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

[throwitaway 190]

57 minutes ago, Montreal514 said:

It seems for most people that your passports were kept/held when given the DS5535. Is it uncommon for your passport NOT to be held and given back on the spot?

This varies by embassy. At Montreal it’s usually kept. I only know of one person where it was given back at interview.

[ice-qube 648]

1 hour ago, Montreal514 said:

It seems for most people that your passports were kept/held when given the DS5535. Is it uncommon for your passport NOT to be held and given back on the spot?

My passport was given back on the spot. I knew right then it wasn't going to be good.

[AnimeLover89 2]

Hey guys just wanted to ask that should I email the embassy again? My CEAC is updating constantly so is inquiring them a good idea? 

[Montreal514 0]

9 hours ago, throwitaway said:

This varies by embassy. At Montreal it’s usually kept. I only know of one person where it was given back at interview.

Thanks. Does this mean anything extra? Or just a coincidence? 

[throwitaway 190]

Just now, Montreal514 said:

Thanks. Does this mean anything extra? Or just a coincidence? 

It’s all the same in the end. 

[BrownM 1]

Hello,

 

first and foremost, I am thrilled that @ice-qube is finally getting some traction on his case!!!

 

for ones that file a WOM, obviously a lawyer is now involved.  But did any of you enlist a US lawyer at the start of the application process or did you apply on your own?  
 

if you enlisted with a US lawyer from the start, and got thrown into AP, were they able to help?

 

thanks 

Edited January 16, 2023 by BrownM
Update

[ice-qube 648]

12 minutes ago, BrownM said:

Hello,

 

first and foremost, I am thrilled that @ice-qube is finally getting some traction on his case!!!

 

for ones that file a WOM, obviously a lawyer is now involved.  But did any of you enlist a US lawyer at the start of the application process or did you apply on your own?  
 

if you enlisted with a US lawyer from the start, and got thrown into AP, were they able to help?

 

thanks 

Thanks @BrownM! I don’t know if having a lawyer from beginning would have helped anything—I suspect not, to be honest. Personally I didn’t get lawyers involved until WOM suit.

[ice-qube 648]

3 hours ago, AnimeLover89 said:

Hey guys just wanted to ask that should I email the embassy again? My CEAC is updating constantly so is inquiring them a good idea? 

Well what was your last communication with them about, and did they respond?

[throwitaway 190]

22 minutes ago, BrownM said:

Hello,

 

first and foremost, I am thrilled that @ice-qube is finally getting some traction on his case!!!

 

for ones that file a WOM, obviously a lawyer is now involved.  But did any of you enlist a US lawyer at the start of the application process or did you apply on your own?  
 

if you enlisted with a US lawyer from the start, and got thrown into AP, were they able to help?

 

thanks 

A lawyer from the jump only helps with paperwork and prep. There’s no advantage to having one when thrown into AP, unless you’ve already decided you will immediately sue. 

[dennisv 23]

I got my passport back on the day of interview. From that moment I knew it would be an up hill battle. 

[bobobobobo 31]

Hey guys, my visa got approved on the sixth of January. it still says approved, not issued yet. 

 

"Your visa is in final processing. If you have not received it in more than 10 working days, please see the webpage for contact information of the embassy or consulate where you submitted your application."

Am i expected to receive it in like 4 more days (Since right now it is working day 6) or am I waiting for it to change to issued?

 

this is a K1 visa, if it matters.

[BrownM 1]

23 minutes ago, bobobobobo said:

Hey guys, my visa got approved on the sixth of January. it still says approved, not issued yet. 

 

"Your visa is in final processing. If you have not received it in more than 10 working days, please see the webpage for contact information of the embassy or consulate where you submitted your application."

Am i expected to receive it in like 4 more days (Since right now it is working day 6) or am I waiting for it to change to issued?

 

this is a K1 visa, if it matters.

A reminder that the consulate is closed today due to federal holiday, Martin Luther King Day

[Mmk2112 34]

20 hours ago, addpeace said:

Hi everyone-

 

I have mostly been a lurker in this thread since my husband and I got put into AP and given the DS5535 on August 1st 2022. We are officially signing with Hacking Law firm tomorrow, but I just wanted to let everyone know all the steps we have taken and our timeline so far.

Steps:

Emailed Montreal consulate every week since interview on Aug 1st.

• Same copy paste emails
• Only email that actually was different was when I requested for our case to be reviewed by a manger or higher official.
  • This email stated that asking for our passport back does not stop our case from processing. (We have never requested it back though)
• Let them know 2 weeks ago that we were contemplating filing a Writ of Mandamus. (no response so far)

Contacted our MN senator and local congresswoman:

• Senator (never responded)
• Congresswoman
  • They sent 2 inquires to Montreal
    • 1 was the same copy paste response
    • 1 they never got back to them
  • Gave me a list of immigration lawyers I could reach out to.

Mailed hand letters to:

• POTUS* (3 weeks to respond)
• VPOTUS* (1 month to respond)
• Sec. of State* (3 months to respond)
• US Consulate General of Montreal (No response)
• Homeland security* (2 weeks to respond)

All the * letters were forwarded to USCIS who contacted us saying they would look into our case and we would receive a response in 14 days. The response came 5 days later saying they could not help us since this was a state department issue. They gave us a link to put in a email inquiry to the State department, which we did. 10 days later we got a response from the state department saying this is a consulate issue and to try contacting them. (These are all sent from No reply emails as well, so you can never talk to the same person or respond to them)

 

We have spoken to 3 local immigration attorneys who have basically all said the same thing. "Trinidad, Islamabad, and Montreal are the worst consulates to immigrate through right now." they also said "AP is getting out of hand, and with so many illegal immigrates coming in the families in DS5535 are pushed back because the illegal immigrate checks use the same system for background checks. (since they are in the country already I guess theirs take priority)"  They have all reviewed our case and found no red flags or any reason that we should have triggered AP let alone DS5535.

 

Thus with our 6th month mark coming up on Feb 1st Lex and I have decided to go the WOM route. Hacking Immigration has quoted us $5000 for the process. With 2 different payment options. $3000 down payment and the final 2000 paid over 4 months ($500 a month), or Pay full upfront and get $500 off, so $4500. Hopefully we are able to get out of this before the end of summer as my husband is in school and transitioning in the middle of a semester will be rough.

 

I wish everyone luck with their cases and their status updates.

 

Thank you all the details. 

 

Good luck to you. I will also be going via this route after completion of my six months. Looks like hacking is a better choice at the moment. 

[AnimeLover89 2]

5 hours ago, ice-qube said:

Well what was your last communication with them about, and did they respond?

I emailed them in early dec and they replied me a week later with a generic response about my case pending to be reviewed.

Edited January 16, 2023 by AnimeLover89

[ice-qube 648]

59 minutes ago, AnimeLover89 said:

I emailed them in early dec and they replied me a week later with a generic response about my case pending to be reviewed.

Well you can try again, but don’t expect anything different than before.