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

[LYV 42]

10 hours ago, APRIL2023 said:

How many of us have filed their application via attorney? I'd always wonder if have legal representation would prevent DS5535. For those who were represented, what strategies did the lawyers use to expedite the process, if any?

 

Yes, I think DS5535 is random, but I am also convinced that being from the "special" countries listed will increase the chance of you being selected for it. The CO's expression literally changed when he asked my country of origin and my age when I immigrated to Canada (<10yo). I'll be curious to know data on 221g/DS5535 in relation to country of changeability. 

We could add country of birth to the tracking sheet but some might not be comfortable with that. It would give more information though. 

[Superluminal 79]

26 minutes ago, LYV said:

We could add country of birth to the tracking sheet but some might not be comfortable with that. It would give more information though. 

I would vote against this. Perhaps I'm biased being from a pretty vanilla British / Irish ancestry background, but I feel like it is a bit of a red herring. It seems there is no way to know for sure the reason any individual ended up in AP at the Montreal Consulate. It seems relatively well known that travel history, education, name commonality, previous citizenship seems to be linked to an increased chance of AP, but the fact anybody can get AP (including apparently 6 month old baby), there is always the chance that you got unlucky. I think we even struggle to differentiate DS-5535 vs missing documents vs resume requests in our tracker, which I am pretty sure are all different categories of 221(g).

[cala2023 11]

1 hour ago, Blue473 said:

Just wondering if the following response from the consulate, which is an email thread where my husband sent a strongly worded request on a timeline for where in the que my case is, means they're doing more than just confirming my medical results. 

 

As a background, I interviewed on December 18th 2023 and the medical results got there the day after on December 19th(from TELUS in Montreal). The CO kept my passport. They've been responding with the usual "your case is pending review from a CO", but this one was a bit different. I've only gotten a 221g showing that my medical results were missing.

 

 

Thank you for your inquiry.

 

While we cannot predict when the processing of your visa will be completed, please be assured that the Consulate and the Department of State are aware of your concerns and will contact you as soon as the processing is complete.

  

We realize that these extended time periods cause frustration to many individuals, and we are sensitive to the fact that the purpose of the immigrant visa program is to facilitate legitimate travel to the U.S.  Nonetheless, the Consulate in Montreal, like all U.S. Embassies and Consulates, must adjudicate visas in accordance with the provisions of the law, and, in some cases, this involves extensive consular review and administrative processing. 

 

Thank you for your patience and cooperation

This is the same copy and paste reply the consulate always sends as a reply to any inquiry.

[Blue473 4]

1 hour ago, SGtoMurica said:

 

Did they ask for CV or DS-5535? I too had an issue with my medical report being delayed, and my 221g included only my medical.

 

But subsequently I received an email telling me that my case was placed in AP, and to send them my CV.

Nope, no request for my CV and no mention of being in AP. I guess I just assumed it would have been resolved by now, since it's been over 6 weeks since they got my medical results and they kept my passport.

Edited January 30 by Blue473

[Blue473 4]

27 minutes ago, cala2023 said:

This is the same copy and paste reply the consulate always sends as a reply to any inquiry.

Oh, I see. So, it's either one of a few options you get as a reply. That's super annoying! 

[Ontarkie 13,979]

~~All posts with a telegraph link have been removed. Please do not post outside links as they are a privacy and security risk that breaches the TOS of VJ.~~

Edited January 30 by Ontarkie

[saied 11]

I am probably going to get a lot of hate for this but the reason is pretty clear why we are all on AP. Everyone knows that this is an election year and there are certain forces behind the US government who are pulling some stuff to make changes. This is why you are seeing so many issues with the border(this has been happening for years so why focus on it now?).

I guess in a year we will all comeback to this  forum and realize maybe we were lucky to get AP. I hope not but time will tell for sure.

[MRJ9987 31]

10 minutes ago, saied said:

I am probably going to get a lot of hate for this but the reason is pretty clear why we are all on AP. Everyone knows that this is an election year and there are certain forces behind the US government who are pulling some stuff to make changes. This is why you are seeing so many issues with the border(this has been happening for years so why focus on it now?).

I guess in a year we will all comeback to this  forum and realize maybe we were lucky to get AP. I hope not but time will tell for sure.

Sorry, what do you mean we will be lucky to get AP?  

[Canucklehead 58]

2 hours ago, SGtoMurica said:

 

Seems like the dual citizenship theory is gaining support.

