The dreaded DS-5535 thread for Montreal Only. Post here and support each other (PART 4)

[candy895 13]

Hi does anyone know where I can find my alien number for k-1 visa?

[Pending DS5535 43]

My passport delivered to Montreal Consulate on Nov 27 and Medical on Dec 2, both times had case updates and 2 unsolicited updates on Dec 9 & 10 but then silent after that. Then my congressman contacted them on Dec 22, and consulate replied that passport not delivered to them as all mail goes to offsite facility and may take several days.  Although UPS notification showed that passport was delivered on Nov 27.

[spousalsponsor 13]

Sharing happy news: we finally received the coveted "ISSUED" status for my husband's IR-1 immigrant visa! On a Friday between Christmas and New Years, no less.

 

Our timeline is below for reference:

 

Married: June 2021

Filed I-130: May 25, 2022

Case approved by USCIS: June 7, 2023

DQ: August 15, 2023

Interview & DS-5535 requested: Jan 18, 2024

DS-5535 sent: Jan 19, 2024

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

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

Medical delivered: Sept 18, 2024

*delay on our side to renew passport and submit L1 visa application*

Passport & photos sent: October 29, 2024

Passport and photos delivered (courier tracking): October 30, 2024

Passport and photos officially received: November 20, 2024

Unsolicited update: November 26

Status changed to “issued”: December 27, 2024

 

We will update the thread when we receive documents in hand.

 

Some notes:

- For those waiting for news after submitting the passport/medical, it DOES seem like they are working through the files, but it is truly at a snail's pace. The wait is awful, especially the delay between the tracking saying it was delivered and accepted by Steve (😅) and the Consulate actually acknowledging receipt many weeks later.

- We've been in touch with my Senator who has followed up with the Consulate at various points during the last couple of years. I'm not convinced it made a difference, but it definitely didn't hurt. The last time they reached out was before American Thanksgiving, so it didn't correlate with the visa being issued.

- We applied for an L1 visa as well earlier this year. That was approved December 12. We are now still waiting for documents for BOTH visas to arrive by post. We will likely activate the L1 first and then once health care is established in the USA I will officially move with our baby to join my husband. Luckily we are moving 20 minutes south of the border so we can easily go back and forth by car. 

[Pending DS5535 43]

45 minutes ago, spousalsponsor said:

Sharing happy news: we finally received the coveted "ISSUED" status for my husband's IR-1 immigrant visa! On a Friday between Christmas and New Years, no less.

 

Our timeline is below for reference:

 

Married: June 2021

Filed I-130: May 25, 2022

Case approved by USCIS: June 7, 2023

DQ: August 15, 2023

Interview & DS-5535 requested: Jan 18, 2024

DS-5535 sent: Jan 19, 2024

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

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

Medical delivered: Sept 18, 2024

*delay on our side to renew passport and submit L1 visa application*

Passport & photos sent: October 29, 2024

Passport and photos delivered (courier tracking): October 30, 2024

Passport and photos officially received: November 20, 2024

Unsolicited update: November 26

Status changed to “issued”: December 27, 2024

 

We will update the thread when we receive documents in hand.

 

Some notes:

- For those waiting for news after submitting the passport/medical, it DOES seem like they are working through the files, but it is truly at a snail's pace. The wait is awful, especially the delay between the tracking saying it was delivered and accepted by Steve (😅) and the Consulate actually acknowledging receipt many weeks later.

- We've been in touch with my Senator who has followed up with the Consulate at various points during the last couple of years. I'm not convinced it made a difference, but it definitely didn't hurt. The last time they reached out was before American Thanksgiving, so it didn't correlate with the visa being issued.

- We applied for an L1 visa as well earlier this year. That was approved December 12. We are now still waiting for documents for BOTH visas to arrive by post. We will likely activate the L1 first and then once health care is established in the USA I will officially move with our baby to join my husband. Luckily we are moving 20 minutes south of the border so we can easily go back and forth by car. 

Many Congratulations! 
hope we all get our visa issued soon whoever waiting after sending passport and medical.

is there any thread on visa journey regarding moving to USA vehicle and overall moving 

[Audra Rose 7]

On Friday our status changed from Refused to Application Received (new medical was done 12/6 and they sent out on 12/13) so hoping for good news this next week. Hope to see everyone get their visas soon!

[Leo The Great 146]

On 12/28/2024 at 9:16 AM, Pending DS5535 said:

Many Congratulations! 
hope we all get our visa issued soon whoever waiting after sending passport and medical.

is there any thread on visa journey regarding moving to USA vehicle and overall moving 

If you planning to import vehicle to US, you need to get the compliance letter from vehicle manufacturer as a first step. We have imported two personal vehicles to US and registered them with DMV recently.

[Cinnaa 7]

i sent passport and new medical both said they were received nov 19. I have had 3 unsolicited updates since then the last being dec 6 but it’s still showing refused. It has been 5 weeks now since they have received everything.

 

Anyone else in the same boat as me? The wait is really starting to make me anxious especially since i see people around the same time getting approved already. 

[Cholte cholte 40]

Hi...we are in the same situation...it is getting close to 4 weeks that the consulate has received our medical and passport...but it still shows refused. What is the sequence of updates.."refused"..."application received"..."approved"...".visa issued"

[Pending DS5535 43]

I am in the same boat, my passport delivered on Nov 27, and medical on Jan 3, and I am still waiting to get my Visa Issued. I had 3 unsolicited updates since then, one was today.

[Cholte cholte 40]

Hi PendingDS5535...did you mean Dec 03 (instead of Jan 03)? My last update was on Dec 30, when I written them an email. Hope things change in the New year.

[Pending DS5535 43]

23 hours ago, Cholte cholte said:

Hi PendingDS5535...did you mean Dec 03 (instead of Jan 03)? My last update was on Dec 30, when I written them an email. Hope things change in the New year.

Oh yes, I mean Dec 3, sorry for the typo mistake. 

[Cholte cholte 40]

 

Hi...we contacted our congressman and this is the reply we got today (Jan 02, 2025). However, the passport was delivered on Nov 26, 2024. How do we contact the Montreal consulate?

 We confirm receipt of the medical examination, but we are still pending receipt of the passport and photos. 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. If applicants do not send the mail using our courier service, longer mail processing delays may be expected. Once additional documents are received, an adjudicating Consular officer will review the case taking into consideration the additional evidence provided. As soon as the review is complete, the Visa Unit will provide you with further details regarding the status of the visa application.

[Pending DS5535 43]

This is very disappointing that the passports are delivered almost 5 weeks ago but consulate claiming that they have not received it. I was not expecting the stress and painful waiting time at this very last stage of this process.  

[ir5dad 9]

IR 5

passport and medical requested Nov 21st 2024 passport delivered Nov 27th medical Nov 30th

Status changed to issued Jan 3rd

 

 

[Pending DS5535 43]

52 minutes ago, ir5dad said:

IR 5

passport and medical requested Nov 21st 2024 passport delivered Nov 27th medical Nov 30th

Status changed to issued Jan 3rd

 

 

Congratulations!