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

[Bhndl 0]

5 minutes ago, DuBrun20 said:

Big congratulations to everyone getting issued - ours was just issued today as well, I almost can't believe it!!!

 

Here is our CR1/IR1 timeline for reference:

Jan 19: interview, received 221g with a link to the ds-5535

Jan 29: ds-5535 submitted

Feb 8-15: 3 unsolicited updates

May 29: August 13 - 3 unsolicited updates

Sept 20: senator sent email to inquire about status

sept 24: unsolicited update

sept 25: update with passport/medical request sent through senator

oct 4: tracking says passport was delivered, new medical completed

Oct 11: confirmation that medical results sent

Oct 15-25: 4 ceac updates, one accompanying email to senator that they received medical but have not yet received the passport 

Nov 5: ISSUED 

 

This has been such an awful process. I'm really hoping for the best to everyone still in it, and thank you so much to everyone for sharing their experience here, it really helped me to get through this

 

 

Congratulations!

im sending my passport today is CPC is good option to send passport or speed post ?

 

[DuBrun20 27]

2 hours ago, Bhndl said:

Congratulations!

im sending my passport today is CPC is good option to send passport or speed post ?

 

I’m not sure what Cpc is but we used the consulates courier service following their instructions (although they’re a little confusing) and we did pay for the fast service, although I’m not sure it helped much 

[spousalsponsor 9]

Quick question -- for those who have recently sent their passports to the consulate, how are you seeing the tracking information? We do not see anything on the AIS site and we learned that my husband's has still not been received as of today (via our senator's inquiry).

 

Our timeline for reference:

Filed I-130: May 25, 2022

Case approved by USCIS: June 7, 2023

DQ: August 15, 2023

Interview: Jan 18, 2024

DS5535 sent: Jan 19, 2024

Unsolicited updates: Jan 26, Jan 31, Feb 5, Feb 7, Feb 21, March 6, March 7, April 8, August 13 (minimally)

Medical, passport, & photo request: Sept 6, 2024

Medical delivered: Sept 18, 2024

Passport & photos sent: October 29, 2024 [delay while we renewed passport & applied for L1 visa still in process - that's another story!]

[DS5535TXCAN 44]

14 minutes ago, spousalsponsor said:

Quick question -- for those who have recently sent their passports to the consulate, how are you seeing the tracking information? We do not see anything on the AIS site and we learned that my husband's has still not been received as of today (via our senator's inquiry).

 

Our timeline for reference:

Filed I-130: May 25, 2022

Case approved by USCIS: June 7, 2023

DQ: August 15, 2023

Interview: Jan 18, 2024

DS5535 sent: Jan 19, 2024

Unsolicited updates: Jan 26, Jan 31, Feb 5, Feb 7, Feb 21, March 6, March 7, April 8, August 13 (minimally)

Medical, passport, & photo request: Sept 6, 2024

Medical delivered: Sept 18, 2024

Passport & photos sent: October 29, 2024 [delay while we renewed passport & applied for L1 visa still in process - that's another story!]

 

@spousalsponsor-Some cases might have the screen below showing the tracking numbers if you used the courier-in-authorization. Additionally, if you sent it from the postal office they likely gave you a receipt that had the tracking number on it.  However, other applicants might not have shipping numbers and instead have a link to see the CEAC website (DS-260). 

On 10/23/2024 at 9:29 PM, DS5535TXCAN said:

Thats interesting. On my end, under status it shows "Courier-in Authorization" and the tracking numbers which are clickable and direct me to Canada Post.

I think the most important thing is that you have a tracking number and got confirmation/signature of delivery. Again, as others posted above, there may be a delay/lag time between when the documents arrive to the facility and when its finally on the desk of a consular officer.

 

 

 

[candy895 5]

Hi does anyone know if the passport photos need to be date stamped?

[Coco_2023 14]

Has anybody who's born in Iran ever come out of this AP hole at all?

 

Edited November 6 by Coco_2023

[sundim 38]

1 hour ago, spousalsponsor said:

Quick question -- for those who have recently sent their passports to the consulate, how are you seeing the tracking information? We do not see anything on the AIS site and we learned that my husband's has still not been received as of today (via our senator's inquiry).

 

Our timeline for reference:

Filed I-130: May 25, 2022

Case approved by USCIS: June 7, 2023

DQ: August 15, 2023

Interview: Jan 18, 2024

DS5535 sent: Jan 19, 2024

Unsolicited updates: Jan 26, Jan 31, Feb 5, Feb 7, Feb 21, March 6, March 7, April 8, August 13 (minimally)

Medical, passport, & photo request: Sept 6, 2024

Medical delivered: Sept 18, 2024

Passport & photos sent: October 29, 2024 [delay while we renewed passport & applied for L1 visa still in process - that's another story!]

Sending to the US consulate in montreal:

The email I received said to log in to https://ais.usvisa-info.com/ and look at the instructions.  The instructions contained a prepaid courier waybill linked to my passport info to bring to the Canada post office.  When I submitted the waybill and the envelope containing my passport at the post office, they provided a printed receipt with a tracking # on it.  Using the tracking number, I confirmed my envelope arrived the next day and I saw delivery proof (signature).

 

Receiving the passport from Montreal after visa issuance:

Funny story, after I spoke to the immigration officer on the phone twice this morning to confirm i was coming in person to pick up my passport, I received an email from donotreply@usvisa-info.com that contained a purolator tracking # supposedly to ship my passport.  I called the phone number on https://ais.usvisa-info.com/ and inquired why I received this, since I had just received instructions to pick up in person.  They had no idea what I was talking about.  About an hour later, i received a notification email from purolator that the shipment was cancelled.  My status changed from "refused" to "issued" and i got the tracking number within a few hours.

