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

[Montreal514 0]

4 hours ago, ice-qube said:

For what it's worth, I have travelled many times to see my wife in Miami since being in AP with DS-5535. So yes, but as always, it is up to the discretion of the CBP officer to let you in or not.

Can I start moving some items and spend the 6 months a year outside Canada while I wait through this process?

[ice-qube 649]

7 minutes ago, Montreal514 said:

Can I start moving some items and spend the 6 months a year outside Canada while I wait through this process?

Well, that's a bit complicated. Legally speaking, I think this might be questionable. True, you can enter the US legitimately on the normal B1/B2 visitor visa and stay up to 6 months, in theory. In practice, they are going to ask you what you are doing for 6 months and how you are going to be supporting yourself. And furthermore they might ask about your immigration application, and that's when there is a further problem, because technically, you are supposed to wait *outside* the US while your immigrant visa application is in process. So you see, the answer is not so simple in this matter. It's the same thing I had considered, and ultimately decided against, myself. 

[SalishSea 17,970]

12 hours ago, Montreal514 said:

Can I start moving some items and spend the 6 months a year outside Canada while I wait through this process?

How would you support yourself for that 6 months?   You will not be eligible to work, even remotely, without a green card or EAD.   Expect scrutiny at the border, especially if bringing over furniture, etc.

[throwitaway 190]

14 hours ago, ice-qube said:

https://hackinglawpractice.com

Ice-qube: I had to really fight to even speak to a lawyer and have them sort something out even though I paid lots of money. 

 

Jvisa: Cool cool, gonna sign with them. 

[throwitaway 190]

14 hours ago, Montreal514 said:

Can I start moving some items and spend the 6 months a year outside Canada while I wait through this process?

No.

 

 

[ice-qube 649]

24 minutes ago, throwitaway said:

Ice-qube: I had to really fight to even speak to a lawyer and have them sort something out even though I paid lots of money. 

 

Jvisa: Cool cool, gonna sign with them. 

Lol. Well in the end they are getting me the result, thankfully. But you are right—it was not appreciated that I had to push on them so much. That part is poor.

[addpeace 40]

Hi everyone-

 

I have mostly been a lurker in this thread since my husband and I got put into AP and given the DS5535 on August 1st 2022. We are officially signing with Hacking Law firm tomorrow, but I just wanted to let everyone know all the steps we have taken and our timeline so far.

Steps:

Emailed Montreal consulate every week since interview on Aug 1st.

• Same copy paste emails
• Only email that actually was different was when I requested for our case to be reviewed by a manger or higher official.
  • This email stated that asking for our passport back does not stop our case from processing. (We have never requested it back though)
• Let them know 2 weeks ago that we were contemplating filing a Writ of Mandamus. (no response so far)

Contacted our MN senator and local congresswoman:

• Senator (never responded)
• Congresswoman
  • They sent 2 inquires to Montreal
    • 1 was the same copy paste response
    • 1 they never got back to them
  • Gave me a list of immigration lawyers I could reach out to.

Mailed hand letters to:

• POTUS* (3 weeks to respond)
• VPOTUS* (1 month to respond)
• Sec. of State* (3 months to respond)
• US Consulate General of Montreal (No response)
• Homeland security* (2 weeks to respond)

All the * letters were forwarded to USCIS who contacted us saying they would look into our case and we would receive a response in 14 days. The response came 5 days later saying they could not help us since this was a state department issue. They gave us a link to put in a email inquiry to the State department, which we did. 10 days later we got a response from the state department saying this is a consulate issue and to try contacting them. (These are all sent from No reply emails as well, so you can never talk to the same person or respond to them)

 

We have spoken to 3 local immigration attorneys who have basically all said the same thing. "Trinidad, Islamabad, and Montreal are the worst consulates to immigrate through right now." they also said "AP is getting out of hand, and with so many illegal immigrates coming in the families in DS5535 are pushed back because the illegal immigrate checks use the same system for background checks. (since they are in the country already I guess theirs take priority)"  They have all reviewed our case and found no red flags or any reason that we should have triggered AP let alone DS5535.

 

Thus with our 6th month mark coming up on Feb 1st Lex and I have decided to go the WOM route. Hacking Immigration has quoted us $5000 for the process. With 2 different payment options. $3000 down payment and the final 2000 paid over 4 months ($500 a month), or Pay full upfront and get $500 off, so $4500. Hopefully we are able to get out of this before the end of summer as my husband is in school and transitioning in the middle of a semester will be rough.

