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

[mariagomez 19]

On 5/4/2024 at 9:04 AM, mariagomez said:

DS-5535 after k-1 visa interview (montreal)

Hello! I attended my interview for my k-1 visa yesterday on May 3. I’m a Canadian citizen and my fiancé is American. Everything went well, I brought more than enough documentation for everything, but once I was doing the interview I got asked if I had travelled anywhere in the last 15 years, I had already disclosed my travel history but I was born and raised in Venezuela until I was 15 years old so I mentioned that. The interviewer didn’t ask me for any documents at all, but he gave me a DS-5535 form and under the section that lists what they’re requesting of me, he just wrote “passport”. I left feeling very anxious and frustrated because until this point everything had gone smoothly for us. I wasn’t feeling the best and decided to fill out the form ASAP, and it wasn’t until this morning that I realized in my anxiety-fueled rush I only included my most recent expired venezuelan passport, and not the previous ones before that. How screwed am I? Is there anything I can do to reach out and provide this info now? I googled the form afterwards and honestly it’s freaking me out reading that people have been waiting 10+ months for a response. I am devastated and haven’t stopped crying since then 😕 

I know my case is most likely not getting approved any time soon, but how do the updates on CEAC work? When I left the consulate on May 3rd i checked and it said last updated on May 3rd. I just checked again today and it says last updated May 7th but my status remains “refused” and nothing has changed. Do the updates mean anything at all or is this normal? 

[tas005 4]

On 5/7/2024 at 2:36 PM, DS5535_Child said:

Yeah that's usually a good sign that they're working on it 😊.

Also for all us waiting, seeing 2 cases from November move, I wonder if that's "one of the queues" that they're processing. Gives hope that maybe it won't be 16 months wait 😮.

Its updated again today, hoping for the best.

On 5/7/2024 at 1:57 PM, tas005 said:

Congratulations @Phil_K_IR1, finally your waiting time is over, mine is still stuck with CV only requested.
My interview was also held first week of November, 2023.

Now from last week my case start getting updates as follows: Updated on April 30, May 2, May 3. Not sure its a good sign or not? how often your case was updating in last 3 months? can you please share the dates if you have saved the dates for updates.

It updated again today.

[Phil_K_IR1 83]

1 minute ago, tas005 said:

Its updated again today, hoping for the best.

It updated again today.

You'll get an email soon, it seems to be the pattern - was the same for us too. 
 

At most a week or two is my guess? But again, disclaimer, everyone is different..

[tas005 4]

3 minutes ago, Phil_K_IR1 said:

You'll get an email soon, it seems to be the pattern - was the same for us too. 
 

At most a week or two is my guess? But again, disclaimer, everyone is different..

Hope so, am anxiously waiting, so your case was regularly updating for last 2-3 weeks? or more than that? @Phil_K_IR1

Edited May 8 by tas005

[Phil_K_IR1 83]

1 minute ago, tas005 said:

Hope so, am anxiously waiting, so your case was regularly updating for last 2-3 weeks? or more than that? @Phil_K_IR1

Feb 2 (unsolicited), Feb 5, Feb 12, Mar 14, Mar 20 (unsolicited), Mar 21 (unsolicited), Apr 8 (unsolicited), Apr 15 (unsolicited), Apr 23 (unsolicited), Apr 24 (unsolicited) - also when we got the email to do medical and send passport. The solicited changes were due to inquiries. 

[DS5535_Child 14]

36 minutes ago, mariagomez said:

I know my case is most likely not getting approved any time soon, but how do the updates on CEAC work? When I left the consulate on May 3rd i checked and it said last updated on May 3rd. I just checked again today and it says last updated May 7th but my status remains “refused” and nothing has changed. Do the updates mean anything at all or is this normal? 

I think whenever someone opens your case, the "last updated timestamp" updates.

So usually when you submit the DS 5535, there'll be a bunch of updates as they're doing something with your case. Every update thereafter is seen as a good sign that someone is actively working on your case, rather than it sitting on some queue, waiting to be touched.

 

Of course this is all speculation as I don't know anything about what actually goes on, so YMMV

[mariagomez 19]

10 minutes ago, DS5535_Child said:

I think whenever someone opens your case, the "last updated timestamp" updates.

