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

[throwitaway 189]

1 hour ago, addpeace said:

August 1st 2022. We filed a WOM suit around the end of Jan 2023

Love that for you! Congrats. Thanks for coming back to update everyone. 

[oclus 3]

2 hours ago, throwitaway said:

Love that for you! Congrats. Thanks for coming back to update everyone. 

@addpeace Congratulations great news! 
I was following your case and its sad that we have to spend so much money to get our due right 😞but it paid off! 
just a quick question when did they ask for a new medical and passport? They requested ours on 29th Dec 2022 but took so much time to review the new medical that the PC expired. Now we sent a new one and in waiting game. 
 

should we try to go WOM as well so they can speed up our process? 

[yyc-sfo 5]

After stalking this thread for months I've found it helpful to compare my timeline with others and noticed a lot of ppl have questions that overlap so I thought I'd share my experience too. 

 

Married 2+years, been together for 10. Filed I130 in Jan 2021. Interview Nov 2022 - at the end of the interview I was told I'd be put in AP and he asked me if I was okay to leave my passport behind. I have a nexus card so I chose to leave my passport behind in case it was processed quickly so I wouldn't have to deal with sending it back and forth. Was given "usually within 4 weeks" as a timeline but obviously this didn't stick.

 

Sent DS-5535 form back within a week of the interview and have seen very little updates to my case file since. 

 

We tried to wait a few months to give them a chance but ultimatedly decided it would be worth filing a WOM after seeing all the ppl on here waiting months to years for their approval. Filed a lawsuit with Hacking on March 17, summonses sent March 20, last defendant served April 3 - now they have until June 2 to respond. 

 

Since the interview, I've travelled back and forth to the states with just my Nexus card in hand 5+ times and have had no issues. Sometimes airline employees who don't know that nexus is a replacement for passports will give you a little grief but I've never been stopped at customs for not having my passport.

 

Since filing I still haven't seen any updates to my case online but I've been told by the people at Hacking that this is normal and they will generally wait until closer to the deadline to start moving things along. My medical's expiring this week so looks like they'll be able to use that as another hurdle to get through before issuing anything. 

 

Hope this is somewhat helpful! 

[LAMA9 118]

12 hours ago, addpeace said:

Our status updated to ISSUED today!!

Congratulations @addpeace!  Welcome to the other side.  So happy for you!

[APRIL2023 48]

Had my interview April 13 and have not heard back with regards to DS5535. Anyone had an interview around that time? Have they received any email communication at this point? 

[ShawnK 76]

1 hour ago, APRIL2023 said:

Had my interview April 13 and have not heard back with regards to DS5535. Anyone had an interview around that time? Have they received any email communication at this point? 

Hi, sorry you are in this process. 

 

They usually send it by the next day or after a week or two, a few posters here waited about 2-3 weeks.

 

I would just send them a very kindly worded and short reminder email, ensure your case# and name in the   line. You can even put "please send the Ds5535 form" in the subject line.

 

Send it to Montreal-IV-DV@state.gov

 

They will send it to you this week or next.

 

Also, ensure you check your junk/spam folder.

 

Again, sorry you are here, hope you clear fast. I'm praying for all of us to clear.

 

Edited April 25, 2023 by ShawnK

[PanFriedTofu 4]

1 hour ago, APRIL2023 said:

Had my interview April 13 and have not heard back with regards to DS5535. Anyone had an interview around that time? Have they received any email communication at this point? 

Sorry you're in this mess with us - send them an e-mail asap to let them know you're waiting.

Took 2 emails over 3 weeks for them to respond and send it.

 

It really makes me wonder what the heck is going in Montreal 😔 if only they asked more relevant questions then and there.

[can_do 18]

On 4/24/2023 at 3:28 PM, ajxl888 said:

Hi There - I'm with you, and it hasn't even been a week since I submitted mine Question - has your status changed at all?  Like refused to AP?  Mine is still saying "refused"... 

