I got the visa issued on Nov. 14th after both the senator's and the congressman's inquiries. The consulate released my passport on the same day. However, the strike started at 12:00 AM on Nov. 15th. So my passport is stuck in some post office. I will miss my flight to the U.S tomorrow night. My timeline as the following:
Aug. 2022 submitted the application
July 2023 the petition approved
Sept. 2023 DQed
Jan. 31st 2024 Interviewed. At the interview, the officer told me that they needed to have additional background check on me and I didn't need to submit any documents. the process would take several weeks.
May 26 after the first congressperson's inquiry, the consulate gave me DS-5535. I submitted it on May 28th. Before the congressperson's inquiry, we sent the emails twice to the consulate and they all came back with the standard responses without asking for any documents. I still don't understand why I was given ds-5535 almost 4 months after the interview and the congressperson's inquiry. note: I didn't miss any documentation for a normal process.
luckily we bought a house in another state and my husband moved to the new place. Then we got a new congressman and his office started to push the consulate to process my case.
After multiple inquires, on Oct. 1st, the congressman's office forwarded the consulate's request for the second medical, the passport and the pictures.
Medical done on Oct. 8th and got the confirmation of the submission on Oct. 22nd
Passport delivered on Oct. 15th.
Nov. 14th issued.