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

[PNWUnited 15]

18 hours ago, Jandee7519 said:

Congratulations to you and your family!! 
Quick question- Do they email when the passport has been shipped? We were issued on the 6th, but haven't heard anything since. 

Thank you! The same day the status went to issued we received the tracking information by email. You can also check the website they give in the status too - the AIS website where you update your courier information. It also had the tracking updated on there as soon as it shipped and had a link in there to track the passport also. Ours was a K1 visa- not sure if that changed how they mail it out.

 

Congratulations on the approval as well!! Sounds like it should be any day now :)

[PNWUnited 15]

8 hours ago, ice-qube said:

A lot of you having good luck nowadays! Congratulations to all who are ending their long nightmares with immigration. Just send some luck my way.

Maybe they’re trying to play catch up by the end of the year or something, ha. It can’t be much longer for you! I’m sending good vibes your way and truly hope you get some amazing news soon! Seems like once they finally get to a case, things start moving quickly. :)

[PNWUnited 15]

Just figured I’d put my timeline update in here for any that are silently tracking timelines:

-interview date for K1 visa on October 6, 2022 - PO verbally said approved but needed to submit a certified doc. 221g issued ONLY.

- doc arrived at third party document facility Oct 7th.
*** Doc was shipped from the US so I used FedEx hoping to get it in their hands before Thanksgiving on Oct 10th. Later I learned the facility only picks up on Mondays and Thursday’s anyways, so keep that in mind in case you are ever debating if you need to spend more on faster delivery (if using a different courier)

- Oct 13th: sent them email to inform them they it should have arrived. 
- Oct 21st: reply from Montreal saying it takes a few days to reach them after it’s shipped and a generic reply saying once docs are received and review is complete, I’ll get further details.

*** they also said using a different courier may cause longer mail processing delays (it just didn’t make sense for us to use their courier unfortunately)

-Oct 27: emailed Montreal to see if they could at least confirm they have my document and that it’s not lost somewhere 

- Nov 7: reply from consulate with a generic reply, and the same closing statement that I’ll receive more info once complete. The shot answer is no, they cannot.

- Nov 22: googled the address of the third party mail site and it came up as Clippers. We called them and had confirmation that the document was passed on to the embassy and in fact picked up.

- Nov 24: emailed them asking if I should just send another document with their courier and if they would be easier to process.

- Nov 29: status changed to application received 

- Dec 5: sorta ignored my question BUT the closing statement now changed to “your passport and sealed visa packet will be returned to you as soon as the visa is issued” instead of the regular “we cannot predict when the processing of your visa will be compete blah blah blah.. we will contact you as soon as it’s complete”. This made me think it should be any day now..

-Dec 7th: status changed to application approved 

- Dec 8th: status changed to issued in the morning

- tracking emailed on Dec 8th (few hours after status changed) and updated on the courier website.

- Dec 12 visa arrived in Vancouver BC literally as soon as the post office opened. Received an email that it was ready for pick up by 9:30am.

- Fiancé crossed at Blaine/Peace arch border and the border agents were SUPER nice. Went inside for 30 minutes while they went through the paperwork, didn’t even need to look through all the stuff in the cars (Canadian vehicle was not being imported at the time). 

Total 9 weeks and 4 days until visa in hand (this included 2 holidays - Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day).

 

Glad to not be dealing with Montreal anymore and I’m wishing the best of luck to anyone else waiting on them!!! Hopefully this helps some other soul looking for a timeline, cause I was surely was!

 

 

[Fita 0]

Hello, 

anyone here on EB-3, Who filed or considering filing WOM?

[SalishSea 17,747]

19 hours ago, F3MTL said:

Oh nice, that’s good! I believe @BatmanFlow reached out to a congressperson, right? 

 

My senator in my state has a specific section on his website called “Help with a Federal Agency”. I looked into it, and there’s a dedicated form for immigration-related issues. I think we’ll try to fill that out and go from there. I figured it might be a good idea to try that out before pursuing a WOM.

 

 

All US senators are required to assist constituents with federal agencies.   In terms of immigration, the assistance their staff can provide is by making an inquiry as to what is happening with your case (in very general terms-  they won’t be given specifics).   They can’t impact a decision or expedite.

[throwitaway 190]

13 hours ago, Fita said:

Hello, 

anyone here on EB-3, Who filed or considering filing WOM?

Like other immigrant visas, WoM can be filed for EB-3 visa applications. I don't think we’ve had an EB WoM in this thread yet, but plenty of WoM filers here in general.

