The dreaded DS-5535 thread for Montreal. Post here and support each other (PART 2)

[throwitaway 190]

1 hour ago, topman said:

Hi Folks, I'm in the employment-based visa category and had our interview on Sept 26, 2022. Unfortunately, we received DS 5535, which we responded to yesterday on Sept 29, 2020. I’ve updated the DS 5535 tracker spreadsheet with my info.

 

It's so heartbreaking to see so many folks waiting for so long to get a response from Montreal after responding to their DS5535. After reading this thread on the forum, it seems like WoM is the only way to speed up the process. Does anyone know how soon can I file WoM after responding to Montreal's DS5535 request? We have already been patiently waiting for 27+ months to get this interview with Montreal, and now thinking of waiting another year or more to get a response is just so painful. 

Well, what kind of delay would affect your employment? 

[LAMA9 118]

@topman sorry that you are now a part of this unfortunate club.  It's a horrible place to be in, and yes, we are seeing very few, if any cases in this group move through to approvals without a WOM since March 2022.   Every law firm is different in terms of when they will consider filing a WOM for you, but we have heard that the most popular ones, will start the process after 4 months of being in DS-5535.  It takes generally 2-3 weeks to onboard and draw up your suit paperwork and then another 20 days or so for the suit to be delivered to the defendants.  From there we are generally seeing a 2-4 month waiting period before the visa is being approved.  ~45 WOM cases have been filed against Montreal in 2022, which we believe is slowing down the historical efficiency of filing a WOM, as the consulate can't keep up and are frequently (almost all cases) requesting time extensions on top of the court appointed decision date, and they are getting them granted.  

We waited 7.5 months in DS-5535 before filing a WOM and if I knew then what I know now, I would have filed much sooner.  We are finally at the end stages of our WOM, with the consulate just having requested my second medical to be done and to send in my passport.  We filed at the end of July and there is no way we would be unstuck if we hadn't filed as WOM cases are likely fully prioritized over non WOM cases in que with more and more WOMs being filed weekly.   

 

Best of luck to you! 

 

Edited October 1, 2022 by LAMA9

[Rosinasaur 58]

Hey guys they kept my longform birth certificate when I did the interview.

 

I didn't think too much of it then because I specifically ordered it for the interview.

 

However, it seems like I will need it again for future steps in the immigration process? Should I ask for it back? Do you think they would even send it back? Would Ontario get mad if I ordered a new one?

 

My one year DS5535 anniversary is in 2 days. 🥳

[sloth_life 36]

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/immigrants-increasingly-sucked-into-bureaucratic-black-hole

 

First one, let's get more!

[LAMA9 118]

1 hour ago, jgauthi242 said:

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/immigrants-increasingly-sucked-into-bureaucratic-black-hole

 

First one, let's get more!

Great article.  Would love to see the next one focus on the human conditions aspect of this process (less on how it affects businesses and corporations) how it affects mental health, and dig deeper into the stats of the "epidemic" issuance of the DS-5535 in the first place for family based visas, especially for Canadian Citizens.  A great start none the less!

[sloth_life 36]

1 minute ago, LAMA9 said:

Great article.  Would love to see the next one focus on the human conditions aspect of this process (less on how it affects businesses and corporations) how it affects mental health, and dig deeper into the stats of the "epidemic" issuance of the DS-5535 in the first place for family based visas, especially for Canadian Citizens.  A great start none the less!

I agree! I think we'll have more luck focusing on those aspects by reaching out to less business-centric outlets. Andrew is the only reporter who responded to my inquiries for help, but now that we have a recent article from a respected outlet to point to and many people from this thread who are willing to tell their stories, we can get other reporters to pay attention to us. Stay tuned!

[throwitaway 190]

2 hours ago, LAMA9 said:

Great article.  Would love to see the next one focus on the human conditions aspect of this process (less on how it affects businesses and corporations) how it affects mental health, and dig deeper into the stats of the "epidemic" issuance of the DS-5535 in the first place for family based visas, especially for Canadian Citizens.  A great start none the less!

I can see a Canadian outlet maybe picking it up on that angle - there’s really no reason a Canadian citizen should be subject to extreme vetting - the information systems are shared between the US and Canada, everything they need to know they have access to already so what gives?

[sloth_life 36]

14 hours ago, Throwitaway1988 said:

I can see a Canadian outlet maybe picking it up on that angle - there’s really no reason a Canadian citizen should be subject to extreme vetting - the information systems are shared between the US and Canada, everything they need to know they have access to already so what gives?

That's a great idea. Which of you Canadians wants to identify individual reporters then email them on their work email addresses directly or via LinkedIn? That's the best way to get a response. Emailing the general "tip" line has never worked for me. IMO, easiest way to find reporters' names is to find articles published by those outlets and see who the author was. Would probably also be good for somebody to get in touch with the "foreign minister" too.

[Randomwalk 20]

On 9/28/2022 at 9:30 PM, ideep29 said:

 

Im still here with you bro.  Filed WoM a while back.  Due date is approaching.  

We have also started WOM process with hacking law, let see how it goes. 

[jujubemom 0]

I am keeping track of my update dates: 

 

Interview                                 : 7.15

DS5535 & resume sent        : 7.18

Update (refused)                   : 8.19

Update (refused)                   : 8.03 (reply to my email to acknowledge receipt of DS5535)

Update (refused)                   : 8.18

Update (refused)                   : 9.09

Update (refused)                   : 9.21

Update (refused)                   : 10.03

Update (refused)                   : 10.04 (my husband sent an inquiry email last night, not sure if it was due to the email.

 

Does anyone have a similar pattern for the update? I was really excited when I saw the 8.18 one, but now I am merely confused about why they are updating my case so frequently but nothing really happens.

[BatmanFlow 481]

Today is a year since my moms interview. Can’t believe we’ve been in this limbo for a year now

[jujubemom 0]

Has anyone get their passport back from the consulate? I sent them an email last Tuesday and didn't get any replies...

[ice-qube 648]

2 hours ago, BatmanFlow said:

Today is a year since my moms interview. Can’t believe we’ve been in this limbo for a year now

Man, it is crazy. I am not far behind, one year will be in two weeks. Anything come through with the WOM yet?

[BatmanFlow 481]

5 minutes ago, ice-qube said:

Man, it is crazy. I am not far behind, one year will be in two weeks. Anything come through with the WOM yet?

i didnt file yet. my congressman said he would write a letter and i thought maybe that could help. but that promise was made like a month and a half ago and still the letter hasnt been sent.

 

i am looking to sign up for WOM this month. Did you file WOM?

[ice-qube 648]

2 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

i didnt file yet. my congressman said he would write a letter and i thought maybe that could help. but that promise was made like a month and a half ago and still the letter hasnt been sent.

 

i am looking to sign up for WOM this month. Did you file WOM?

I haven't filed yet. I am like sitting on it debating whether to pull the trigger. There has been zero organic movement in this thread, only people who filed WOM have progressed. It is so angering. I am still on the fence, but I don't know what else to do. The expense is huge.