US customs offices.  I was thinking I might save a little time, if we filled out all the travel history ahead of time, and brought the form to the interview.

you just email them the DS5535 "form". They just emailed me the questions that needed to be answered. I emailed back and they acknowledged that they received it. To be honest getting it to them asap makes no difference, seems like if you get the form, its all up to the embassy, and i guess individual factors that we have no idea about, on how fast your inquiry gets processed.

you should just hope you dont get the ds 5535 form

[ice-qube 649]

4 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

you just email them the DS5535 "form". They just emailed me the questions that needed to be answered. I emailed back and they acknowledged that they received it. To be honest getting it to them asap makes no difference, seems like if you get the form, its all up to the embassy, and i guess individual factors that we have no idea about, on how fast your inquiry gets processed.

you should just hope you dont get the ds 5535 form

What's funny is... they did say to me at that moment something like, "the sooner you get it back, the sooner we will get you to where you are going" while also adding the caveat, "there is no timeline." I got that form back to them within 3 days of the interview, which I would consider in the realm of "ASAP" (I had to go and figure out all my travel history, and they didn't email it to me for I think 2 days). And, despite giving it in ASAP, I am here with you in the black hole. 

[ice-qube 649]

15 minutes ago, Idlewild said:

Perhaps an odd question, but figured you folks would know best:  is it possible to fill out a DS-5535 form with all the details ahead of the consulate interview, so you can just hand it over right-then-and-there?

 

I hope my sponsored spouse will not have to go through this, but in preparation, I have requested/received full travel history from Canada and the US customs offices.  I was thinking I might save a little time, if we filled out all the travel history ahead of time, and brought the form to the interview.

I believe @BatmanFlow is right--it won't make any difference, because they email it to you and you have to respond to the email. Giving them the DS-5535 right there is not likely to do anything for you, alas.

[Family One 49]

23 minutes ago, A.Jon.Satko said:

Has anyone requested their passport back during the investigation time? If so, how long did it take?

Wishing everyone a great weekend ahead and good news on their green cards!

Yes, I requested my passport back since I was planning to travel to the US the following week.  He refused to give it back explaining that I would not be able to travel anyway.  So I went to the US with my birth certificate. (not recommended, but it worked)

[Family One 49]

On 4/7/2022 at 3:04 PM, A.Jon.Satko said:

I see there are tons of people all experiencing the similar issues.

 

My husband had his interview yesterday and got the DS-5535 e-mail. We filled it out and set it back a couple hours later.

 

Our issue is he travels A LOT for business to countries around the world (but none would be on a "security issue" list). But, we do know now the exact dates or how long he was in each country. We gave as much information as we could.

 

They have his passport and now we are in limbo. He needs his passport to get back to work (travel industry, not an engineer or other high-tech field).

 

He's 55, we've been married 10 years and together for a total of 20.

 

Any idea how long it might take to be resolved?

Hopefully they will accept the information you sent them.  You can request a list from the CBP of all your husband's US border crossings (incoming for land borders, and both incoming and outgoing for air travel).  You need to fill out a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).  Current wait time is about 3 months to get a reply.  There should be no charge, unless there are more than a few thousand border crossings registered.  Maybe you have kept good enough records that you don't need the FOIA request?  If you have such detailed records you should be an accountant or a notary.

Edited April 8, 2022 by Family One
incomplete

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

1 hour ago, Idlewild said:

Perhaps an odd question, but figured you folks would know best:  is it possible to fill out a DS-5535 form with all the details ahead of the consulate interview, so you can just hand it over right-then-and-there?

 

I hope my sponsored spouse will not have to go through this, but in preparation, I have requested/received full travel history from Canada and the US customs offices.  I was thinking I might save a little time, if we filled out all the travel history ahead of time, and brought the form to the interview.

Adding on to what @BatmanFlow advised, there is standard form for DS-5535, and you may get ready with that form filled before the interview. However, MTL sometimes asks candidate specific questions. I suspect that is the reason they sometimes take days to send you the form after they interview. They are reviewing your file to make sure they need no further information besides those prompted from the form. For this reason, I doubt they would accept the filled form during the interview and may ask you to wait for the supplementary questions to be sent to you by email. 

[Idlewild 26]

13 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

Adding on to what @BatmanFlow advised, there is standard form for DS-5535, and you may get ready with that form filled before the interview. However, MTL sometimes asks candidate specific questions. I suspect that is the reason they sometimes take days to send you the form after they interview. They are reviewing your file to make sure they need no further information besides those prompted from the form. For this reason, I doubt they would accept the filled form during the interview and may ask you to wait for the supplementary questions to be sent to you by email. 

Well that's a bummer. 

[ice-qube 649]

Just now, Idlewild said:

Well that's a bummer. 

Yes, all of this is a bummer, dude.

[BatmanFlow 481]

7 minutes ago, Idlewild said:

Well that's a bummer. 

You haven’t gotten a ds 5535 yet. You should hope you don’t get one. If god forbid you do get one, now that’s a bummer 

[Idlewild 26]

33 minutes ago, ice-qube said:

Yes, all of this is a bummer, dude.

A fellow Big Lebowski fan. 

 

27 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

You haven’t gotten a ds 5535 yet. You should hope you don’t get one. If god forbid you do get one, now that’s a bummer 

Certainly hope not.  Just a bummer we can't really prepare for this in really any way, other than gathering travel history ahead.  Then hope for the best. 

[Anna13 5]

4 hours ago, A.Jon.Satko said:

Has anyone requested their passport back during the investigation time? If so, how long did it take?

Wishing everyone a great weekend ahead and good news on their green cards!

I just requested my passport on Tuesday 5th and they just shipped it today and it will arrive in a 1-2 business days according to Purolator so I should be getting it Monday or Tuesday the latest. 

[ohmygod 60]

there are no additions to DS5535 list after February. Did they not hand out any in March? If I see Dani's spreadsheet, we have only until end of February