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

[Phil_K_IR1 83]

6 minutes ago, ak47 said:

Has anybody here received a reply from Montreal embassy in last 25 days ?

 

It's been over a month for me and still didn't get a response for my email.

 

Looks like they are not responding to emails now.

We sent an email last Friday, so I'll update if we get a reply within the next couple weeks. Usually takes at least 10 business days. 
 

I've read if you email too often they won't reply. Once a month seems ok though? That's what we did. 

[CarmenD 150]

30 minutes ago, ak47 said:

Has anybody here received a reply from Montreal embassy in last 25 days ?

 

It's been over a month for me and still didn't get a response for my email.

 

Looks like they are not responding to emails now.

I recently posted on this thread a screenshot of the reply I received a few days ago to my inquiry for status made in mid February.  It’s an exercise in futility to keep asking 😔

[604vancouver 24]

30 minutes ago, Phil_K_IR1 said:

We sent an email last Friday, so I'll update if we get a reply within the next couple weeks. Usually takes at least 10 business days. 
 

I've read if you email too often they won't reply. Once a month seems ok though? That's what we did. 

I received a reply from the Montreal embassy today! I made an inquiry as to if they received my DS-5535. They didn't actually confirm receipt, just that my case was still under AP.

 

This is the worst process, my officer told me he approved my application, took my passport to put the visa in and I flew home. 1 day later I saw the refusal status and they sent my passport back to me.

 

I've been trying to stay off this forum as much as possible, I feel like time passes very slowly when I'm checking all the time (clearly not going well for me)..

 

 

 

 

[604vancouver 24]

I had a question about NEXUS... does anyone here have it? Yesterday I found out that my NEXUS application is in "risk assessment" and has not been conditionally approved (I applied over a year before my interview at the MTL embassy for my IV).

 

I'm thinking I could have been flagged in the system way before the MTL interview and I wanted to gather more information on this theory.

[ak47 33]

15 minutes ago, 604vancouver said:

I had a question about NEXUS... does anyone here have it? Yesterday I found out that my NEXUS application is in "risk assessment" and has not been conditionally approved (I applied over a year before my interview at the MTL embassy for my IV).

 

I'm thinking I could have been flagged in the system way before the MTL interview and I wanted to gather more information on this theory.

What's your interview date ?

[604vancouver 24]

2 minutes ago, ak47 said:

What's your interview date ?

Jan 10th 2024 

 

[MTLaffectee 45]

1 hour ago, ak47 said:

Has anybody here received a reply from Montreal embassy in last 25 days ?

 

It's been over a month for me and still didn't get a response for my email.

 

Looks like they are not responding to emails now.

 

I sent an email on February 23rd and got a reply today. They did not answer my question which was whether they have received our Form 5535. Below was their response which is pretty generic. 

 

"Hello,

 

Thank you for your inquiry.

 

Your case was refused under section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and is currently under administrative processing. As soon as the administrative processing is complete, the Visa Unit will advise of the next steps if anything else is needed to complete processing the case.

 

We realize that these extended time periods cause frustration to many individuals, and we are sensitive to the fact that the purpose of the immigrant visa program is to facilitate legitimate travel to the U.S.  Nonetheless, the Consulate in Montreal, like all U.S. Embassies and Consulates, must adjudicate visas in accordance with the provisions of the law, and, in some cases, this involves extensive consular review and administrative processing. 

 

While we cannot predict when the processing of your visa will be completed, please be assured that the Consulate and the State Department are aware of your concerns and will contact you as soon as the processing is complete.

 

We hope that this information is helpful in replying to your inquiry.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance."

[CarmenD 150]

Yup, that’s exactly how they respond to any and all inquiries.  It’s pathetic

[ak47 33]

8 minutes ago, MTLaffectee said:

 

I sent an email on February 23rd and got a reply today. They did not answer my question which was whether they have received our Form 5535. Below was their response which is pretty generic. 

 

"Hello,

 

Thank you for your inquiry.

 

Your case was refused under section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and is currently under administrative processing. As soon as the administrative processing is complete, the Visa Unit will advise of the next steps if anything else is needed to complete processing the case.

 

We realize that these extended time periods cause frustration to many individuals, and we are sensitive to the fact that the purpose of the immigrant visa program is to facilitate legitimate travel to the U.S.  Nonetheless, the Consulate in Montreal, like all U.S. Embassies and Consulates, must adjudicate visas in accordance with the provisions of the law, and, in some cases, this involves extensive consular review and administrative processing. 

 

While we cannot predict when the processing of your visa will be completed, please be assured that the Consulate and the State Department are aware of your concerns and will contact you as soon as the processing is complete.

 

We hope that this information is helpful in replying to your inquiry.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance."

This is the 'Template' reply format.

[Daft_Cat 136]

2 hours ago, 604vancouver said:

I had a question about NEXUS... does anyone here have it? Yesterday I found out that my NEXUS application is in "risk assessment" and has not been conditionally approved (I applied over a year before my interview at the MTL embassy for my IV).

 

I'm thinking I could have been flagged in the system way before the MTL interview and I wanted to gather more information on this theory.

I'm enrolled in Nexus and have been for a decade - another reason I couldn't believe I got the DS-5535. 

I wouldn't overthink it. I'm not sure there's as much bureaucratic communication/coordination between silos as one might think (unless you're on some sort of watchlist). If it's any consolation, I remember the risk assessment stage taking a long time when I initially applied - several months at least. I know they had an awful pandemic backlog as well, so there could still be some trailing effects. 

Edited March 8 by Daft_Cat

[Inveigh 69]

Immigration Administrative Processing made the news today on Fox News

 

 

Edited March 8 by Inveigh

[Canucklehead 102]

4 hours ago, Inveigh said:

Immigration Administrative Processing made the news today on Fox News

 

 

66,000 people being reviewed by 37 people...no wonder it's taking so long.

[CarmenD 150]

56 minutes ago, Canucklehead said:

66,000 people being reviewed by 37 people...no wonder it's taking so long.

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

Edited March 8 by CarmenD
Added more angry emojis

[Phil_K_IR1 83]

Welp today is officially the 4 month mark since my wife's visa interview and her being put in AP. 
 

We had hoped it wouldn't be as bad as people projected, given that we weren't asked for a DS5535, but apparently it's a black hole regardless. 
 

Stay strong everyone.. We'll all get through this somehow.

[Daft_Cat 136]

On 3/5/2024 at 6:09 PM, tdot2nj said:

There’s a lot of people from last year that have not updated the spreadsheet. I’m curious if they got approved and have just not come back or are they just waiting and we just haven’t heard from them.

I understand (and empathize) that this is a coping mechanism, but I'd wager significant money that a substantial portion of these users are still waiting unless they filed a writ of mandamus prior to the summer of last year or simply got lucky in a way that doesn't seem to be occurring anymore. I lurked this thread for almost a year before posting, and the trend has been continuous: people waiting longer and longer. Posters come and go for whatever reason, but the trend is the trend.

 

I get that it's tough to accept that this forum is likely more or less representative and that it's easier (in the short term) to believe that those of us that have been waiting 1 year+  probably have special circumstances or are otherwise outliers. But there is absolutely no evidence that this is the case - if anything, the evidence is to the contrary. There are 66K people in administrative processing and only ~35 people clearing them. This is starting to make national news. 

We aren't just the unlucky ones. The situation is what it is, and it's important for everyone who ends up here to have an accurate understanding of the situation, including realistic timelines and potential options, so that they can anchor their expectations and plan accordingly and not be persuaded to take expensive & ultimately premature steps (like filing a WoM too early).

Edited March 8 by Daft_Cat