I am also dual citizenship and was placed in AQ.

[Cadtoverm 1]

We’re you guys explicitly given ds5535 status? I was given an online form to fill out and asked to mail in my passport as soon as I filled it out. The online form asked questions similar to a ds5535 form, but no where was this ds5535 status explicitly told to me. Just a check mark for 221g and he just said he needed some more information about my travel and work history.

 

I am applying spousal IV, Canadian, good medical, good finances, already own home in the USA, marriage to American, transferring to an American employer.

 

I am seeing crazy wait times here, but the agent told me it should only be a few weeks. Any one have a similar experience as me? Am I in for a long haul?

 

 

[Canucklehead 58]

15 minutes ago, Cadtoverm said:

We’re you guys explicitly given ds5535 status? I was given an online form to fill out and asked to mail in my passport as soon as I filled it out. The online form asked questions similar to a ds5535 form, but no where was this ds5535 status explicitly told to me. Just a check mark for 221g and he just said he needed some more information about my travel and work history.

 

I am applying spousal IV, Canadian, good medical, good finances, already own home in the USA, marriage to American, transferring to an American employer.

 

I am seeing crazy wait times here, but the agent told me it should only be a few weeks. Any one have a similar experience as me? Am I in for a long haul?

 

 

I can't speak for certain, but my CO basically made it out that I was good to go before he AQ'd me. Then made it seem like it was no big deal. Obviously that was just lip service in my experience.

 

Hopefully yours is telling the truth.

Edited January 30 by Canucklehead

[Leo The Great 90]

18 minutes ago, Cadtoverm said:

We’re you guys explicitly given ds5535 status? I was given an online form to fill out and asked to mail in my passport as soon as I filled it out. The online form asked questions similar to a ds5535 form, but no where was this ds5535 status explicitly told to me. Just a check mark for 221g and he just said he needed some more information about my travel and work history.

 

I am applying spousal IV, Canadian, good medical, good finances, already own home in the USA, marriage to American, transferring to an American employer.

 

I am seeing crazy wait times here, but the agent told me it should only be a few weeks. Any one have a similar experience as me? Am I in for a long haul?

 

 

if you were given a link to "U.S. Department of State Supplemental Questions for Visa Applicants Montreal" asking for 15 years travel history, 15 years employment history, addresses etc. then it is online version of DS-5535 form introduced in the last year (July onward i guess). Passport is normally mail to consulate once you are cleared from AP (DS-5535).

Edited January 30 by Leo The Great

[MAN2023 30]

18 hours ago, MRJ9987 said:

I have a question - maybe there is a better place to ask this?  What if i got the US branch of my company to sponsor me under L1?  Would that help? or would that visa also get denied because of pending DS-5535?  

While I was in AP, I was fortunate to secure an H1B through employer so I could still start my job on time. No issues obtaining it. 

[Daft_Cat 136]

1 hour ago, Cadtoverm said:

We’re you guys explicitly given ds5535 status? I was given an online form to fill out and asked to mail in my passport as soon as I filled it out. The online form asked questions similar to a ds5535 form, but no where was this ds5535 status explicitly told to me. Just a check mark for 221g and he just said he needed some more information about my travel and work history.

 

I am applying spousal IV, Canadian, good medical, good finances, already own home in the USA, marriage to American, transferring to an American employer.

 

I am seeing crazy wait times here, but the agent told me it should only be a few weeks. Any one have a similar experience as me? Am I in for a long haul?

 

 

Your case sounds identical to mine and I’ve been waiting a year. I was sent questions by email that lined up 1:1 with the DS-5535, but was never given a form labeled DS-5535.

 

Consulate officer also told me it “hopefully” wouldn’t take too long.

 

Edit: I wasn’t asked to mail my passport after submitting though, so maybe you’ll be processed quicker.

Edited January 30 by Daft_Cat

[Cadtoverm 1]

1 hour ago, Daft_Cat said:

Your case sounds identical to mine and I’ve been waiting a year. I was sent questions by email that lined up 1:1 with the DS-5535, but was never given a form labeled DS-5535.

 

Consulate officer also told me it “hopefully” wouldn’t take too long.

 

Edit: I wasn’t asked to mail my passport after submitting though, so maybe you’ll be processed quicker.

Has anyone cleared this in a reasonable amount of time? My pregnant wife is due in a month   and we were expecting to move into our home.

 

 Any stories of someone who filled out the form and got their visa?