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

[CondorMantis 2]

Just now, Phil_K_IR1 said:

Do you know roughly how long it takes them to get through it then? Would it average to "within 60 days" like the consulate says on their site? 

My Chinese colleague told me that almost all chinese H1B applicants need to go through admin processing. It typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to be processed in China. Who knows if it is Mantis or something else though. 

[Phil_K_IR1 83]

11 minutes ago, CondorMantis said:

My Chinese colleague told me that almost all chinese H1B applicants need to go through admin processing. It typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to be processed in China. Who knows if it is Mantis or something else though. 

Blah. We've crossed the 6 weeks mark last week, and so we're dangerously approaching the 8 week point. I guess we'll keep our fingers crossed and hoping for the best.. Not sure if IR1 is any different from H1B, but it is what it is.

Edited January 16 by Phil_K_IR1

[ShawnK 76]

What's super frustrating (good for them though, wouldn't wish this in anyone ) is you see other embassies starting to clear these 5535s efficiently.

 

I've recently seen posts from folks in Beruit and Ankara cleaning in 3-8 weeks. Even Islamabad.

 

I understand these  security clearances go to some other unknown agencies for processing, it just seems odd that for Canadians -who come from a country  which instantly  shares all police/security issues with the US... - would face such severe delays ? 

 

Saw a post from someone who was worried their spouse would be stuck in DS5535 because they lived in Turkey , close to Syria, but cleared in a few weeks? 

 

Yet Canadians, who mostly live in the thin habitable strip near the US border, are being heavily delayed?

 

I just really question what is going on?  Are our files just sitting there until someone picks them up, does a few clicks, "yeah he/she is good". 

 

If anyone had any sort of background security concerns, they would never be allowed to enter the US.

 

 

[APRIL2023 51]

1 hour ago, ShawnK said:

What's super frustrating (good for them though, wouldn't wish this in anyone ) is you see other embassies starting to clear these 5535s efficiently.

 

I've recently seen posts from folks in Beruit and Ankara cleaning in 3-8 weeks. Even Islamabad.

 

I understand these  security clearances go to some other unknown agencies for processing, it just seems odd that for Canadians -who come from a country  which instantly  shares all police/security issues with the US... - would face such severe delays ? 

 

Saw a post from someone who was worried their spouse would be stuck in DS5535 because they lived in Turkey , close to Syria, but cleared in a few weeks? 

 

Yet Canadians, who mostly live in the thin habitable strip near the US border, are being heavily delayed?

 

I just really question what is going on?  Are our files just sitting there until someone picks them up, does a few clicks, "yeah he/she is good". 

 

If anyone had any sort of background security concerns, they would never be allowed to enter the US.

 

 

Ya I agree 100%.

 

When I was given 221g, I was told that a ds5535 will be sent to me but that never happened. I waited 3 weeks and took matters into my own hands and send in the anticipated information myself. I was only able to confirm receipt after multiple follow-up emails. 
 

I guess for anyone new here waiting for AP clearance, start looking for alternative route. WIT doesn’t sound like an effective solution anymore compared to a year ago. If you are given 221g with ds5535 requirement, you are in for a long long ride. I hope that I’m wrong but expect wait time to be at least 8+ months. 

[Phil_K_IR1 83]

7 minutes ago, APRIL2023 said:

Ya I agree 100%.

 

When I was given 221g, I was told that a ds5535 will be sent to me but that never happened. I waited 3 weeks and took matters into my own hands and send in the anticipated information myself. I was only able to confirm receipt after multiple follow-up emails. 
 

I guess for anyone new here waiting for AP clearance, start looking for alternative route. WIT doesn’t sound like an effective solution anymore compared to a year ago. If you are given 221g with ds5535 requirement, you are in for a long long ride. I hope that I’m wrong but expect wait time to be at least 8+ months. 

Or be like us and asked for a CV and still waiting lol

 

I wonder if it even matters anymore what you're asked to give.. they just take forever for no reason

[Daft_Cat 136]

1 hour ago, ShawnK said:

What's super frustrating (good for them though, wouldn't wish this in anyone ) is you see other embassies starting to clear these 5535s efficiently.

 

I've recently seen posts from folks in Beruit and Ankara cleaning in 3-8 weeks. Even Islamabad.

 

I understand these  security clearances go to some other unknown agencies for processing, it just seems odd that for Canadians -who come from a country  which instantly  shares all police/security issues with the US... - would face such severe delays ? 

 

Saw a post from someone who was worried their spouse would be stuck in DS5535 because they lived in Turkey , close to Syria, but cleared in a few weeks? 

 

Yet Canadians, who mostly live in the thin habitable strip near the US border, are being heavily delayed?

 

I just really question what is going on?  Are our files just sitting there until someone picks them up, does a few clicks, "yeah he/she is good". 

 

If anyone had any sort of background security concerns, they would never be allowed to enter the US.

 

 

It's frustrating, but the reason for this is very likely the intent behind the DS-5535. In the countries you mentioned, the DS-5535 is probably being applied in a way that's consistent with its original intention - as a security check against individuals with certain flags in their profiles (whether you agree or disagree with the necessity of this additional layer of scrutiny likely comes down to your political views). 

In Canada, it's being used as a bottleneck to ease capacity constraints. The purpose is not to perform legitimate background checks triggered by specific criteria, but rather to punt a certain number of applicants down the road by removing processing timelines. At least this is the prevailing theory.

Edited January 16 by Daft_Cat

[dmitrych 14]

Is anyone here considering WoM but haven't started the process yet?

I talked to Goldstein today, apparently they're giving 10% discount to both me and the referred person if I refer someone to attend the initial free consultation. And apparently the discount doesn't disappear if one of us ends up not filing.