 

Anyways, seems like we're on a similar timeline so I'm looking forward to getting updates from you.  The lack of visibility and uncertainty of it all is the worst part. 

 

Thanks for sharing... that is super helpful.  I'm planning on flying to NYC this weekend. 

Hate to say welcome to the club 😅...

Had a few daily updates after the interview and after submission of DS-5535 but nothing since then. Its says "Refused" but its supposed to be that way until the forms are processed or unless they need anything else.

I'm trying to not check CEAC daily as its driving me nuts but not sure what else to do.

 

Seems like its a common process at Montreal and several other Consulates/Embassies.

 

Just hope this is over soon.

[dennisv 23]

Is anyone at 4+ months from Interview and got the DS5535 and not filed a WOM ??? Just trying to wrap head around the WOM.

Edited April 25, 2023 by dennisv

[can_do 18]

4 hours ago, PanFriedTofu said:

Sorry you're in this mess with us - send them an e-mail asap to let them know you're waiting.

Took 2 emails over 3 weeks for them to respond and send it.

 

It really makes me wonder what the heck is going in Montreal 😔 if only they asked more relevant questions then and there.

I don't think this is up to Montreal.

Our interview was going more like a chat at Tim Horton's when suddenly the interviewer's facial expression changed. Something, somewhere got triggered and I was thrown into AP.

Surprisingly, they only asked me to submit the DS-5535 (and no one else on our application).

 

[can_do 18]

4 minutes ago, dennisv said:

Is anyone at 4+ months from Interview and got the DS5535 and not filed a WOM ??? Just trying to wrap head around the WOM.

Hi,

I just crossed the 3 week mark but I'm thinking of WOM after we reach the 60 day threshold. $4K is a lot to resolve this but I'm still on the fence...

Are you planning on filing?

[dennisv 23]

18 minutes ago, can_do said:

Hi,

I just crossed the 3 week mark but I'm thinking of WOM after we reach the 60 day threshold. $4K is a lot to resolve this but I'm still on the fence...

Are you planning on filing?

Of course, sitting on fence. Had a chat with the sponsor, and seeing what's best for us now. Maybe a reverse sponsorship to Canada... Life planning is tough now.

[PZibran325 112]

1 hour ago, dennisv said:

Is anyone at 4+ months from Interview and got the DS5535 and not filed a WOM ??? Just trying to wrap head around the WOM.

I waited 8 months before starting the process for WOM. I did that because most lawyers at that point were suggesting waiting at least 6 months, I waited more because my 6 months fell in December and I wanted to cross the holiday season and I had also heard of someone going for a WOM only to have the embassy organically clear them through AP before the embassy even knew there was a WOM being filed. 

Edited April 25, 2023 by PZibran325

[throwitaway 189]

1 hour ago, can_do said:

I don't think this is up to Montreal.

Our interview was going more like a chat at Tim Horton's when suddenly the interviewer's facial expression changed. Something, somewhere got triggered and I was thrown into AP.

Surprisingly, they only asked me to submit the DS-5535 (and no one else on our application).

 

Wow, that brought back memories, as virtually the same thing had happened to us. The tone of the convo was very much “Enjoy where you’re moving to!” and then bam, confused face at monitor, flips through paperwork, undoes all his organization and steps away. Comes back with 221g slip and our thus began our descent into hell.  

 

[ak47 26]

3 hours ago, throwitaway said:

Wow, that brought back memories, as virtually the same thing had happened to us. The tone of the convo was very much “Enjoy where you’re moving to!” and then bam, confused face at monitor, flips through paperwork, undoes all his organization and steps away. Comes back with 221g slip and our thus began our descent into hell.  

 

same with us. Cannot believe why the bells did not ring during the NVC  processing stage that they act this way. Our applications was with NVC for 3 yrs and they could have easily done all checks rather the passing the buck to the embassy.