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

[Pending DS5535 46]

8 hours ago, AnnaSalu said:

Hi all, 

 

I was refused and put in Administrative Processing. Here is the timeline after the interview. My question is if all these updates to my case during a short period of time seem normal, or could indicate anything (positive or negative):

 

Jan 10, 2025: Interview - refused and put in AP

Jan 11, 2025: I sent the documents requested in the AP letter (resume, etc.)

Jan 13, 2025: case updated

Jan 20, 2025: I sent an email asking them if they could confirm that they had sent my AP documents to relevant departments - I received no response

Jan 24, 2025: case updated (maybe as a result of my email ,  someone looked at my case?

Jan 27, 2025: case updated (unsolicited - why?)

Jan 29, 2025: case updated (unsolicited - why?)

 

If it was a few months after my interview, I would say maybe my AP is done. But in just 2 weeks after the interview, I am not sure why there are few updates to my case. 

 

Thoughts?

There are always unsolicited updates after consulate receive documents and DS 5535. I had 5 unsolicited updates in Jan 2024 after submitting my resume and DS5535 form. 

[Pending DS5535 46]

Hi everyone, 

 

My husband also received finally Montreal consulate email reply asking my husband to submit his passport and new medical (IR5), we both had interview in Jan 2024, my AP was cleared before his AP clearance and I got my visa issued on Jan 8, 2025. He was waiting and he sent an email to consulate asking his status update and in reply consulate asked him for passport and new medical. 

He did not receive email from "donotreply@DOS " which we all received. When we tried to book his medical exam, the doctor clinic telling us that on portal they don't have his file yet from consulate. 

Did anyone has the similar experience. If he did not receive email from "donotreply" but from consulate, I hope it is still legitimate email. Please share your experience.

[Adam RS 16]

5 hours ago, Ontarkie said:

Yes you can enter by land. Are you importing the car? If so make sure you have everything for that set up already. Check out the other car import threads for more information. 

Thank you!. Would you please share the link?

[AnnaSalu 40]

22 hours ago, Pending DS5535 said:

Hi everyone, 

 

My husband also received finally Montreal consulate email reply asking my husband to submit his passport and new medical (IR5), we both had interview in Jan 2024, my AP was cleared before his AP clearance and I got my visa issued on Jan 8, 2025. He was waiting and he sent an email to consulate asking his status update and in reply consulate asked him for passport and new medical. 

He did not receive email from "donotreply@DOS " which we all received. When we tried to book his medical exam, the doctor clinic telling us that on portal they don't have his file yet from consulate. 

Did anyone has the similar experience. If he did not receive email from "donotreply" but from consulate, I hope it is still legitimate email. Please share your experience.

 

I think that's a good update. Why do you doubt the legitimacy of the response? Wasn't it in response to your request? Maybe follow up with them and tell them the Medical Doctor doesn't have your file yet. 

 

Did the consulate ask you to do another medical? If not, why do you wanna do another one? I understand that after all this time it's expired now, but if consulate os not asking, why do you bother?

 

What Visa Category are you and your spouse in?

[Pending DS5535 46]

26 minutes ago, AnnaSalu said:

 

I think that's a good update. Why do you doubt the legitimacy of the response? Wasn't it in response to your request? Maybe follow up with them and tell them the Medical Doctor doesn't have your file yet. 

 

Did the consulate ask you to do another medical? If not, why do you wanna do another one? I understand that after all this time it's expired now, but if consulate os not asking, why do you bother?

 

What Visa Category are you and your spouse in?

Consulate asked for redo medical exam and photos, and passport. We are IR5 Visa. 

Edited Friday at 10:27 PM by Pending DS5535

[LongJourney2 0]

This board has been a tremendous help for me. Sharing my timelines for anyone that may benefit from it.

Application Type - IR1. Married for 6 years at time of I-130. 

 

Mar-2021    I-130 Petition for Alien Relative Submitted to UCIS
Feb -2022    I-130 Approved 

Feb-2023    Documentarily Qualified

May-2023    Visa Interview at Montreal. Status: Declined for administrative processing 

June- 2023    Submitted DS 5535

Dec 2023 -  Aug 2024 Sent follow ups to Montreal Consulate, only received generic responses

Aug 2024    Received notification to send Passport to Montreal Consulate

Sept 2024    Sent several E-mails for next steps and follow up. Submitted request from Congressman and was advised to update      medical and provide updated passport photos. Submitted all documents by end of Oct.

Oct 2024   No updates. End of Nov sent escalation through Congressman and received response to send updated RCMP report

Nov 2024   Ordered RCMP report in first week, due to Canada Post strike, did not receive it till first week of January

Last week of January - Status change to Issued - no notifications or emails received. No status update on AIS. 4 days later Received confirmation E-mail that passport has been shipped and received. Passport received 2 days later. 

 

E2E Process - 3 years, 9 months

DS5535 Approval Timeline - 14 months

 

Lessons Learned:

1. Leverage your local congressman and engage through the process.

2. Escalation through congressman help and Montreal Consulate will respond in 5 business days

 

Best of Luck everyone. 

Edited Friday at 11:04 PM by LongJourney2

[AlAlp 5]

I had my interview at the Montreal consulate yesterday. Everything was smooth and similar to what others have shared on the forum. At the end of the interview, the officer told me he would send the DS-5535 form I had filled before the interview to DC. He did not ask me to submit CV or anything else. Has anybody else had the same experience?

Edited 23 hours ago by AlAlp

[Cholte cholte 45]

Yes...my spouse who got her green card in Jan 2025 had the same experience. She had her interview in Mar 24 at the Montreal consulate, and was handed the DS5535 after the interview. She did not have to submit her CV or any additional document.

[AlAlp 5]

3 minutes ago, Cholte cholte said:

Yes...my spouse who got her green card in Jan 2025 had the same experience. She had her interview in Mar 24 at the Montreal consulate, and was handed the DS5535 after the interview. She did not have to submit her CV or any additional document.

Was her case employment-based?

[Cholte cholte 45]

Yes...EB1