 

The bad news is that Goldstein has increased their fee to $6299 starting from January 1, so the discount just brings it back to a bit above what it used to be last year. I'll look at other lawyers too.

[anotheronewaiting 2]

17 minutes ago, dmitrych said:

Is anyone here considering WoM but haven't started the process yet?

I talked to Goldstein today, apparently they're giving 10% discount to both me and the referred person if I refer someone to attend the initial free consultation. And apparently the discount doesn't disappear if one of us ends up not filing.

 

The bad news is that Goldstein has increased their fee to $6299 starting from January 1, so the discount just brings it back to a bit above what it used to be last year. I'll look at other lawyers too.

We just filed with Goldstein before the fee change.. hoping we have some success, I figured we had nothing to lose even if the WOMs have had push back recently. Goldstein seems to have a method that works for them . I have a feeling the fee increase is due to the extensions they’ve been facing.. but I will update the timeline as we go. Our interview was August 15, 2023. So it’s been 5 months, and after our 4 month wait inquiry with the consulate they got back to us in 3 weeks with the same generic AP message… seems like we are getting nowhere without intervention.

[Ontarkie 13,980]

8 hours ago, Phil_K_IR1 said:

Or be like us and asked for a CV and still waiting lol

 

I wonder if it even matters anymore what you're asked to give.. they just take forever for no reason

Even before the DS-5535 issue started Montreal took 8 weeks to clear AP for missing or extra documents. You should be just about done. 

[Phil_K_IR1 83]

23 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

Even before the DS-5535 issue started Montreal took 8 weeks to clear AP for missing or extra documents. You should be just about done. 

I hope so... 🙏🏼

 

Just passed the 6 week point aha

[northface 18]

10 hours ago, ShawnK said:

What's super frustrating (good for them though, wouldn't wish this in anyone ) is you see other embassies starting to clear these 5535s efficiently.

 

I've recently seen posts from folks in Beruit and Ankara cleaning in 3-8 weeks. Even Islamabad.

 

I understand these  security clearances go to some other unknown agencies for processing, it just seems odd that for Canadians -who come from a country  which instantly  shares all police/security issues with the US... - would face such severe delays ? 

 

Saw a post from someone who was worried their spouse would be stuck in DS5535 because they lived in Turkey , close to Syria, but cleared in a few weeks? 

 

Yet Canadians, who mostly live in the thin habitable strip near the US border, are being heavily delayed?

 

I just really question what is going on?  Are our files just sitting there until someone picks them up, does a few clicks, "yeah he/she is good". 

 

If anyone had any sort of background security concerns, they would never be allowed to enter the US.

 

 

 

https://foia.state.gov/

might check the above web site , search record with MTL, keyword. and get the answers

[AP_since_May2023 37]

12 hours ago, ShawnK said:

What's super frustrating (good for them though, wouldn't wish this in anyone ) is you see other embassies starting to clear these 5535s efficiently.

 

I've recently seen posts from folks in Beruit and Ankara cleaning in 3-8 weeks. Even Islamabad.

 

I understand these  security clearances go to some other unknown agencies for processing, it just seems odd that for Canadians -who come from a country  which instantly  shares all police/security issues with the US... - would face such severe delays ? 

 

Saw a post from someone who was worried their spouse would be stuck in DS5535 because they lived in Turkey , close to Syria, but cleared in a few weeks? 

 

Yet Canadians, who mostly live in the thin habitable strip near the US border, are being heavily delayed?

 

I just really question what is going on?  Are our files just sitting there until someone picks them up, does a few clicks, "yeah he/she is good". 

 

If anyone had any sort of background security concerns, they would never be allowed to enter the US.

 

 

 

My understanding of DS-5535 is that all of them go through the same line, regardless of the consulate. Those that cleared sooner, must not have been under the same SAO.

[ShawnK 76]

14 hours ago, northface said:

 

https://foia.state.gov/

might check the above web site , search record with MTL, keyword. and get the answers

Wow, seems they see Montreal as a shady  place.

 

 

Edited January 17 by ShawnK

[ShawnK 76]

19 hours ago, dmitrych said:

Is anyone here considering WoM but haven't started the process yet?

I talked to Goldstein today, apparently they're giving 10% discount to both me and the referred person if I refer someone to attend the initial free consultation. And apparently the discount doesn't disappear if one of us ends up not filing.

 

The bad news is that Goldstein has increased their fee to $6299 starting from January 1, so the discount just brings it back to a bit above what it used to be last year. I'll look at other lawyers too.

What exactly is their method? I'm curious what they said regarding MTD.

 

Basically, you can respond to a MTD, government responds back...then you wait for the judge, and the judge can take as long as he/she wants. 

 

 

[ShawnK 76]

19 hours ago, dmitrych said:

Is anyone here considering WoM but haven't started the process yet?

I talked to Goldstein today, apparently they're giving 10% discount to both me and the referred person if I refer someone to attend the initial free consultation. And apparently the discount doesn't disappear if one of us ends up not filing.

 

The bad news is that Goldstein has increased their fee to $6299 starting from January 1, so the discount just brings it back to a bit above what it used to be last year. I'll look at other lawyers too.

 

On 1/16/2024 at 12:28 PM, APRIL2023 said:

Ya I agree 100%.

 

When I was given 221g, I was told that a ds5535 will be sent to me but that never happened. I waited 3 weeks and took matters into my own hands and send in the anticipated information myself. I was only able to confirm receipt after multiple follow-up emails. 
 

I guess for anyone new here waiting for AP clearance, start looking for alternative route. WIT doesn’t sound like an effective solution anymore compared to a year ago. If you are given 221g with ds5535 requirement, you are in for a long long ride. I hope that I’m wrong but expect wait time to be at least 8+ months. 

Seems now creeping up to 12+ months.

 

There seems to be no relief.