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

[Leo The Great 141]

1 hour ago, Abriel said:

We submitted it via google form! They gave my fiance a QR code on a piece of paper. I guess its new

For us, it was Microsoft web form

Embassy contact info can be found in this page:

https://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Canada&cty=Montreal

Edited November 11, 2023 by Leo The Great

[AP_since_May2023 37]

On 8/10/2023 at 5:33 AM, Pearljamm said:

 

Added myself in! 

Any updates?

[ALC 61]

On 11/2/2023 at 7:57 PM, Leo The Great said:

@ALC

I just saw spreadsheet. Congrats on clearing AP so quickly just in 85 days. Would you mind telling what is the clearance received date on your visa. You told earlier that 8/31 was the last update for you.

Unlike one of my B1/B2 visas, there isn't a clearance received annotation this time... only the flu vaccine waiver thing. Now I am not even sure if I was actually in SAO, even though I was told at the interview that I got flagged and they need to send the case to DC... 

From the few pieces of information, I could only speculate whatever process they needed to do, was done on 8/31 (about a month after the interview), then they just sat on my case for like 6 weeks until my lawyers followed up twice. In the first reply they were saying I needed an USCIS waiver, which was very confusing to us (retrospectively, they were probably talking about the flu vaccine waiver since my medical was in June when it was waived, but the most recent processing was beginning of October; though it's something they give, not by me requesting), then the lawyers followed up again to clarify, this time they said it's pending a CO review. Both replies were standard form responses though... 

Luckily, just as we were contemplating our options, the request for passport email came. 

@ak47 Luckily, I was able to scrape by by a hair, my medical expires in mid December, and I will be landing in about two weeks. 

 

[Leo The Great 141]

@ALC

May be your first clearance for B1/B2 was done within 48 months of 2nd DS-5535, According to SOA Wikipedia, SOA is valid up to 48 months

 

Thanks

Edited November 13, 2023 by Leo The Great

[Fayisa 21]

Hello guys, we are trying to reach a senator or a congressman, can you reach multiple for my husband state or should we reach only one? Anybody reached them, what was your experience ? Thanks

[CondorMantis 2]

55 minutes ago, Fayisa said:

Hello guys, we are trying to reach a senator or a congressman, can you reach multiple for my husband state or should we reach only one? Anybody reached them, what was your experience ? Thanks

I reached out to a senator and got a long but standard response from the Chief of the consular section in Tunis. 
"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 re-unite families. Nonetheless, the embassy must adjudicate visas in accordance with the provisions of the law, and, in some cases, this involves extensive administrative processing. While we cannot predict when the processing of the applicant's visa will be completed, please be assured that the embassy and the Department of State are aware of your concerns and will do all we can to see that the visa is adjudicated as soon as the processing of his application has been completed"

[ALC 61]

9 hours ago, Leo The Great said:

@ALC

May be your first clearance for B1/B2 was done within 48 months of 2nd DS-5535, According to SOA Wikipedia, SOA is valid up to 48 months

 

Thanks

NP!

Nope, it was almost 5 years ago.

[Darkknight574 1]

Has anyone here ever applied for a non-immigration visa while waiting for their DS5535 response? My wife has L-1 visa and I would like to apply for L-2 at the airport border. Do the border officers have access to our immigration visa status? Any conflict between the two applications? 

[Irish89 44]

Hi Everyone

Just wondering if anyone has any interesting information that might lead to an explanation for the apparent radio silence we're experiencing right now with these Visa applications. Perhaps anyone who has spoken to Lawyers and gotten their perspective on the current situation. As it stands we know that WOM's are getting push back now, particularly WOM's filed within 6 months of the Interview. I've heard that the conflict in the Middle East might even be having an impact on visa timelines right now. All in all just trying to hear other peoples views and maybe someone has heard something through an Immigration lawyer as you would think that they would be up to date on any issues connected with Immigration. Hard to make sense of it all so would like to see if others are interested in discussing this further.

