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

[Superluminal 146]

3 minutes ago, Daft_Cat said:

Hope fading. 

 

 

That 75% figure feels off. Maybe it's dated. 

The group in here is a biased sample set as people who get put in AP and are out "quickly" are less likely to join a forum and figure out what's going on.

 

It does look like a few people have gotten unsolicited updates last week which may mean things are starting to get moving. I for one have not gotten an update but my interview date was the end of April. 

[Daft_Cat 136]

1 hour ago, Superluminal said:

The group in here is a biased sample set as people who get put in AP and are out "quickly" are less likely to join a forum and figure out what's going on.

 

It does look like a few people have gotten unsolicited updates last week which may mean things are starting to get moving. I for one have not gotten an update but my interview date was the end of April. 

Yeah - I think there's also a distinction between DS-5535s issued by Montreal vs. other consulates. I can't point to a particular source, but I think Montreal is more broadly seen to be abusing the process and using it as a delay tactic. When I was shopping around for law firms to assist with the WoM, I kept hearing again and again that Montreal is one of the most inefficient, dysfunctional consulates in the world.

In other countries - particularly overseas - I imagine the DS-5535 is used in a way that's similar to an SAO and results in more sensible processing times. Just a theory though.

Edited January 22 by Daft_Cat

[Inveigh 69]

24 minutes ago, Daft_Cat said:

Yeah - I think there's also a distinction between DS-5535s issued by Montreal vs. other consulates. I can't point to a particular source, but I think Montreal is more broadly seen to be abusing the process and using it as a delay tactic. When I was shopping around for law firms to assist with the WoM, I kept hearing again and again that Montreal is one of the most inefficient, dysfunctional consulates in the world.

In other countries - particularly overseas - I imagine the DS-5535 is used in a way that's similar to an SAO and results in more sensible processing times. Just a theory though.

Is there a difference between the two?

[Daft_Cat 136]

1 minute ago, Inveigh said:

Is there a difference between the two?

The only difference I can think of is that the DS-5535 was originally introduced to apply more scrutiny to applicants with certain flags in their profile (specifically tied to certain countries). In Canada, it's being applied seemingly at random and disproportionately compared to other consulates. 

The source from earlier mentioned a backlog of 66k, with 37 advisors tasked with clearing it. But if a disproportionate number of those are coming from Montreal (and I believe other posts in this thread have found evidence of that from various sources), it's possible the Montreal-specific backlog is being cleared at a slower rate so as not to congest the more "legitimate" DS-5535s coming from other consulates. That's just speculation on my part, but something has to be going on with Montreal specifically. 

[ShawnK 82]

The worst I've seen in this dreaded thread (except for the odd rare person in an endless blackhole) is take 12-13 months before sending a medical request. I believe that was users batmanflow and watching paint dry, no updates until they got past 12 months post interview.

 

So hopefully you Feb folks will see something soon, but again, Montreal is awful. 

 

 

[Inveigh 69]

9 minutes ago, ShawnK said:

The worst I've seen in this dreaded thread (except for the odd rare person in an endless blackhole) is take 12-13 months before sending a medical request. I believe that was users batmanflow and watching paint dry, no updates until they got past 12 months post interview.

 

So hopefully you Feb folks will see something soon, but again, Montreal is awful. 

 

 

From what I've seen Montreal Canada and Ankara Turkey seem to be the top 2 contenders for having the most dreadful experiences with AP.

 

Almost 9 months in with my Fiance, and I feel like hope is slowly slipping away from me at times. But I always to try the very hardest to keep my mind clear and believe this confusing process that has led so many of us up to this point is almost over. I cant even begin to fathom how many people we have lost up to this part of AP for without a good cause and so many beautiful relationships that have died-- metaphorically or otherwise. And I just hope we can all help motivate eachother and help eachother get better through this together 

Edited January 22 by Inveigh

[Pearljamm 65]

12 hours ago, ak47 said:

Was your interview in the end of March or April ?

 

We had ours in March but did not receive any update...

My interview was early April 

[Phil_K_IR1 83]

After almost exactly 2.5 months from being given a 221g to submit a CV, we finally got an email from them (as a reply to one of ours asking if they got everything and if there's anything else they need) saying: "We acknowledge receipt of the documents you have provided. 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. "

 

We assumed that it was a name hit for security clearance, we're wondering if others had similar experiences with a similar reply and if approval is around the corner, or does this mean they haven't even initiated the security check because an officer hadn't reviewed it? 
 

Thank you in advance, this is such a dumb process. Still hoping we won't get a 5535 after it's already been nearly 3 months since our interview (Nov 9, 2023). 

