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

[ajxl888 38]

Hey Everyone,

 

I've been tracking the Google Spreadsheet and it's super disheartening to see that there have been very few updates and approvals.  How is everyone coping?  

 

I'm just at a loss and can't believe it's been now almost 6 months since my interview.  Filing for WOM is something we don't really have the bandwidth for but is this the only way forward?  This whole situation is just mind-boggling... 

[Fayisa 21]

9 hours ago, Leo The Great said:

This is with regards to completing DS-5535 form online. If the same information is already provided in DS-260 application, you do not need to repeat the same information in the form as per instructions. 

Does anyone know what should we write in the mandatory fields(Information already provided in the DS-260 form)  as if you leave it empty it won't allow you to go to next step?

 

I have actually repeated everything was on DS-260 on the form again. I didn't want to give them a chance to say anything. Will see what others say about it. 

[Fayisa 21]

29 minutes ago, ajxl888 said:

Hey Everyone,

 

I've been tracking the Google Spreadsheet and it's super disheartening to see that there have been very few updates and approvals.  How is everyone coping?  

 

I'm just at a loss and can't believe it's been now almost 6 months since my interview.  Filing for WOM is something we don't really have the bandwidth for but is this the only way forward?  This whole situation is just mind-boggling... 

It is really hard situation staying away from your partner for this long. The process itself was a hectic and being on AP for no obvious reason make it worse. You start questioning if it is really far sperating families specially when you have kids. I don't know what is going on, but they are processing everything slowly nowadays. 

[cala2023 70]

28 minutes ago, ajxl888 said:

Hey Everyone,

 

I've been tracking the Google Spreadsheet and it's super disheartening to see that there have been very few updates and approvals.  How is everyone coping?  

 

I'm just at a loss and can't believe it's been now almost 6 months since my interview.  Filing for WOM is something we don't really have the bandwidth for but is this the only way forward?  This whole situation is just mind-boggling... 

It's definitely disheartening. My husband is also right at the 6 month mark come the end of October. I decided to email the consultant two days ago as it is close to the 180 day mark they recommend contacting them around. I haven't received a response yet but will update if I do. We also have not filed a WOM. Looking at the most recent spreadsheet and those who have successfully made it through, there is something of a pattern of 275-300 days from interview to passport back in hand for what that's worth.

[Superluminal 146]

1 hour ago, ajxl888 said:

Hey Everyone,

 

I've been tracking the Google Spreadsheet and it's super disheartening to see that there have been very few updates and approvals.  How is everyone coping?  

 

I'm just at a loss and can't believe it's been now almost 6 months since my interview.  Filing for WOM is something we don't really have the bandwidth for but is this the only way forward?  This whole situation is just mind-boggling... 

I also am keeping a pretty close eye on the spreadsheet for evidence of other people's updates. Here are some potential factors I was able to find online about our consulate:

 

- Ana Escrogima was the consul general up until Jul 2023. Robert P. Sanders started a couple of months ago (maybe some time in August?). 

- The Deputy Chief of Mission to Canada was Katherine Brucker until at least the summer, then Elizabeth C. Power was the active Deputy Chief at least as soon as Aug 16th. The current Deputy Chief is Marybeth Turner. Not sure exactly when these transitions happened but since they didn't have someone lined up, it could have been quite disruptive.

 

I have no idea how much these individuals and changes in leadership may influence how things move as far as our process goes. That being said, internal changes in management could cause a temporary slow down in any organization.

 

I am going to remain as positive as possible that things will pick up again soon.

 

(Note: for those wondering how I found this out. I looked up old versions of the consulate and embassy's website on https://web.archive.org/. In particular, I was looking at versions of https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/montreal/consul-general/ and https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/ottawa/dcm/ since they show who is currently in the seats of those positions)

[Leo The Great 141]

16 hours ago, Fayisa said:

I have actually repeated everything was on DS-260 on the form again. I didn't want to give them a chance to say anything. Will see what others say about it. 

@Fayisa or anyone else - Did we send resume as an pdf attachment in reply email for DS-5535 (montreal-iv-dv@state.gov)? My father submitted resume and got following response

Thank you for your inquiry to the Immigrant Visa Unit at U.S. Consulate General Montreal.....

Edited October 6, 2023 by Leo The Great

[Irish89 44]

Just wanted to add in here that September 30th was the DV visa deadline and that was just last week. Historically the amount of Visa’s issued by the consulate in most categories goes down while the amount of DV visa’s they issue goes way up in September. All in all I believe they focus mostly on DV visas in September so hopefully going forward they will resume focus on all other categories. You can track how many visas they issue and what categories there in online by year and month. I can’t attach a link here but if you Google US Visa issuance statistics you should find it. Takes some digging but you’ll find Montreal in there somewhere.
 

