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

[Nbc16 3]

55 minutes ago, Gha said:

Hi

@Nbc16 I mailed them 3 time .last month 2 time and this month 1 month 1 time but I did not get any response 

thank you 

They just responded to me with this: 

Hello, 

 

Thank you for your inquiry.  

 

Your case was refused under section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act on May 8, 2023, and is currently under administrative processing. As soon as the administrative processing 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 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. 

 

[APRIL2023 59]

1 hour ago, Nbc16 said:

They just responded to me with this: 

Hello, 

 

Thank you for your inquiry.  

 

Your case was refused under section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act on May 8, 2023, and is currently under administrative processing. As soon as the administrative processing 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 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. 

 

I emailed them this month and I received a response within 1 week. 

Aside from the first sentence, the response I received pretty much contained the same generic info as the one above. 

[LYV 63]

Hi there, 

 

I see someone has gone through and changed the way the dates are listed on the group excel sheet. That's okay and should help with clarity. However, doing this may have made your dates incorrect depending on if you listed day first or month first when you first entered your dates. (for instance my DQ date changed to 2022 from 2019 and my date returned DS-5535 was 2006 from 2023) Can everyone go and check to see if your dates are still correct? 

 

Also, if someone would like to improve the sheet that is great and encouraged as it is for all of us, but I think it would be helpful to broach it to the group first so that everyone knows what is going on, can provide input on the changes, and can keep the sheet accurate. 

 

Let me know what you think

 

Thanks!

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jV7rzX2eCRVoEDRhOtN9a6hDoHRLNEf1P3ZGZbQ0_Dc/edit#gid=0

 

[LYV 63]

Nice to see that @wcr984 got through in 3 months without WOM

[AP_since_May2023 37]

@Wcr984 Did you or your employer put in any request for expedited processing of AP? It seems like your consulate interview was expedited on the basis of your occupation as a nurse.

[Wcr984 22]

59 minutes ago, SGtoMurica said:

@Wcr984 Did you or your employer put in any request for expedited processing of AP? It seems like your consulate interview was expedited on the basis of your occupation as a nurse.

My employer had only asked if I’d heard anything after about 2 months of waiting, but nobody told me anything about being expedited. So, who knows? 🤷🏻‍♂️Either way, a relief. 

[AP_since_May2023 37]

4 hours ago, Wcr984 said:

My employer had only asked if I’d heard anything after about 2 months of waiting, but nobody told me anything about being expedited. So, who knows? 🤷🏻‍♂️Either way, a relief. 

 

Thanks for the info. Did your employer handle the entire I-140 & DS-260 etc? Are you already working in the US or this was the final step before you were able to move? 

[LYV 63]

5 hours ago, Wcr984 said:

My employer had only asked if I’d heard anything after about 2 months of waiting, but nobody told me anything about being expedited. So, who knows? 🤷🏻‍♂️Either way, a relief. 

@Wcr984 Are you in the medical field? I think they would push through medical professionals quicker, especially nurses. 

[haruharu 10]

2 minutes ago, LYV said:

@Wcr984 Are you in the medical field? I think they would push through medical professionals quicker, especially nurses. 

Healthcare professional here and no that hasn’t helped me at all 😂

[Wcr984 22]

17 hours ago, SGtoMurica said:

 

Thanks for the info. Did your employer handle the entire I-140 & DS-260 etc? Are you already working in the US or this was the final step before you were able to move? 

I-140 was handled by employer. I filled out the DS-260. I entered July 30th and received my green card yesterday. The envelope was had an invalid address so USCIS entered my address wrong at the Rainbow Bridge. I narrowly avoided having it returned to USCIS simply by waiting for the mailman and asking for it. SSN was generated August 1st but I never received the card due to the address issue. I was due to start working on August 14th, but had to request a replacement social security card this week with the correct address. That is the final step before I begin work! 

[Wcr984 22]

16 hours ago, LYV said:

@Wcr984 Are you in the medical field? I think they would push through medical professionals quicker, especially nurses. 

EB-3 nurse. 

[APRIL2023 59]

On 8/23/2023 at 7:12 PM, haruharu said:

Healthcare professional here and no that hasn’t helped me at all 😂

Same here. Not even if there's a job offer on the line. 

[anotheronewaiting 7]

On 8/20/2023 at 5:33 PM, anotheronewaiting said:

That is really helpful to know! I was fearful that it would trigger again some point later on, even though our case is straightforward. We will figure something out to get through this, hopefully not taking too much longer.. The only new information they have from the DS5535 is the rest of my fiance's travel history. It's a shame to think it will take months sitting on someone's desk to process something so simple and pointless, but that is the common theme for this thread I suppose! After this is said and done, I am going to see what more I can do to advocate for a better legal immigration system. We really don't deserve to deal with this.

Wanted to update that our 221g had medical and “email questionnaire” listed (aka DS-5535…) and the consulate got our medical results one day after our interview (8/15/23, 8/16/23) then emailed us 11 days later to inform us that they had our medical results. Our case has been updated 3 times since the day of the interview, but is still listed as “ready”. I’ll attach the email below. I am glad that they are working on our case and wish there was a way to say just finish what they started before our case rots on someone’s desk..

Hello, 

 

Thank you for your inquiry.  

 

We acknowledge receipt of the medical report. This case is currently pending review 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. 

 

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 we can.

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regards,

[Tikitch 21]

Hey folks! 
 

I was asked to submit a second medical and send my passport, which the consulate received both on August 16th. First question, not to get ahead of myself, but I remember my lawyer telling me to pay the Immigration fee before crossing. I looked it up and it said that I should have received a packet at the interview, which I didn't. And I did go through AP (DS5535), so would I get this packet or handout when my visa is actually issued? Any info on how to handle this is greatly appreciated.

 

Second question, has anyone been asked to submit their passport and second medical but then got refused?? I shouldn't be thinking negatively but im so traumatized from the entire experience, id rather prepare myself mentally. Otherwise, any idea of timeline of when I can expect it to be issued after they receive all the documents? 

Again, thanks so much for the incredible community. I really don't know how I could have done this without you! 

 

[Ontarkie 14,192]

7 hours ago, Tikitch said:

Hey folks! 
 

I was asked to submit a second medical and send my passport, which the consulate received both on August 16th. First question, not to get ahead of myself, but I remember my lawyer telling me to pay the Immigration fee before crossing. I looked it up and it said that I should have received a packet at the interview, which I didn't. And I did go through AP (DS5535), so would I get this packet or handout when my visa is actually issued? Any info on how to handle this is greatly appreciated.

 

Second question, has anyone been asked to submit their passport and second medical but then got refused?? I shouldn't be thinking negatively but im so traumatized from the entire experience, id rather prepare myself mentally. Otherwise, any idea of timeline of when I can expect it to be issued after they receive all the documents? 

Again, thanks so much for the incredible community. I really don't know how I could have done this without you! 

 

Yes wait until passport is in hand. You will need info from it to pay the fee. It can be paid after entry too, but the ball gets rolling a bit faster if it is done before. 

 

If they are asking for new medical and passport they are expecting an approval to issue your visa.