 

I wish everyone luck with their cases and their status updates.

 

[ice-qube 649]

24 minutes ago, throwitaway said:

No.

 

 

That’s probably the best, most succinct answer. At best, the answer is “mostly no”.

[ice-qube 649]

27 minutes ago, throwitaway said:

Ice-qube: I had to really fight to even speak to a lawyer and have them sort something out even though I paid lots of money. 

 

Jvisa: Cool cool, gonna sign with them. 

The main reason I signed with Hacking, aside from their good reputation in this forum, was they offered a payment plan instead of forcing me to pay everything up front. That’s really what it came down to. In addition, Goldstein Law, which I also contacted, was less responsive and wouldn’t even talk to me unless my wife was also on the call at the same time, and that annoyed me.

[throwitaway 190]

12 minutes ago, ice-qube said:

The main reason I signed with Hacking, aside from their good reputation in this forum, was they offered a payment plan instead of forcing me to pay everything up front. That’s really what it came down to. In addition, Goldstein Law, which I also contacted, was less responsive and wouldn’t even talk to me unless my wife was also on the call at the same time, and that annoyed me.

Oh, totally, I’m not questioning why you went with Hacking, I just got a chuckle out of how the conversation unfolded. You should be in sales if you’re able to close like that all the time haha

18 minutes ago, addpeace said:

Hi everyone-

 

I have mostly been a lurker in this thread since my husband and I got put into AP and given the DS5535 on August 1st 2022. We are officially signing with Hacking Law firm tomorrow, but I just wanted to let everyone know all the steps we have taken and our timeline so far.

Steps:

Emailed Montreal consulate every week since interview on Aug 1st.

• Same copy paste emails
• Only email that actually was different was when I requested for our case to be reviewed by a manger or higher official.
  • This email stated that asking for our passport back does not stop our case from processing. (We have never requested it back though)
• Let them know 2 weeks ago that we were contemplating filing a Writ of Mandamus. (no response so far)

Contacted our MN senator and local congresswoman:

• Senator (never responded)
• Congresswoman
  • They sent 2 inquires to Montreal
    • 1 was the same copy paste response
    • 1 they never got back to them
  • Gave me a list of immigration lawyers I could reach out to.

Mailed hand letters to:

• POTUS* (3 weeks to respond)
• VPOTUS* (1 month to respond)
• Sec. of State* (3 months to respond)
• US Consulate General of Montreal (No response)
• Homeland security* (2 weeks to respond)

All the * letters were forwarded to USCIS who contacted us saying they would look into our case and we would receive a response in 14 days. The response came 5 days later saying they could not help us since this was a state department issue. They gave us a link to put in a email inquiry to the State department, which we did. 10 days later we got a response from the state department saying this is a consulate issue and to try contacting them. (These are all sent from No reply emails as well, so you can never talk to the same person or respond to them)

 

We have spoken to 3 local immigration attorneys who have basically all said the same thing. "Trinidad, Islamabad, and Montreal are the worst consulates to immigrate through right now." they also said "AP is getting out of hand, and with so many illegal immigrates coming in the families in DS5535 are pushed back because the illegal immigrate checks use the same system for background checks. (since they are in the country already I guess theirs take priority)"  They have all reviewed our case and found no red flags or any reason that we should have triggered AP let alone DS5535.

 

Thus with our 6th month mark coming up on Feb 1st Lex and I have decided to go the WOM route. Hacking Immigration has quoted us $5000 for the process. With 2 different payment options. $3000 down payment and the final 2000 paid over 4 months ($500 a month), or Pay full upfront and get $500 off, so $4500. Hopefully we are able to get out of this before the end of summer as my husband is in school and transitioning in the middle of a semester will be rough.

 

I wish everyone luck with their cases and their status updates.

 

Good luck! 

[ice-qube 649]

51 minutes ago, throwitaway said:

Oh, totally, I’m not questioning why you went with Hacking, I just got a chuckle out of how the conversation unfolded. You should be in sales if you’re able to close like that all the time haha

LOl thanks. You are, right the way the convo went was quite amusing. As far as asking for advice on which lawyer to use for these suits, I hope everyone remembers that advice is worth two cents, and less with inflation!

[ice-qube 649]

1 hour ago, addpeace said:

Hi everyone-

 

I have mostly been a lurker in this thread since my husband and I got put into AP and given the DS5535 on August 1st 2022. We are officially signing with Hacking Law firm tomorrow, but I just wanted to let everyone know all the steps we have taken and our timeline so far.

