The dreaded DS-5535 thread for Montreal. Post here and support each other (PART 2)

[Randomwalk 20]

On 9/28/2022 at 9:30 PM, ideep29 said:

 

Im still here with you bro.  Filed WoM a while back.  Due date is approaching.  

We have also started WOM process with hacking law, let see how it goes. 

[jujubemom 0]

I am keeping track of my update dates: 

 

Interview                                 : 7.15

DS5535 & resume sent        : 7.18

Update (refused)                   : 8.19

Update (refused)                   : 8.03 (reply to my email to acknowledge receipt of DS5535)

Update (refused)                   : 8.18

Update (refused)                   : 9.09

Update (refused)                   : 9.21

Update (refused)                   : 10.03

Update (refused)                   : 10.04 (my husband sent an inquiry email last night, not sure if it was due to the email.

 

Does anyone have a similar pattern for the update? I was really excited when I saw the 8.18 one, but now I am merely confused about why they are updating my case so frequently but nothing really happens.

[BatmanFlow 481]

Today is a year since my moms interview. Can’t believe we’ve been in this limbo for a year now

[jujubemom 0]

Has anyone get their passport back from the consulate? I sent them an email last Tuesday and didn't get any replies...

[ice-qube 648]

2 hours ago, BatmanFlow said:

Today is a year since my moms interview. Can’t believe we’ve been in this limbo for a year now

Man, it is crazy. I am not far behind, one year will be in two weeks. Anything come through with the WOM yet?

[BatmanFlow 481]

5 minutes ago, ice-qube said:

Man, it is crazy. I am not far behind, one year will be in two weeks. Anything come through with the WOM yet?

i didnt file yet. my congressman said he would write a letter and i thought maybe that could help. but that promise was made like a month and a half ago and still the letter hasnt been sent.

 

i am looking to sign up for WOM this month. Did you file WOM?

[ice-qube 648]

2 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

i didnt file yet. my congressman said he would write a letter and i thought maybe that could help. but that promise was made like a month and a half ago and still the letter hasnt been sent.

 

i am looking to sign up for WOM this month. Did you file WOM?

I haven't filed yet. I am like sitting on it debating whether to pull the trigger. There has been zero organic movement in this thread, only people who filed WOM have progressed. It is so angering. I am still on the fence, but I don't know what else to do. The expense is huge.

[BatmanFlow 481]

3 minutes ago, ice-qube said:

I haven't filed yet. I am like sitting on it debating whether to pull the trigger. There has been zero organic movement in this thread, only people who filed WOM have progressed. It is so angering. I am still on the fence, but I don't know what else to do. The expense is huge.

yea the lack of zero organic movement is quite depressing and its something that is making me consider pulling the trigger as well. almost $6k is a lot, but i dont know how long to wait. there is no movement for anyone without filing WOM

[ice-qube 648]

Just now, BatmanFlow said:

yea the lack of zero organic movement is quite depressing and its something that is making me consider pulling the trigger as well. almost $6k is a lot, but i dont know how long to wait. there is no movement for anyone without filing WOM

After all this time, I feel like they literally threw this x% of cases in the black hole on purpose, hoping that a number of people will just give up. And if we want the visa we will have to sue. It is deeply dysfunctional and cynical, and I just cannot see how this can be blamed on lack of resourcing at this point. This feels done on purpose.

[ice-qube 648]

3 hours ago, jujubemom said:

I am keeping track of my update dates: 

 

Interview                                 : 7.15

DS5535 & resume sent        : 7.18

Update (refused)                   : 8.19

Update (refused)                   : 8.03 (reply to my email to acknowledge receipt of DS5535)

Update (refused)                   : 8.18

Update (refused)                   : 9.09

Update (refused)                   : 9.21

Update (refused)                   : 10.03

Update (refused)                   : 10.04 (my husband sent an inquiry email last night, not sure if it was due to the email.

 

Does anyone have a similar pattern for the update? I was really excited when I saw the 8.18 one, but now I am merely confused about why they are updating my case so frequently but nothing really happens.