[talkingreckless 4]

Anyone know how long after they request your passport back because admin processing is done does it take them to issue and send it back?

[AnimeLover89 2]

Hello Guys so I just received a reply from the montreal consulate after I emailed them to inquire about my case. I know its a very generic reply but this is what I received.

 

“We acknowledge receipt of your e-mail and the additional documents you have provided. 

 

This case is currently pending to be reviewed by a consular officer. As soon as the review is complete, the Visa Unit will advise of the next steps if anything else is needed to complete processing the case. 

 

We realize that these extended time periods cause frustration to many individuals, and we are sensitive to the fact that the purpose of the immigrant visa program is to facilitate legitimate travel to the U.S.  Nonetheless, the Consulate in Montreal, like all U.S. Embassies and Consulates, must adjudicate visas in accordance with the provisions of the law, and, in some cases, this involves extensive consular review and administrative processing. 

 

While we cannot predict when the processing of your visa will be completed, please be assured that the Consulate and the Department of State are aware of your concerns and will contact you as soon as the processing is complete. 

 

We hope that this information is helpful in replying to your inquiry.  

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.”

 

[kryptonite 43]

57 minutes ago, AnimeLover89 said:

Hello Guys so I just received a reply from the montreal consulate after I emailed them to inquire about my case. I know its a very generic reply but this is what I received.

 

“We acknowledge receipt of your e-mail and the additional documents you have provided. 

 

This case is currently pending to be reviewed by a consular officer. As soon as the review is complete, the Visa Unit will advise of the next steps if anything else is needed to complete processing the case. 

 

We realize that these extended time periods cause frustration to many individuals, and we are sensitive to the fact that the purpose of the immigrant visa program is to facilitate legitimate travel to the U.S.  Nonetheless, the Consulate in Montreal, like all U.S. Embassies and Consulates, must adjudicate visas in accordance with the provisions of the law, and, in some cases, this involves extensive consular review and administrative processing. 

 

While we cannot predict when the processing of your visa will be completed, please be assured that the Consulate and the Department of State are aware of your concerns and will contact you as soon as the processing is complete. 

 

We hope that this information is helpful in replying to your inquiry.  

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.”

 

Pretty much exactly the response I got last week. I just emailed them again today. I'm sure the response would be the exact same but, I figured it's worth a try because I was told things would be resolved in a "few weeks" and today it has been 6 weeks.

[AnimeLover89 2]

59 minutes ago, kryptonite said:

Pretty much exactly the response I got last week. I just emailed them again today. I'm sure the response would be the exact same but, I figured it's worth a try because I was told things would be resolved in a "few weeks" and today it has been 6 weeks.

Does emailing them again works? Or in other words does it make any difference like making them speed up with our cases?

[kryptonite 43]

1 minute ago, AnimeLover89 said:

Does emailing them again works? Or in other words does it make any difference like making them speed up with our cases?

I guess we’ll find out! My second time emailing IS today so they’ll probably get back to me in about a week. I believe others have emailed more than once and responses have been more or less the same. I could be wrong though. 

[Fita 0]

Hello,  can you recommend lawyers who are able to look into a mandamus?

[ice-qube 648]

2 hours ago, AnimeLover89 said:

Does emailing them again works? Or in other words does it make any difference like making them speed up with our cases?

In my experience... not at all.

[ice-qube 648]

2 hours ago, kryptonite said:

I guess we’ll find out! My second time emailing IS today so they’ll probably get back to me in about a week. I believe others have emailed more than once and responses have been more or less the same. I could be wrong though. 

In the last 1 year and 2 months of being in AP I have emailed these guys many times. The responses are more or less cut and paste, change a couple of words if necessary, and that is it. If you get a response in a week, you are very lucky--I have found 2-3 weeks is the norm. Sometimes, they didn't respond at all.

[kryptonite 43]

4 hours ago, ice-qube said:

In the last 1 year and 2 months of being in AP I have emailed these guys many times. The responses are more or less cut and paste, change a couple of words if necessary, and that is it. If you get a response in a week, you are very lucky--I have found 2-3 weeks is the norm. Sometimes, they didn't respond at all.

That’s absolutely insane. Waiting 2-3 weeks just to get a generic response is ridiculous. I know you’ve been on this thread and this forum for quite a while but I haven’t gone back far enough to know your story. If you don’t mind, what’s the reason your case is in AP for that long? Did you get the DS-5535 or 221g?