 

When I spoke to the officer on the phone he told me that if I couldn't enter the US before my medical expires on Friday, that I could do another medical and wait for visa issuance but it could take two months after they receive everything.  I realize my situation is unique but I hope it helps clarify what you might expect.  Good luck!

[221gM 10]

4 minutes ago, sundim said:

Sending to the US consulate in montreal:

The email I received said to log in to https://ais.usvisa-info.com/ and look at the instructions.  The instructions contained a prepaid courier waybill linked to my passport info to bring to the Canada post office.  When I submitted the waybill and the envelope containing my passport at the post office, they provided a printed receipt with a tracking # on it.  Using the tracking number, I confirmed my envelope arrived the next day and I saw delivery proof (signature).

 

Receiving the passport from Montreal after visa issuance:

Funny story, after I spoke to the immigration officer on the phone twice this morning to confirm i was coming in person to pick up my passport, I received an email from donotreply@usvisa-info.com that contained a purolator tracking # supposedly to ship my passport.  I called the phone number on https://ais.usvisa-info.com/ and inquired why I received this, since I had just received instructions to pick up in person.  They had no idea what I was talking about.  About an hour later, i received a notification email from purolator that the shipment was cancelled.  My status changed from "refused" to "issued" and i got the tracking number within a few hours.

 

When I spoke to the officer on the phone he told me that if I couldn't enter the US before my medical expires on Friday, that I could do another medical and wait for visa issuance but it could take two months after they receive everything.  I realize my situation is unique but I hope it helps clarify what you might expect.  Good luck!

congratulations! I saw a few people got their visas today. but unfortunately my case is still refused. I am wondering how you could connect to your immigration officer directly? also is the officer interviewing a visa applicant responsible for this case forever?

[sundim 38]

1 minute ago, 221gM said:

congratulations! I saw a few people got their visas today. but unfortunately my case is still refused. I am wondering how you could connect to your immigration officer directly? also is the officer interviewing a visa applicant responsible for this case forever?

Thank you!  They called me directly on my cell phone to ask if I could pick up in person and called me 2 hours later to confirm that I successfully made plans to do so.  I suspect that it might be the same immigration officer that I interviewed with, but they never said their name or ID number so I can't know for sure.  When I go to pick up on Thursday I'll probably see them in person and might be able to confirm it's the same officer.

 

I'm sorry your case is still pending.  As you know, you're not alone and we have each other for support.  Hang in there & good luck!

[221gM 10]

18 minutes ago, sundim said:

Thank you!  They called me directly on my cell phone to ask if I could pick up in person and called me 2 hours later to confirm that I successfully made plans to do so.  I suspect that it might be the same immigration officer that I interviewed with, but they never said their name or ID number so I can't know for sure.  When I go to pick up on Thursday I'll probably see them in person and might be able to confirm it's the same officer.

 

I'm sorry your case is still pending.  As you know, you're not alone and we have each other for support.  Hang in there & good luck!

thank you! wish you best of luck on your new journey!

[spousalsponsor 9]

 

11 hours ago, sundim said:

Sending to the US consulate in montreal:

The email I received said to log in to https://ais.usvisa-info.com/ and look at the instructions.  The instructions contained a prepaid courier waybill linked to my passport info to bring to the Canada post office.  When I submitted the waybill and the envelope containing my passport at the post office, they provided a printed receipt with a tracking # on it.  Using the tracking number, I confirmed my envelope arrived the next day and I saw delivery proof (signature).

Thank you for your reply. We used the prepaid documents at a courier (BLS Montreal, which is literally blocks from the consulate 😭) to submit the passport. We did not get a receipt, but simply have a copy of the barcode that accompanied the envelope. Did you see an update on the AIS site only once you saw it was delivered, or was there a pending tracking number that showed up before it was delivered?

[Aab777 8]

Refreshing my status like a crazy person…. 
The elections doesn’t help my anxiety. Anyone know when elected will properly go into office and potentially change things up? 

Edited November 6 by Aab777

[candy895 5]

1 hour ago, Aab777 said:

Refreshing my status like a crazy person…. 
The elections doesn’t help my anxiety. Anyone know when elected will properly go into office and potentially change things up? 

I think as long as you are doing things legally, you should be fine. 

[sundim 38]

7 hours ago, spousalsponsor said:

 

Thank you for your reply. We used the prepaid documents at a courier (BLS Montreal, which is literally blocks from the consulate 😭) to submit the passport. We did not get a receipt, but simply have a copy of the barcode that accompanied the envelope. Did you see an update on the AIS site only once you saw it was delivered, or was there a pending tracking number that showed up before it was delivered?

You're welcome.  My AIS website never updated with tracking info.  The only tracking # i got was from when I dropped off my package at the post office and the receipt had the number on it.  I typed it into the canada post website to track.  Even now AIS never changed for me.

[spousalsponsor 9]

3 hours ago, sundim said:

You're welcome.  My AIS website never updated with tracking info.  The only tracking # i got was from when I dropped off my package at the post office and the receipt had the number on it.  I typed it into the canada post website to track.  Even now AIS never changed for me.

Great, that makes sense. We did it via a courier (BLS Montreal) and they forgot to give us tracking (they use Purolator), so we went in person today to ask for the tracking. Passport was delivered October 30 but as of November 5 the consulate had not logged it. They said in an email: "All mail directed to the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal is received at an offsite mail processing facility. It takes additional time before the mail actually reaches the Visa Unit."

 

(Including this detail here in case someone else is in or has been in a similar situation.)