So usually when you submit the DS 5535, there'll be a bunch of updates as they're doing something with your case. Every update thereafter is seen as a good sign that someone is actively working on your case, rather than it sitting on some queue, waiting to be touched.

 

Of course this is all speculation as I don't know anything about what actually goes on, so YMMV

I guess i’m more curious because I submitted my DS5535 on that same day May 3 so it hasn’t even been a week. I thought i wouldn’t get updates for months. So i’m curious to know if seeing “updates” this early is normal and then i just have to wait like everyone else, and then after a while is when updates matter, right? 

[Cholte cholte 19]

Hi...we had three updates within the first week after submitting our DS5535 on March 19...nothing after that

 

[cala2023 70]

5 hours ago, mariagomez said:

I guess i’m more curious because I submitted my DS5535 on that same day May 3 so it hasn’t even been a week. I thought i wouldn’t get updates for months. So i’m curious to know if seeing “updates” this early is normal and then i just have to wait like everyone else, and then after a while is when updates matter, right? 

Yes sadly it's totally normal. When you first submit your DS5535 you'll see a few updates then it will go quiet. When we first submitted I believe we had 2-3 updates right away and now 12 months later we're still waiting. The only updates we've had in the meantime came when we sent emails.

[Ds553513 16]

I just want to inform you guys that I had an update on 26th, 29th April and 2nd May by their selves. 

Edited May 9 by Gha

[Leo The Great 141]

49 minutes ago, Gha said:

I just want to inform you guys that I had an update on 26th, 29th April and 2nd May by their selves. 

LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE CLOSE TO FINISH LINE. After how long you got your first unsolicited update (April 26)? You are on VJ forum for more than a year and half. I will appreciate if you update the spreadsheet for the benefits of other members

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

Edited May 9 by Leo The Great

[Ds553513 16]

Hi

after June 2023 . I received first update on 16 jan(response email) 

22 jan(unsolicited) 21 February( response email 

26 april(unsolicited)29 April(unsolicited) 2 May(unsolicited)

i will update my information on sheet

thank you 

Edited May 9 by Gha

[CarmenD 150]

21 hours ago, mariagomez said:

I know my case is most likely not getting approved any time soon, but how do the updates on CEAC work? When I left the consulate on May 3rd i checked and it said last updated on May 3rd. I just checked again today and it says last updated May 7th but my status remains “refused” and nothing has changed. Do the updates mean anything at all or is this normal? 

Updates (dates) merely suggest the case has been accessed for something.  I had updates after DS-5535 submission, twice after Congressional Inquiries, and upon status emails sent to the Consulate.  At some point updates will increase in frequency and status eventually will update to “Issued”

[VadymD 0]

Hello everyone,
My family and I have planned to move from Europe to Canada soon.
And just yesterday I found out that I was selected in the DV lottery.
But after reading this forum, I'm a bit confused...
How often can one get the DS-5355 in Montreal?
Is there any pattern?

 

[Leo The Great 141]

57 minutes ago, VadymD said:

Hello everyone,
My family and I have planned to move from Europe to Canada soon.
And just yesterday I found out that I was selected in the DV lottery.
But after reading this forum, I'm a bit confused...
How often can one get the DS-5355 in Montreal?
Is there any pattern?

 

It is better to apply for US visa from Europe than the Montreal as consulate has high rate of handing out DS-5535 and resolution time is much more than Europe.

Your travel history during the last fifteen years is a factor for DS-5535. But if your place of birth is MENA, China or Pakistan, then there is a high probability of getting DS-5535.  If your field of study or work is in TAL, that is another reason to ask for Resume.  DS-5535 cases takes from few months to more than a year to resolve. Other than that system can also select you randomly for DS-5535. Since the DV lottery visa is time bound visa, , there is higher probability that you won't get DV lottery visa if you are stuck in DS-5535.

Read the post from @Adam RS regarding DV lottery visa and AP

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/787842-montreal-embassy-eb-2-interview-wait-time-part-2/page/134/#comments

 

Edited May 9 by Leo The Great