Edited January 23 by Phil_K_IR1

[LetsGoFast 13]

On 1/18/2024 at 9:32 AM, LetsGoFast said:

Friends, we finally got our status changed to issued this morning!

 

Since the timeline above, 

12/28/2023: New medical reports requested by consulate

1/5/2023: New medical reports were submitted through eMedical system

1/18/2023: CEAC status changed to issued TAT - finally after such a long journey

 

And for the friends here, do you know - 

1. Now will we receive sealed package with passport or is the package already electronic now?

2. When should I expect to receive the email with tracking number?

3. I plan to drive from Vancouver to Seattle to pass the border, does that sound a valid way? Anything that we should prepare in advance?

 

Thank you all and wish you all the best! And good luck everyone sincerely

 

 

Does anyone has any experience about picking up passports from "BLS Vancouver – 850 West Hastings Street Unit B 50, Vancouver, BC V6C 1E1, CA"?

 

Our cases were issued on Jan 18th, 2023 and have not receive any tracking emails. I read posts about this site and people saying if this site is selected for picking up, we will not receive tracking number and will receive pickup email directly later on. But the people who report this are mostly applying for non-immigration visas (mostly interviewed in Vancouver). Does anyone know what will happen to us on this site?

 

 

[APRIL2023 59]

1 hour ago, Phil_K_IR1 said:

After almost exactly 2.5 months from being given a 221g to submit a CV, we finally got an email from them (as a reply to one of ours asking if they got everything and if there's anything else they need) saying: "We acknowledge receipt of the documents you have provided. 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. "

 

We assumed that it was a name hit for security clearance, we're wondering if others had similar experiences with a similar reply and if approval is around the corner, or does this mean they haven't even initiated the security check because an officer hadn't reviewed it? 
 

Thank you in advance, this is such a dumb process. Still hoping we won't get a 5535 after it's already been nearly 3 months since our interview (Nov 9, 2023). 

I thought that if u are flagged for DS5535 you would have been given one already during the interview. 

[SEP-27-DS_5535 33]

1 hour ago, Phil_K_IR1 said:

After almost exactly 2.5 months from being given a 221g to submit a CV, we finally got an email from them (as a reply to one of ours asking if they got everything and if there's anything else they need) saying: "We acknowledge receipt of the documents you have provided. 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. "

 

We assumed that it was a name hit for security clearance, we're wondering if others had similar experiences with a similar reply and if approval is around the corner, or does this mean they haven't even initiated the security check because an officer hadn't reviewed it? 
 

Thank you in advance, this is such a dumb process. Still hoping we won't get a 5535 after it's already been nearly 3 months since our interview (Nov 9, 2023). 

I wish not! Seems like you’ll be approved soon for the visa if you haven’t received DS-5535. CO will review the resume and will approve your visa application. 

[Phil_K_IR1 83]

24 minutes ago, APRIL2023 said:

I thought that if u are flagged for DS5535 you would have been given one already during the interview. 

That's what I understood too, yeah. Fingers crossed!

 

23 minutes ago, Ahmad0606 said:

I wish not! Seems like you’ll be approved soon for the visa if you haven’t received DS-5535. CO will review the resume and will approve your visa application. 

Thank you, it's encouraging 😭🙏🏼
 

What's interesting is we didn't get a "case last updated" update on CEAC today despite the reply. 

Edited January 23 by Phil_K_IR1

[tas005 4]

Hello everyone,

My case (IR1) was in AP for last 2.8 months, they only requested CV after my interview which was sent the next day but they kept my passport. Today just few minutes ago I received an email from U.S. DoS Visa system and Purolator with the tracking number, seem like they are sending back my passport? my visa status still showing Refused but last updated date change to "today" with the same status "Refused" My question is that are they sending back the passport with visa or without visa, as status didnt changed to Ready or issued. I am really nervous.

Edited January 23 by tas005

[SEP-27-DS_5535 33]

9 minutes ago, tas005 said:

Hello everyone,

My case (IR1) was in AP for last 2.8 months, they only requested CV after my interview which was sent the next day but they kept my passport. Today just few minutes ago I received an email from U.S. DoS Visa system and Purolator with the tracking number, seem like they are sending back my passport? my visa status still showing Refused but last updated date change to "today" with the same status "Refused" My question is that are they sending back the passport with visa or without visa, as status didnt changed to Ready or issued. I am really nervous.

Status will get update later on! I think you’ll be get your passport with visa on it.

[Leo The Great 141]

2 hours ago, Phil_K_IR1 said:

After almost exactly 2.5 months from being given a 221g to submit a CV

Check the above update from tas005 .  Asked to provide the Resume only just like you - No DS-5535

Edited January 23 by Leo The Great