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

[millefleur 5,046]

**One hijack post removed. Please start a new thread if you have your own question.**

 

VJ Moderation

[LYV 63]

Hi There,

 

I’ve been following along silently for a couple weeks. It’s nice to be able to read everyone stories for some comfort that we’re not alone on this. My husband and I went for our interview for our EB-1A visa May 26th 2023. We had no idea the DS5535 was even an option. I knew some people got chosen for extended processing but anything I saw was the person had been refused entry to the states before. That there was a reason. For us there is no reason. Our lawyer didn’t prepare us for this possibility. It’s been 5 years since my husband started the process, he added me on his and it’s been two years for me. Our lawyer said you’re already approved so there shouldn’t be a problem. We walked into that embassy happy as clams. We assumed when answering questions just to answer simply and not extrapolate  which I now think was the mistake. But usually at border crossings that’s how you answer so it’s what we did. We answered about 3 or 4 basic very conversational almost questions of the officer. She was super nice.
 

She said, So what will you be doing in the states? My husband answers I’ll be working in the industry in LA., (I didn’t answer here and maybe I should have about my job etc but she was on to the next question)

 

Have you been working on anything recently? Yes (listed tv show name he is working on) 

 

Have you lived anywhere outside of the US or Canada? No 

 

Where have you travelled to over the last 5 years? Listed South Africa, USA, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Portugal. 
 

My husband did most of the talking. Not for any reason it just kind of happened that way. I’m not sure if I should’ve spoke up more. She said okay I’m going to

give your passports back to you. We looked shell shocked. And she said you’ve been randomly selected for extensive processing. This happens sometimes. I said something to my husband about how he answered one of the questions. She heard and said it was nothing that you said. It typically takes two weeks for processing. She said I could keep your passports but sometimes it takes longer so I’m going to give them back. 
 

That was it. We went back to the hotel and got the email in the afternoon. It took us almost 2 weeks to fill everything out because we’ve travelled a lot and I grew up in a border town and a lot of my family is in the states so I had to figure out as many times as I could every time I went to the states (usually 5 times a year or more) Plus backpacking through Europe after college and various other trips. So we sent it in on June 7, 2023. Two weeks has past and nothing. I mean I didn’t expect it since what I’ve seen on here but I think my husband wanted to be hopeful. I’m 37 and we are wanting to start a family soon. It’s so hard to do that with this looming. I think I read on here or somewhere else that someone had a baby while on DS5535 and then the embassy wanted another interview with in Montreal with the 7 month old baby present. I don’t want to complicate things more. But who knows how long this will take.
 

I also found this company on YouTube who is made up of ex-immigration officers and it made me even more upset that I just trusted the lawyer and didn’t do more research which I usually always do crazy too much research with stuff like this. They said that when you go there the officer has never seen you case before. That if you bring extra proof and stuff in that you should find ways to give as much information as possible to the officer because they start at “this person does not deserve to be approved” and you are basically convincing them otherwise! Which I thought was insane. Why do you go through all the paperwork and approval process then? It makes no sense… and if that’s what they want more extrapolated answers then why isn’t this communicated in any way? 
 

So now we are on this waited game again. Hoping it’s going faster now post pandemic but we’ll see I guess. I was wondering has anyone started an Excel sheet for tracking everyone’s cases and dates, and approvals? I know they do that on other threads for the first part of the approval process to kind of get an idea of where they might be in the line of approvals.  

[SalishSea 17,824]

4 minutes ago, LYV said:

Our lawyer said you’re already approved so there shouldn’t be a problem

Well, that was certainly a red flag.  No one is ever pre-approved, or 'approved on the spot.'

 

Higher levels of vetting, via the DS-5535 seems to be a thing for Canadians now.  All you can do is wait.  

[Tristan L 2]

4 hours ago, SalishSea said:

Well, that was certainly a red flag.  No one is ever pre-approved, or 'approved on the spot.'

 

Higher levels of vetting, via the DS-5535 seems to be a thing for Canadians now.  All you can do is wait.  

Hi SalishSea,

That is the truth, the consulate would like to send out  DS5535 rather that a simple approve. I am Australian citizen and also be stuck in the process from 7 March this year. 

[AP_since_May2023 37]

17 hours ago, LYV said:

Hi There,

 

I’ve been following along silently for a couple weeks. It’s nice to be able to read everyone stories for some comfort that we’re not alone on this. My husband and I went for our interview for our EB-1A visa May 26th 2023. We had no idea the DS5535 was even an option. I knew some people got chosen for extended processing but anything I saw was the person had been refused entry to the states before. That there was a reason. For us there is no reason. Our lawyer didn’t prepare us for this possibility. It’s been 5 years since my husband started the process, he added me on his and it’s been two years for me. Our lawyer said you’re already approved so there shouldn’t be a problem. We walked into that embassy happy as clams. We assumed when answering questions just to answer simply and not extrapolate  which I now think was the mistake. But usually at border crossings that’s how you answer so it’s what we did. We answered about 3 or 4 basic very conversational almost questions of the officer. She was super nice.
 

