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

[Filcan 7]

2 hours ago, Ashley28888 said:

Hello, 

 

i received ds5535 as well

 

interview date October 21st - Friday. 
got an email from them on  24th October asking for additional documents. 
 

Does anyone know How much time do they take to verify paperwork and go thru that ? 
 

they have my passport

If you have travel plans, i would advise getting your passport back. They kept my passport after the interview and held it for 9 months until they issued my visa.

[mymissingpiece 22]

On 10/24/2022 at 7:57 PM, Filcan said:

Fyi, got my visa today. Had our interview on jan 4th, received ds-5535 on the same day. Ap cleared on July and was asked to redo my medical. Submitted the new medical on August. Ceac status updated to issued on oct 11. Consulate shipped visa on the 20th.

Am I reading this correctly that it took three months from asking you for a new medical to getting your visa in-hand?? It took over a month for the status to change to issued after you submitted the medical? That all seems crazy.

Did you file a lawsuit?

Edited October 26, 2022 by mymissingpiece

[Filcan 7]

30 minutes ago, mymissingpiece said:

Am I reading this correctly that it took three months from asking you for a new medical to getting your visa in-hand?? It took over a month for the status to change to issued after you submitted the medical? That all seems crazy.

Did you file a lawsuit?

Took 2 months to issue my visa from the time the new medical was sent. No lawsuit. 
 

They requested new medical on july 14. I was able to book a july 27th appoint for my new medical. New medical was electronically sent on august 11. Status updated to issued on october 11.

Edited October 26, 2022 by Filcan
None

[mymissingpiece 22]

2 minutes ago, Filcan said:

Correct! Exactly 3 months it turned to issued. August 11, the medical was sent according to the dr’s office. October 11, the status updated to issued. On my visa though, it said the visa was issued on october 20.

 

no lawsuit by the way.

That sucks you waited so long, but at least you have it now! We filed a lawsuit July 26 and just got asked for a new medical Oct 14. The medical should be submitted to the consulate tomorrow. Really hoping we don’t have to wait another 2+ months too 😣

[Filcan 7]

6 minutes ago, mymissingpiece said:

That sucks you waited so long, but at least you have it now! We filed a lawsuit July 26 and just got asked for a new medical Oct 14. The medical should be submitted to the consulate tomorrow. Really hoping we don’t have to wait another 2+ months too 😣

I suggest that you send an email to the consulate once your medical is sent to let them know. If your medical gets sent electronically, consulate won’t acknowledge receipt. 

[PZibran325 112]

11 hours ago, mymissingpiece said:

That sucks you waited so long, but at least you have it now! We filed a lawsuit July 26 and just got asked for a new medical Oct 14. The medical should be submitted to the consulate tomorrow. Really hoping we don’t have to wait another 2+ months too 😣

from my personal experience. I've noticed that the 2 month wait is standard once you submit something during this process. Though I am sure there may be others for which it was more or less than 2 months. Prayerfully, things speed up for all of us who are in limbo. 

[PZibran325 112]

18 hours ago, Ashley28888 said:

Hello, 

 

i received ds5535 as well

 

interview date October 21st - Friday. 
got an email from them on  24th October asking for additional documents. 
 

Does anyone know How much time do they take to verify paperwork and go thru that ? 
 

they have my passport

Our interview was on June 8, we received DS 5535 on June 9th, and replied by June 10th. They kept my husband's passport too, and four months later we are still waiting. Hopefully that gives you an idea. We have not asked for his passport back but we are seriously contemplating on going for a WOM if we don't hear anything by November. 

[throwitaway 189]

56 minutes ago, PZibran325 said:

Our interview was on June 8, we received DS 5535 on June 9th, and replied by June 10th. They kept my husband's passport too, and four months later we are still waiting. Hopefully that gives you an idea. We have not asked for his passport back but we are seriously contemplating on going for a WOM if we don't hear anything by November. 

So interesting, we have the same dates! Good luck to you 

[PZibran325 112]

21 minutes ago, throwitaway said:

So interesting, we have the same dates! Good luck to you 

good luck to you too my friend. praying for all of us to be united with our loved ones. 

 

 

Edited October 26, 2022 by PZibran325

[throwitaway 189]

6 minutes ago, PZibran325 said:

good luck to you too my friend. praying for all of us to be united with our loved ones. 

 

 

I’ve been issued thankfully, but had to file WoM.