Steps:

Emailed Montreal consulate every week since interview on Aug 1st.

• Same copy paste emails
• Only email that actually was different was when I requested for our case to be reviewed by a manger or higher official.
  • This email stated that asking for our passport back does not stop our case from processing. (We have never requested it back though)
• Let them know 2 weeks ago that we were contemplating filing a Writ of Mandamus. (no response so far)

Contacted our MN senator and local congresswoman:

• Senator (never responded)
• Congresswoman
  • They sent 2 inquires to Montreal
    • 1 was the same copy paste response
    • 1 they never got back to them
  • Gave me a list of immigration lawyers I could reach out to.

Mailed hand letters to:

• POTUS* (3 weeks to respond)
• VPOTUS* (1 month to respond)
• Sec. of State* (3 months to respond)
• US Consulate General of Montreal (No response)
• Homeland security* (2 weeks to respond)

All the * letters were forwarded to USCIS who contacted us saying they would look into our case and we would receive a response in 14 days. The response came 5 days later saying they could not help us since this was a state department issue. They gave us a link to put in a email inquiry to the State department, which we did. 10 days later we got a response from the state department saying this is a consulate issue and to try contacting them. (These are all sent from No reply emails as well, so you can never talk to the same person or respond to them)

 

We have spoken to 3 local immigration attorneys who have basically all said the same thing. "Trinidad, Islamabad, and Montreal are the worst consulates to immigrate through right now." they also said "AP is getting out of hand, and with so many illegal immigrates coming in the families in DS5535 are pushed back because the illegal immigrate checks use the same system for background checks. (since they are in the country already I guess theirs take priority)"  They have all reviewed our case and found no red flags or any reason that we should have triggered AP let alone DS5535.

 

Thus with our 6th month mark coming up on Feb 1st Lex and I have decided to go the WOM route. Hacking Immigration has quoted us $5000 for the process. With 2 different payment options. $3000 down payment and the final 2000 paid over 4 months ($500 a month), or Pay full upfront and get $500 off, so $4500. Hopefully we are able to get out of this before the end of summer as my husband is in school and transitioning in the middle of a semester will be rough.

 

I wish everyone luck with their cases and their status updates.

 

@addpeace, I empathize with you, believe me, if you have at all been following what has happened with my case, you can well imagine, I am right there with you in the exasperation. The US immigration system is essentially broken.

[PZibran325 112]

3 hours ago, throwitaway said:

Oh, totally, I’m not questioning why you went with Hacking, I just got a chuckle out of how the conversation unfolded. You should be in sales if you’re able to close like that all the time haha

 

😄😄😄

3 hours ago, addpeace said:

Hi everyone-

 

I have mostly been a lurker in this thread since my husband and I got put into AP and given the DS5535 on August 1st 2022. We are officially signing with Hacking Law firm tomorrow, but I just wanted to let everyone know all the steps we have taken and our timeline so far.

Steps:

Emailed Montreal consulate every week since interview on Aug 1st.

• Same copy paste emails
• Only email that actually was different was when I requested for our case to be reviewed by a manger or higher official.
  • This email stated that asking for our passport back does not stop our case from processing. (We have never requested it back though)
• Let them know 2 weeks ago that we were contemplating filing a Writ of Mandamus. (no response so far)

Contacted our MN senator and local congresswoman:

• Senator (never responded)
• Congresswoman
  • They sent 2 inquires to Montreal
    • 1 was the same copy paste response
    • 1 they never got back to them
  • Gave me a list of immigration lawyers I could reach out to.

Mailed hand letters to:

• POTUS* (3 weeks to respond)
• VPOTUS* (1 month to respond)
• Sec. of State* (3 months to respond)
• US Consulate General of Montreal (No response)
• Homeland security* (2 weeks to respond)

All the * letters were forwarded to USCIS who contacted us saying they would look into our case and we would receive a response in 14 days. The response came 5 days later saying they could not help us since this was a state department issue. They gave us a link to put in a email inquiry to the State department, which we did. 10 days later we got a response from the state department saying this is a consulate issue and to try contacting them. (These are all sent from No reply emails as well, so you can never talk to the same person or respond to them)

 

We have spoken to 3 local immigration attorneys who have basically all said the same thing. "Trinidad, Islamabad, and Montreal are the worst consulates to immigrate through right now." they also said "AP is getting out of hand, and with so many illegal immigrates coming in the families in DS5535 are pushed back because the illegal immigrate checks use the same system for background checks. (since they are in the country already I guess theirs take priority)"  They have all reviewed our case and found no red flags or any reason that we should have triggered AP let alone DS5535.