Stay strong!! 

[Fayisa 21]

3 hours ago, Leo The Great said:

@Fayisa or anyone else - Did we send resume as an pdf attachment in reply email for DS-5535 (montreal-iv-dv@state.gov)? My father submitted resume and got following response

Thank you for your inquiry to the Immigrant Visa Unit at U.S. Consulate General Montreal.....

Hello Leo, yeah you can attach it as a PDF document to the email. As long you mentioned in the email that you attached it. I always write few words so they will know that it is there. That response is just a automated responses. You can wait for a week or so and ask them to confirm getting your documents. 

[Fayisa 21]

Guys wondering how often you reach to the consualte for an update, I have received the last email from them on the 25th, and it was the last time they updated my case. Should I reach out again ? It is almost 4 weeks since they recieved my passport. 

[Superluminal 146]

21 minutes ago, Fayisa said:

Guys wondering how often you reach to the consualte for an update, I have received the last email from them on the 25th, and it was the last time they updated my case. Should I reach out again ? It is almost 4 weeks since they recieved my passport. 

Do you mind adding yourself to here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jV7rzX2eCRVoEDRhOtN9a6hDoHRLNEf1P3ZGZbQ0_Dc/edit#gid=0?

 

I have a WoM active so I haven't reached our directly. They do say on their website to not reach out until at least 6 months after you give them your DS-5535.

[SEP-27-DS_5535 33]

2 hours ago, Fayisa said:

Guys wondering how often you reach to the consualte for an update, I have received the last email from them on the 25th, and it was the last time they updated my case. Should I reach out again ? It is almost 4 weeks since they recieved my passport. 

I’m wondering what they say in their response email back to you after sending a case inquiry to the Montreal consulate? I am trying to understand the logic behind the “case last update” in correlation with the emails. Thanks in advance 

[Fayisa 21]

38 minutes ago, Ahmad0606 said:

I’m wondering what they say in their response email back to you after sending a case inquiry to the Montreal consulate? I am trying to understand the logic behind the “case last update” in correlation with the emails. Thanks in advance 

The last time I emailed them they took a  week to respond they told me my case is pending consular review. It was the last day they updated my case. Actually when you see an update on your case it gives you hope that they are working on your case. At least that how I feel. 

2 hours ago, Superluminal said:

Do you mind adding yourself to here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jV7rzX2eCRVoEDRhOtN9a6hDoHRLNEf1P3ZGZbQ0_Dc/edit#gid=0?

 

I have a WoM active so I haven't reached our directly. They do say on their website to not reach out until at least 6 months after you give them your DS-5535.

I will add myself for sure. Thanks 

[Leo The Great 141]

1 hour ago, Ahmad0606 said:

I’m wondering what they say in their response email back to you after sending a case inquiry to the Montreal consulate? I am trying to understand the logic behind the “case last update” in correlation with the emails. Thanks in advance 

Today submitted the DS-5535 form and the case date updated to today's date. It mean form submission trigger the case update. Before it was showing the date when MTL sent DS-5535 email.

[APRIL2023 59]

So far any forms of communication would have triggered a status update for me. I did have a few unsolicited updates in the past and that gave me hope that something is happening in the background. I’d been in AP for 6 months now so hopefully something IS happening.  Before, the consulate was responsive with my email inquires with response time around 1 week. Now, they have gone radio silence despite multiple inquiries. Feels like the boat for filing WOM has sailed for urging responses, with increasing likelihood of case dismissal. 
 

Side note, we did reach out to the White House for support. Our inquires was forwarded to DOS representatives which was expected. Though it was a personalized letter response with wording different from the responses from the consulate, the messaging pretty says we (anyone placed on AP) is SOL cause no one is there to help you. 
 

I stopped checking my status everyday now, cause there’s no point in speculating anything. This forum is comforting cause I know at least I’m not the only one going through this! 
 

Hang in there everyone! 

[throwitaway 190]

17 hours ago, Ahmad0606 said:

I’m wondering what they say in their response email back to you after sending a case inquiry to the Montreal consulate? I am trying to understand the logic behind the “case last update” in correlation with the emails. Thanks in advance 

Case last updated changes are not useful - it happens when your file is checked. Could be progress, could be routine admin stuff, could be an email inquiry. 

15 hours ago, APRIL2023 said:

I stopped checking my status everyday now, cause there’s no point in speculating anything.

This is the way