 

[CondorMantis 2]

50 minutes ago, Irish89 said:

Hi Everyone

Just wondering if anyone has any interesting information that might lead to an explanation for the apparent radio silence we're experiencing right now with these Visa applications. Perhaps anyone who has spoken to Lawyers and gotten their perspective on the current situation. As it stands we know that WOM's are getting push back now, particularly WOM's filed within 6 months of the Interview. I've heard that the conflict in the Middle East might even be having an impact on visa timelines right now. All in all just trying to hear other peoples views and maybe someone has heard something through an Immigration lawyer as you would think that they would be up to date on any issues connected with Immigration. Hard to make sense of it all so would like to see if others are interested in discussing this further.

 

I had a consultation with Goldstein Immigration, I expressed my skepticism about the current effectiveness of consular-related WOM, and I was told that they increased the wait-time for 221g/DS-5535 refusals from 2 months to 4 months for employment based IV because of the recent increase in dismissals (since around June). Their guidelines might be different for other visa categories, mine is EB2-NIW.
I also spoke to Hacking and expressed the same concerns, and was told that most dismissals are for people who haven't had their interview yet. Not sure that is true though, I see quite a few who got dismissed in 221(g)/DS-5535 delays. 

 

[Irish89 44]

7 hours ago, CondorMantis said:

I had a consultation with Goldstein Immigration, I expressed my skepticism about the current effectiveness of consular-related WOM, and I was told that they increased the wait-time for 221g/DS-5535 refusals from 2 months to 4 months for employment based IV because of the recent increase in dismissals (since around June). Their guidelines might be different for other visa categories, mine is EB2-NIW.
I also spoke to Hacking and expressed the same concerns, and was told that most dismissals are for people who haven't had their interview yet. Not sure that is true though, I see quite a few who got dismissed in 221(g)/DS-5535 delays. 

 

Interesting to hear Goldstein essentially recommending the 4 month wait but at the end of the day they would say that not to discourage people from paying them $5000 for the WOM. Hacking seem to be way off the mark with their take on dismissals happening before people have their interviews. Thanks for the input!! 

[throwitaway 190]

9 hours ago, Irish89 said:

Hi Everyone

Just wondering if anyone has any interesting information that might lead to an explanation for the apparent radio silence we're experiencing right now with these Visa applications. Perhaps anyone who has spoken to Lawyers and gotten their perspective on the current situation. As it stands we know that WOM's are getting push back now, particularly WOM's filed within 6 months of the Interview. I've heard that the conflict in the Middle East might even be having an impact on visa timelines right now. All in all just trying to hear other peoples views and maybe someone has heard something through an Immigration lawyer as you would think that they would be up to date on any issues connected with Immigration. Hard to make sense of it all so would like to see if others are interested in discussing this further.

 

Sadly, DS5535 delays in Montreal are not new, this has been ongoing since 2018.

[SEP-27-DS_5535 33]

1 hour ago, throwitaway said:

Sadly, DS5535 delays in Montreal are not new, this has been ongoing since 2018.

The stats from 2021 to 2022 were much better than this year. A lot of people were cleared in 90 days span.

[Leo The Great 141]

Dismissal of WOMs this year may also be a contributing factor in term of clearance stats.

Edited November 15, 2023 by Leo The Great

[mam521 2,113]

On 11/13/2023 at 11:45 PM, Darkknight574 said:

Has anyone here ever applied for a non-immigration visa while waiting for their DS5535 response? My wife has L-1 visa and I would like to apply for L-2 at the airport border. Do the border officers have access to our immigration visa status? Any conflict between the two applications? 

L1 employment sponsored (and in turn, the L2) are a dual intent visa. There's no reason you shouldn't be able to join her, irrespective of your pending immigration status. If you were attempting a TN, it would 100% be denied.  

 

I guess my question is what category were you put into AP for?  You don't have your timeline filled in, so I can't tell if it's spousal or employment based GC.