She said, So what will you be doing in the states? My husband answers I’ll be working in the industry in LA., (I didn’t answer here and maybe I should have about my job etc but she was on to the next question)

 

Have you been working on anything recently? Yes (listed tv show name he is working on) 

 

Have you lived anywhere outside of the US or Canada? No 

 

Where have you travelled to over the last 5 years? Listed South Africa, USA, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Portugal. 
 

My husband did most of the talking. Not for any reason it just kind of happened that way. I’m not sure if I should’ve spoke up more. She said okay I’m going to

give your passports back to you. We looked shell shocked. And she said you’ve been randomly selected for extensive processing. This happens sometimes. I said something to my husband about how he answered one of the questions. She heard and said it was nothing that you said. It typically takes two weeks for processing. She said I could keep your passports but sometimes it takes longer so I’m going to give them back. 
 

That was it. We went back to the hotel and got the email in the afternoon. It took us almost 2 weeks to fill everything out because we’ve travelled a lot and I grew up in a border town and a lot of my family is in the states so I had to figure out as many times as I could every time I went to the states (usually 5 times a year or more) Plus backpacking through Europe after college and various other trips. So we sent it in on June 7, 2023. Two weeks has past and nothing. I mean I didn’t expect it since what I’ve seen on here but I think my husband wanted to be hopeful. I’m 37 and we are wanting to start a family soon. It’s so hard to do that with this looming. I think I read on here or somewhere else that someone had a baby while on DS5535 and then the embassy wanted another interview with in Montreal with the 7 month old baby present. I don’t want to complicate things more. But who knows how long this will take.
 

I also found this company on YouTube who is made up of ex-immigration officers and it made me even more upset that I just trusted the lawyer and didn’t do more research which I usually always do crazy too much research with stuff like this. They said that when you go there the officer has never seen you case before. That if you bring extra proof and stuff in that you should find ways to give as much information as possible to the officer because they start at “this person does not deserve to be approved” and you are basically convincing them otherwise! Which I thought was insane. Why do you go through all the paperwork and approval process then? It makes no sense… and if that’s what they want more extrapolated answers then why isn’t this communicated in any way? 
 

So now we are on this waited game again. Hoping it’s going faster now post pandemic but we’ll see I guess. I was wondering has anyone started an Excel sheet for tracking everyone’s cases and dates, and approvals? I know they do that on other threads for the first part of the approval process to kind of get an idea of where they might be in the line of approvals.  

I believe we all share the same experience. We had thought that the interview was going to be the final step, only to be slapped in the face by AP...

[Admitt 18]

I am still under AP with refused with no update since my interview. I happen to be going back to the consulate for my sons interview, has any one had experience with discussing with the officer there for a update on my case. or am I asking for trouble for bringing it up to them during my sons interview? 

[AP_since_May2023 37]

3 hours ago, Admitt said:

I am still under AP with refused with no update since my interview. I happen to be going back to the consulate for my sons interview, has any one had experience with discussing with the officer there for a update on my case. or am I asking for trouble for bringing it up to them during my sons interview? 

I don't see any harm in bringing it up. Worst thing they can do to you is literally say to you: "Your case is still under administrative processing".

How long have you been in AP?

Edited June 28, 2023 by SGtoMurica

[TBoneTX 45,273]

A duplicate post has been removed.  Please post only once on a single topic.

[throwitaway 190]

On 6/27/2023 at 8:57 PM, LYV said:

 

Really sad reading this, brings back memories of when it was all fresh and we didn’t know a thing about MTL and DS-5535. I know it’s tough and it may not seem like it, but there is an end to this, and you’ll survive it.

Edited June 29, 2023 by throwitaway

[justanamericangrl 23]

On 6/26/2023 at 8:16 AM, WatchingPaintDry said:

 

Successfully crossed the border yesterday morning via Pearson and reunited with my wife and baby girl. No issues on crossing. They took my fingerprints again and had my verify my US residential address. Now just wait for the physical card

Great news!! Congrats again! My husband crosses tomorrow morning!

[Admitt 18]

On 6/28/2023 at 9:48 PM, TBoneTX said:

A duplicate post has been removed.  Please post only once on a single topic.

It’s been over 2 month now.

[Pearljamm 65]

Today, we have officially filed WoM. 

 

And now, we wait. 

[Nbc16 3]

1 minute ago, Pearljamm said:

Today, we have officially filed WoM. 

 

And now, we wait. 

Hope it goes fast and you get approved in no time ! Who did you file with ? We’ve been talking to goldstein in preparation for the 90 day mark

[Admitt 18]

On 7/4/2023 at 12:44 AM, Admitt said:

It’s been over 2 month now.

Update: i sent the consulate a email a couple of weeks ago and they sent me a response ( looks generic) however my case finally updated for the first time. Does anyone have experience with that? 

 

Message from them is below.

 

Hello, 

 

Thank you for your inquiry.  

   

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 State Department 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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regards,

 

[Nbc16 3]

1 minute ago, Admitt said:

Update: i sent the consulate a email a couple of weeks ago and they sent me a response ( looks generic) however my case finally updated for the first time. Does anyone have experience with that? 

 

Message from them is below.

 

Hello, 

 

Thank you for your inquiry.  

   

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 State Department 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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regards,

 

They literally sent me the same thing 10 minutes ago!