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

[Canucklehead 102]

Thank you everyone for your responses! This community is awesome!

 

As of today, I have not received any email from the embassy regarding next steps. All of the documents I presented during my interview were deemed OK (as far as I'm aware). They did not specifically mention I would need updated docs (i.e. criminal record checks, medical, etc.). 

 

From the responses, it seems most likely that they may be sending me a DS5535 form? I vaguely remember the interviewing officer mentioning I should be receiving the email shortly - is it the processing of the info I send back in that ultimately takes a long time to process?

 

Thank you for your support and best of luck to everyone else in a similar situation!

[dennisv 23]

@Canuckleheadmaybe check your junk mail for the DS5535 also. It's just an email, and you populate with information (no attachments). It's the processing of information that is time consuming and the waiting game.

[Mmk2112 34]

9 minutes ago, Canucklehead said:

Thank you everyone for your responses! This community is awesome!

 

As of today, I have not received any email from the embassy regarding next steps. All of the documents I presented during my interview were deemed OK (as far as I'm aware). They did not specifically mention I would need updated docs (i.e. criminal record checks, medical, etc.). 

 

From the responses, it seems most likely that they may be sending me a DS5535 form? I vaguely remember the interviewing officer mentioning I should be receiving the email shortly - is it the processing of the info I send back in that ultimately takes a long time to process?

 

Thank you for your support and best of luck to everyone else in a similar situation!

Don't want to give you false hope man. If you DS 5535 then be prepared to wait at least 6 months. Take care!

[Canucklehead 102]

21 minutes ago, dennisv said:

@Canuckleheadmaybe check your junk mail for the DS5535 also. It's just an email, and you populate with information (no attachments). It's the processing of information that is time consuming and the waiting game.

Just checked my junk mail - no emails there either. Also, I forgot to answer in my previous post - they gave my passport back to me at interview. Ultimately, I'm feeling pretty hopeless right now - seems like I'm going to be waiting months for this process to finish...

[dennisv 23]

3 minutes ago, Canucklehead said:

Just checked my junk mail - no emails there either. Also, I forgot to answer in my previous post - they gave my passport back to me at interview. Ultimately, I'm feeling pretty hopeless right now - seems like I'm going to be waiting months for this process to finish...

I got my passport back on interview day too. It's like a kick in the gut that you get to that step of interview and meeting with the CO and then BAM, sorry we need more information from you. My interview was Nov 9 and I sent back the email 36 hours later and had a few date updates. I'm roughly 67 days since the last date update on tracker. 

Edited February 3, 2023 by dennisv

[Canucklehead 102]

2 minutes ago, dennisv said:

I got my passport back on interview day too. It's like a kick in the gut that you get to that step of interview and meeting with the CO and then BAM, sorry we need more information from you. My interview was Nov 9, and I'm roughly 63 days since the last date update on tracker. 

This just seems so incredibly inept on all fronts. It's as if they don't even give a rats A$$ that we are humans who are separated from loved ones. Trying to plan our whole life around this with no idea when it's going to happen!

Edited February 3, 2023 by Canucklehead

[Tiabeanie 39]

3 hours ago, Canucklehead said:

This just seems so incredibly inept on all fronts. It's as if they don't even give a rats A$$ that we are humans who are separated from loved ones. Trying to plan our whole life around this with no idea when it's going to happen!

Sorry to hear that they placed you in administrative processing. It's like a kick in the gut. It's cruel to leave people in the dark. I've been stuck since October and I feel like my life has been on hold since. I hope that you don't have to wait long and you're able to be reunited with your family.

[farzady 42]

is there anyone in here or you knew that submitted the hard copy of the medical to Montreal? I just want to know if they accept hard copy or not

[thx1139 11]

Our visa arrived today. I felt it a bunch of times and pinched myself to make sure that I wasn't dreaming. But it's real.

 

Our interview date was in October. We wrote physical letters to the consulate and the US ambassador to Canada, and emailed the consulate once a week for the first 60 days. Shortly before Christmas, we filed a WOM.

 

I'm very thankful I am able to rejoin my spouse. Good luck to everyone else in here.

[Mmk2112 34]

5 minutes ago, thx1139 said:

Our visa arrived today. I felt it a bunch of times and pinched myself to make sure that I wasn't dreaming. But it's real.

 

Our interview date was in October. We wrote physical letters to the consulate and the US ambassador to Canada, and emailed the consulate once a week for the first 60 days. Shortly before Christmas, we filed a WOM.

 

I'm very thankful I am able to rejoin my spouse. Good luck to everyone else in here.

Great. WOM worked for you. Could you please tell who did you go with and how much you paid in USD $. Thanks

[thx1139 11]

Just now, Mmk2112 said:

Great. WOM worked for you. Could you please tell who did you go with and how much you paid in USD $. Thanks

I have no idea if it worked or not, and there isn't any way to know, but had we not filed one I strongly feel we'd still be waiting. We used PIC law firm, and I can't recommend them enough. I'm not going to divulge the exact cost, but it was in the same ball park as the amounts you see posted here.

[Mmk2112 34]

6 minutes ago, thx1139 said:

I have no idea if it worked or not, and there isn't any way to know, but had we not filed one I strongly feel we'd still be waiting. We used PIC law firm, and I can't recommend them enough. I'm not going to divulge the exact cost, but it was in the same ball park as the amounts you see posted here.

Great thank you Could you please contact # or email of PIC

[Canucklehead 102]

Once you receive this email after 221(g) are you expected to mail the passport in immediately? Honestly, part of me wants to just fly to the USA and enter as a tourist. I don't even mind that I'll have to fly back to send the passport- just want to be with my spouse. Also don't want to mess anything up at this stage either so is this even an option? Any help would be appreciated!

[emergence 47]

18 hours ago, Canucklehead said:

Once you receive this email after 221(g) are you expected to mail the passport in immediately? Honestly, part of me wants to just fly to the USA and enter as a tourist. I don't even mind that I'll have to fly back to send the passport- just want to be with my spouse. Also don't want to mess anything up at this stage either so is this even an option? Any help would be appreciated!

There's no need to mail in your passport until the consulate requests it, typically right before your visa is issued. 

 

You can still travel as a tourist. 

[dennisv 23]

19 hours ago, Canucklehead said:

Once you receive this email after 221(g) are you expected to mail the passport in immediately? Honestly, part of me wants to just fly to the USA and enter as a tourist. I don't even mind that I'll have to fly back to send the passport- just want to be with my spouse. Also don't want to mess anything up at this stage either so is this even an option? Any help would be appreciated!

Hey hey:  no need to send to passport in until they request from you. You are free to travel to the US and normal time restrictions apply. Just be careful on your time spent in the US on a rolling 12 month period. 
 

good luck