I have come to conclude those updates, the frequency of them and timing, are not worth anything for predictive or explanatory value. I have had quite a few updates over time, and some of them were after email communications (while other emails produced nothing) and some of them I have no idea. The result has been the same, no movement for me. 

[throwitaway 189]

5 hours ago, jujubemom said:

I am keeping track of my update dates: 

 

Interview                                 : 7.15

DS5535 & resume sent        : 7.18

Update (refused)                   : 8.19

Update (refused)                   : 8.03 (reply to my email to acknowledge receipt of DS5535)

Update (refused)                   : 8.18

Update (refused)                   : 9.09

Update (refused)                   : 9.21

Update (refused)                   : 10.03

Update (refused)                   : 10.04 (my husband sent an inquiry email last night, not sure if it was due to the email.

 

Does anyone have a similar pattern for the update? I was really excited when I saw the 8.18 one, but now I am merely confused about why they are updating my case so frequently but nothing really happens.

Why are you doing this? This will drive you crazy.

[throwitaway 189]

2 hours ago, BatmanFlow said:

yea the lack of zero organic movement is quite depressing and its something that is making me consider pulling the trigger as well. almost $6k is a lot, but i dont know how long to wait. there is no movement for anyone without filing WOM

In my opinion, once you file you’ll regret you waited so long.

[jgauthi242 35]

They let 79,000 people in from Afghanistan without proper vetting. They then went back and started vetting everybody. They found several individuals with derogatory information: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2022-09/OIG-22-64-Sep22-Redacted.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjWtcnDvcf6AhWXi_0HHeiPD4gQFnoECBYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1xtpRMrSPVRCPRPZ9OK_5a

 

They then started processing large numbers of SQ visas, all of which require AP. SQ visas are the highest priority tier (i.e., higher than immediate relative). https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/visas-news-archive/immigrant-visa-prioritization.html

 

There is a large and growing backlog of cases in AP. You can determine this by looking at these reports: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/special-immg-visa-afghans-employed-us-gov.html#quarterly

 

Difference the numbers going into AP and coming out of it (i.e., "undergoes AP" and "visa issuance). Since January 2021, 4800 people have made it to AP stage, but only 2300 visas have been issued.

 

The reason the only people in AP who get approved are the ones that filed WOM is because they're only processing SQ in AP because there is a large and growing backlog of SQ in AP and they are a higher priority than IR according to State's prioritization system. When you sue them, you're effectively forcing them to work on your case.

[throwitaway 189]

35 minutes ago, jgauthi242 said:

They let 79,000 people in from Afghanistan without proper vetting. They then went back and started vetting everybody. They found several individuals with derogatory information: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2022-09/OIG-22-64-Sep22-Redacted.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjWtcnDvcf6AhWXi_0HHeiPD4gQFnoECBYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1xtpRMrSPVRCPRPZ9OK_5a

 

They then started processing large numbers of SQ visas, all of which require AP. SQ visas are the highest priority tier (i.e., higher than immediate relative). https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/visas-news-archive/immigrant-visa-prioritization.html

 

There is a large and growing backlog of cases in AP. You can determine this by looking at these reports: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/special-immg-visa-afghans-employed-us-gov.html#quarterly

 

Difference the numbers going into AP and coming out of it (i.e., "undergoes AP" and "visa issuance). Since January 2021, 4800 people have made it to AP stage, but only 2300 visas have been issued.

 

The reason the only people in AP who get approved are the ones that filed WOM is because they're only processing SQ in AP because there is a large and growing backlog of SQ in AP and they are a higher priority than IR according to State's prioritization system. When you sue them, you're effectively forcing them to work on your case.

I knew about the tiered priority scheme but I had thought that the courts had ruled it illegal - didn’t realize it only stopped them from applying it to DV (although in reality some embassies still do it, like Accra who had a poor DV 22). 

[ohmygod 60]

On 9/22/2022 at 4:12 PM, EB_Stuck said:

Negative. Shipped on Thursday, received on Friday.

Have you crossed the border? Where did you cross? What additional information is required for border crossing?