 

Thus with our 6th month mark coming up on Feb 1st Lex and I have decided to go the WOM route. Hacking Immigration has quoted us $5000 for the process. With 2 different payment options. $3000 down payment and the final 2000 paid over 4 months ($500 a month), or Pay full upfront and get $500 off, so $4500. Hopefully we are able to get out of this before the end of summer as my husband is in school and transitioning in the middle of a semester will be rough.

 

I wish everyone luck with their cases and their status updates.

 

thank you for sharing this is helpful info to have

[Tiabeanie 39]

4 hours ago, addpeace said:

Hi everyone-

 

I have mostly been a lurker in this thread since my husband and I got put into AP and given the DS5535 on August 1st 2022. We are officially signing with Hacking Law firm tomorrow, but I just wanted to let everyone know all the steps we have taken and our timeline so far.

Steps:

Emailed Montreal consulate every week since interview on Aug 1st.

• Same copy paste emails
• Only email that actually was different was when I requested for our case to be reviewed by a manger or higher official.
  • This email stated that asking for our passport back does not stop our case from processing. (We have never requested it back though)
• Let them know 2 weeks ago that we were contemplating filing a Writ of Mandamus. (no response so far)

Contacted our MN senator and local congresswoman:

• Senator (never responded)
• Congresswoman
  • They sent 2 inquires to Montreal
    • 1 was the same copy paste response
    • 1 they never got back to them
  • Gave me a list of immigration lawyers I could reach out to.

Mailed hand letters to:

• POTUS* (3 weeks to respond)
• VPOTUS* (1 month to respond)
• Sec. of State* (3 months to respond)
• US Consulate General of Montreal (No response)
• Homeland security* (2 weeks to respond)

All the * letters were forwarded to USCIS who contacted us saying they would look into our case and we would receive a response in 14 days. The response came 5 days later saying they could not help us since this was a state department issue. They gave us a link to put in a email inquiry to the State department, which we did. 10 days later we got a response from the state department saying this is a consulate issue and to try contacting them. (These are all sent from No reply emails as well, so you can never talk to the same person or respond to them)

 

We have spoken to 3 local immigration attorneys who have basically all said the same thing. "Trinidad, Islamabad, and Montreal are the worst consulates to immigrate through right now." they also said "AP is getting out of hand, and with so many illegal immigrates coming in the families in DS5535 are pushed back because the illegal immigrate checks use the same system for background checks. (since they are in the country already I guess theirs take priority)"  They have all reviewed our case and found no red flags or any reason that we should have triggered AP let alone DS5535.

 

Thus with our 6th month mark coming up on Feb 1st Lex and I have decided to go the WOM route. Hacking Immigration has quoted us $5000 for the process. With 2 different payment options. $3000 down payment and the final 2000 paid over 4 months ($500 a month), or Pay full upfront and get $500 off, so $4500. Hopefully we are able to get out of this before the end of summer as my husband is in school and transitioning in the middle of a semester will be rough.

 

I wish everyone luck with their cases and their status updates.

 

Hi there thanks for an update on your case. I have been under AP since October 31 and submitted a missing document since December 5th(when I emailed them initially they told me they're waiting to receive my police record) and last update to my case has been December 15th. 

 

It's been about 6 weeks since submitting my document I haven't heard back from the embassy and this whole process has been emotionally and financially exhausting. Quite frankly I've ran out of patience. I've been reading on this thread that the embassy takes 4-8 weeks to issue over a missing document and that shouldn't be acceptable to wait this long. When I do email the embassy I get a generic "We acknowledge receipt of your e-mail and the additional documents the applicant has provided. This case is currently pending to be reviewed by a consular officer" message. 

 

Obviously my wait is nothing compared to yours (and others on this thread) and I cannot imagine the frustration and anguish that your spouse and yourself have been going through the past 6 months to now go through proceeding with a WoM. Sorry for the rant but I'm pissed off people are being put into AP/DS-5535 for no damn reason and having to wait an unnecessary long time and to have their finances drained in the process and be split from their families. Please keep us updated and I pray that this AP ends soon for you.

 

 

 

[Montreal514 0]

It seems for most people that your passports were kept/held when given the DS5535. Is it uncommon for your passport NOT to be held and given back on the spot?