[throwitaway 189]

1 hour ago, PZibran325 said:

Our interview was on June 8, we received DS 5535 on June 9th, and replied by June 10th. They kept my husband's passport too, and four months later we are still waiting. Hopefully that gives you an idea. We have not asked for his passport back but we are seriously contemplating on going for a WOM if we don't hear anything by November. 

Keep in mind that December are holidays for all the agencies involved. Probably best to wait for January.

[mike_b2020 14]

Apologies to everyone, I’m new here and waiting for my interview at Montreal, trying to understand the process

 

can someone explain to me on the 221g and DS5535 and why it was issued? My understanding is the interview resulted in a refusal and additional docs and checks are required 

 

hoping to not run into this after my interview, sounds like it adds a lot more delays

[BatmanFlow 481]

57 minutes ago, michael_n1988 said:

Apologies to everyone, I’m new here and waiting for my interview at Montreal, trying to understand the process

 

can someone explain to me on the 221g and DS5535 and why it was issued? My understanding is the interview resulted in a refusal and additional docs and checks are required 

 

hoping to not run into this after my interview, sounds like it adds a lot more delays

there's really no clear answer as to why this is issued. my mom got it for no reason. they passed my step dad in that same interview.

ive also read that they approve people during the interview and then later once they sent emails saying that need to submit DS 5535. seems like there's no rhyme or reasoning to this.

 

[throwitaway 189]

4 hours ago, michael_n1988 said:

Apologies to everyone, I’m new here and waiting for my interview at Montreal, trying to understand the process

 

can someone explain to me on the 221g and DS5535 and why it was issued? My understanding is the interview resulted in a refusal and additional docs and checks are required 

 

hoping to not run into this after my interview, sounds like it adds a lot more delays

221g is a blanket term for “temporary” refusal, either because something is missing, more security checks need to be done, or the consulate needs to review the application more closely for whatever reason.

 

If you are issued a 221g, and it’s for background checks, you will be given the DS-5535 form for “extreme vetting.” It asks for personal information from the last 15 years. Multiple agencies receive this information and must return a opinion on you before Montreal can reconsider your application. This can take a really long time. 

 

In most other embassies, this form is rarely requested, at least relatively speaking. Montreal appears to use this form more frequently, or rather, disproportionately given the typical  demographic that interviews at Montreal, and that the US already has access to Canadian information databases in a very unique way.

 

Sometimes, 221g can be overcome quickly if they are just waiting on a missing document, like a correct police certificate, or an incomplete medical. However, if you are unlucky to receive 5535 as part of it, it’s likely you will be waiting for months, and sometimes years before your application is adjudicated again. Very rarely 5535 is resolved in less than a month or two. Some speculate that missing documents can increase your chances of receiving 5535. I went with all my documents plus more,  but I got it anyway.
 

Nobody knows why Montreal is doing this, and there’s no way to avoid it or get ahead of it. If you are given the form and are stuck waiting, the only thing that may help it move along is a lawsuit, which can be costly - even then it sometimes does not work. 

 

Hope this helps

[mike_b2020 14]

5 minutes ago, throwitaway said:

221g is a blanket term for “temporary” refusal, either because something is missing, more security checks need to be done, or the consulate needs to review the application more closely for whatever reason.

 

If you are issued a 221g, and it’s for background checks, you will be given the DS-5535 form for “extreme vetting.” It asks for personal information from the last 15 years. Multiple agencies receive this information and must return a opinion on you before Montreal can reconsider your application. This can take a really long time. 

 

In most other embassies, this form is rarely requested, at least relatively speaking. Montreal appears to use this form more frequently, or rather, disproportionately given the typical  demographic that interviews at Montreal, and that the US already has access to Canadian information databases in a very unique way.

 

Sometimes, 221g can be overcome quickly if they are just waiting on a missing document, like a correct police certificate, or an incomplete medical. However, if you are unlucky to receive 5535 as part of it, it’s likely you will be waiting for months, and sometimes years before your application is adjudicated again. Very rarely 5535 is resolved in less than a month or two. Some speculate that missing documents can increase your chances of receiving 5535. I went with all my documents plus more,  but I got it anyway.
 

Nobody knows why Montreal is doing this, and there’s no way to avoid it or get ahead of it. If you are given the form and are stuck waiting, the only thing that may help it move along is a lawsuit, which can be costly - even then it sometimes does not work. 

 

Hope this helps

Thanks for explaining 

 

Yes from what I’m reading it’s not something you can particularly avoid. I can only go to my interview with all my docs, hope and pray I don’t get the 5535.