The dreaded DS-5535 thread for Montreal Only. Post here and support each other (PART 3)

[Ontarkie 14,218]

9 minutes ago, Daft_Cat said:

Hi everyone, 

Some good news on my end: I got an email from the consulate today requesting my passport and a new medical. 

Thanks to everyone that reached out with their support and I hope my approval is encouragement to others that are still waiting! Hopefully this is a sign that things are moving again.

That is great news. Congratulations! 

[DadofUSCitizen 20]

11 minutes ago, Daft_Cat said:

Hi everyone, 

Some good news on my end: I got an email from the consulate today requesting my passport and a new medical. 

Thanks to everyone that reached out with their support and I hope my approval is encouragement to others that are still waiting! Hopefully this is a sign that things are moving again.

Congratulations! Let's hope things for us all will also start moving again.

11 minutes ago, Daft_Cat said:

Hi everyone, 

Some good news on my end: I got an email from the consulate today requesting my passport and a new medical. 

Thanks to everyone that reached out with their support and I hope my approval is encouragement to others that are still waiting! Hopefully this is a sign that things are moving again.

Congratulations! Let's hope things for us all will also start moving again.

[Daft_Cat 136]

1 hour ago, DadofUSCitizen said:

Congratulations! Let's hope things for us all will also start moving again.

 

They definitely will. No doubt there.

 

For the poster who asked: My interview was Feb, 2023. Filed a WoM in September of 2023, received 2 extension requests over the subsequent months, and then finally got hit with a Motion to Dismiss in Jan, 2024. We decided to fight it, and were eagerly awaiting the State Department's deadline to respond in early April. There'd been a number of unsolicited case updates on my file since mid-Jan, so we knew something was afoot. 

As for what got us over the hump, tough to say! Was the upcoming MtD deadline the catalyst? Could be, but then again, it's also possible that I was simply next in line. We'd been waiting a long time, so I wouldn't necessarily read too much into our unique sequence of events. 

 

 

Edited March 28 by Daft_Cat

[Phil_K_IR1 83]

1 hour ago, Daft_Cat said:

Hi everyone, 

Some good news on my end: I got an email from the consulate today requesting my passport and a new medical. 

Thanks to everyone that reached out with their support and I hope my approval is encouragement to others that are still waiting! Hopefully this is a sign that things are moving again.

WOOOOO!!! Congrats!!! About dang time! 
 

I'm hoping others get their good news soon 🙏🏼

 

For us, not having been asked a 5535, we're beyond annoyed that it's trending to taking as long as those who were asked a 5535, since my understanding was that it "should be faster". AP is AP. Just thankful that people are getting approvals again! 

[Cholte cholte 17]

Hi,

 

How long is DS 5535 taking with Montreal Embassy?

[Superluminal 146]

@Daft_Cat you inspired me to check my status and we got an update on CEAC. However, I sent them an email 17 days ago so I won't hold my breath. First update since October 6th

[Crazy Cat 41,842]

****New topic for MTL DS-5535 merged into existing thread***

[Sisa24 20]

3 hours ago, Daft_Cat said:

Hi everyone, 

Some good news on my end: I got an email from the consulate today requesting my passport and a new medical. 

Thanks to everyone that reached out with their support and I hope my approval is encouragement to others that are still waiting! Hopefully this is a sign that things are moving again.

 

3 hours ago, Daft_Cat said:

Hi everyone, 

Some good news on my end: I got an email from the consulate today requesting my passport and a new medical. 

Thanks to everyone that reached out with their support and I hope my approval is encouragement to others that are still waiting! Hopefully this is a sign that things are moving again.

Congratulations!! Finally your wait & ordeal is over! Wishing you many happy days ahead & to be reunited with your beloved ones

[Sisa24 20]

26 minutes ago, Cholte cholte said:

Hi,

 

How long is DS 5535 taking with Montreal Embassy?

Several months to more than a year. Check the spreadsheet in this forum 

[WMBB 23]

Does anyone know how long mail sent to the mail center takes to be transferred to the consulate?  Is it once a week or something?  And then when it arrives at the consulate, is it further sorted, filed and assigned for review?  I’m baffled as to why it is taking 8 weeks if not longer to review one simple document.  

Edited March 28 by WMBB

[Leo The Great 141]

3 hours ago, Daft_Cat said:

Hi everyone, 

Some good news on my end: I got an email from the consulate today requesting my passport and a new medical. 

Thanks to everyone that reached out with their support and I hope my approval is encouragement to others that are still waiting! Hopefully this is a sign that things are moving again.

Congrats!

Did consulate ask you to update DS-260 form and submit 2023 tax returns if you have not submitted them already?

What happen to your WOM?

Edited March 28 by Leo The Great

[Leo The Great 141]

40 minutes ago, Cholte cholte said:

Hi,

 

How long is DS 5535 taking with Montreal Embassy?

Please look at spreadsheet to get an idea and enter your information for benefit of other members

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jV7rzX2eCRVoEDRhOtN9a6hDoHRLNEf1P3ZGZbQ0_Dc/edit#gid=0

[ak47 32]

On 2/21/2024 at 3:28 PM, Superluminal said:

I second this piece of advice. I have found land travel to the US much more difficult than air travel, which I attribute to the fact that I always have a return flight to Canada booked. Hard to prove when you will return if you are driving in and out of the country.

 

For the new folks worried about travelling while under DS-5535: I'm actually writing this at Pearson on my way to see my wife in the US after clearing customs. I have gone back an forth over a dozen times without too much difficulty. Be honest your current status if they ask you questions about your immigrant intent. Try and have several reasons you will return back to Canada (i.e. flight back, work, medical appointments) with supporting evidence. 9 times of out 10 they don't ask but it pays to be prepared if they do.

 

 

Hi @Superluminal,

I have travelled couple of times without any issues but stayed around 181 days in last 8 months which is also the limit of stay as a Canadian citizen. 

 

Can I travel to USA now to visit family ?

[northface 30]

2 hours ago, Daft_Cat said:

 

They definitely will. No doubt there.

 

For the poster who asked: My interview was Feb, 2023. Filed a WoM in September of 2023, received 2 extension requests over the subsequent months, and then finally got hit with a Motion to Dismiss in Jan, 2024. We decided to fight it, and were eagerly awaiting the State Department's deadline to respond in early April. There'd been a number of unsolicited case updates on my file since mid-Jan, so we knew something was afoot. 

As for what got us over the hump, tough to say! Was the upcoming MtD deadline the catalyst? Could be, but then again, it's also possible that I was simply next in line. We'd been waiting a long time, so I wouldn't necessarily read too much into our unique sequence of events. 

 

 

Congratulations first!!

 

For reason over the hump, I am prone to believing that WOM working rather than security check cleared. Nowdays big data time,DS-5535 clears in 1 hour ,as  4 or 5+ times updates shown on CEAC status tracker after it was submitted. 

As to SAO, security advisoy opinion is just a reference, CO/VO  has his/her own decision.

[Daft_Cat 136]

31 minutes ago, Leo The Great said:

Congrats!

Did consulate ask you to update DS-260 form and submit 2023 tax returns if you have not submitted them already?

What happen to your WOM?

Nothing like that! At least not yet. The email phrasing was that they’re “ready to move forward with my application,” which hopefully means they aren’t going back to square one on the DS-260, which was a headache the first time around. The required docs were my medical, my passport, and two new passport photos.

 

We fought the MTD and the US Attorney has until early April to respond. My guess is their response will indicate they’re moving forward with my visa and that the suit is now without cause.

Edited March 28 by Daft_Cat