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

[Cholte cholte 37]

Hi...congrats...were there any unsolicited updates or status changes...or did it change straight from refused to issued

[EmmsW 1]

On 12/28/2024 at 8:29 AM, 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. 

Thank you for the detailed info. When it comes to sending the passport/photos to the consulate, can I just use the address on Google Maps for the delivery address? 

Edit: It seems like I'll be using the mailing address:

U.S. Consulate General
1134 rue Sainte-Catherine O, Suite 100,
Montréal, Quebec, H3B 1H4
 

Edited Saturday at 08:18 PM by EmmsW

[EmmsW 1]

On 12/31/2024 at 2:01 PM, Pending DS5535 said:

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.

Did you use the consulate's address on Google maps for the delivery address? I am just asking this because I am expecting to get a DS-5535 myself so that by the the time the passport is requested, I know whereto send it. 

Edit: It seems like I'll be using the mailing address:

U.S. Consulate General
1134 rue Sainte-Catherine O, Suite 100,
Montréal, Quebec, H3B 1H4

Edited Saturday at 08:17 PM by EmmsW

[Pending DS5535 36]

On 12/29/2024 at 7:40 PM, Leo The Great said:

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.

I messaged you in order to get more info, I will appreciate your response. 

[ir5dad 3]

9 hours ago, Cholte cholte said:

Hi...congrats...were there any unsolicited updates or status changes...or did it change straight from refused to issued

update Nov 30th foe medical Unsolicited update Dec9th 

[Cholte cholte 37]

Hi...just wondering if there are many who had their passports and photos delivered to the Montreal Consulate...has there been any progress in processing immigrant visas after the Thanksgiving break and Christmas holidays. 

[Ds553513 16]

Hi 

I don’t know it’s good or bad but in 2 January my case status change to expiring soon

thank you 

[AZ786 0]

Hi everyone,

Can anyone please help me, i had an interview at montreal embassy on july 2023 and after interview my file was placed on administrative processing, received an email next day of interview to fill DS5535 and submit resume.

Both online form was submitted and resume was sent through email within a week in july 2023.

Did not receive any update till january 2024 ( up to 6 months), sent an email and got response case in administrative processing and wait.

It almost 1.5 year, since my file is in processing. I see in many of the comments in this thread people said they contacted congressman or Senator and they were able to move their files.

I am canadian citizen and currently living in Toronto, can anyone guide me which congressman or Senator I should contact?  

Thanks

[mam521 2,120]

7 hours ago, AZ786 said:

Hi everyone,

Can anyone please help me, i had an interview at montreal embassy on july 2023 and after interview my file was placed on administrative processing, received an email next day of interview to fill DS5535 and submit resume.

Both online form was submitted and resume was sent through email within a week in july 2023.

Did not receive any update till january 2024 ( up to 6 months), sent an email and got response case in administrative processing and wait.

It almost 1.5 year, since my file is in processing. I see in many of the comments in this thread people said they contacted congressman or Senator and they were able to move their files.

I am canadian citizen and currently living in Toronto, can anyone guide me which congressman or Senator I should contact?  

Thanks

Please fill out your timeline so others know what type of visa you were trying to obtain and your timeline: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=482918

 

The congressman or senator is going to depend on where you will be living in the US.  For many people, these are family reunification visas that have been sent into AP, so their family members are already in the US.  

[Pending DS5535 36]

My visa is Issued today. The passport was delivered on Nov 27 and medical was delivered on Dec 3, I had case updates on both these dates and also unsolicited updates on Dec 9 & 10. Finally, it is issued today. 

Can anyone tell that when we receive the email including the passport tracking #, I mean after how many days after the visa is issued. 

[spousalsponsor 10]

46 minutes ago, Pending DS5535 said:

Can anyone tell that when we receive the email including the passport tracking #, I mean after how many days after the visa is issued. 

Congratulations!! Great news. We received "issued" status for my husband on December 27 and have not yet received tracking information. Hopefully soon 🤞🏼

[AnnaSalu 37]

On 12/29/2024 at 9:40 PM, Leo The Great said:

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.

What was the approximate cost, all in, for importing and registration?

[Cholte cholte 37]

We also got "issued" today...the two of you above...please post when you get your tracking number...will the number come by email?

[EveK 24]

Im happy to share that my visa IR1 was issued today. I still did not receive any email with the tracking number yet. Below is my timeline throughout this whole painful process:

Dec 17 2021: Filed I-130 application

Aug 7 2023: Interview in Montreal and was refused

Aug 11 2023: Submitted DS-5535 form

Oct 8 2024: Admin process was completed and requested passport, 2 photos and second medical.

Oct 29 2024: passport and photos received at the consulate office

Oct 31 2024: second medical received

Nov 18 2024: was advised to update the Ds 260 form. Done on the same day.

Jan 8 2024: Visa issued on ceac.

 

Thank you everyone! There is still light at the end of the tunnel! 

 

[Cholte cholte 37]

Hi eve...we got issued on Jan 6 on ceac...still waiting for a tracking number.