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

[LAMA9 118]

3 minutes ago, ThisIsHell said:

Hi folks, just wanted to give an update

 

Interview 08/04, given DS-5535. No apparent reason, Canadian born without a history of international travel. Working in the finance sector for reputable employers. My wife (the petitioner) suspected it might be because she has an online presence as a conservative/republican, but who knows. I also suspect it might be because I've done a few back and forth to visit my wife in the U.S. over the last year. Could also be just random. 

 

On 08/04 and 08/05, my wife and I contacted the consulate. We reminded them that earlier this year, the consulate had approved our expedited interview request as my wife has a life-threatening condition. We sent the doctor's note again and waited. On 08/05, the consulate acknowledged the receipt of the DS 5535, but did not say anything else. 

 

Early last week, we sent a few physical letters in the mail specifically addressed to higher-ups in the consulate, and their IV processing division. The case updated on 08/05, 08/08 and 08/09 but still said refused.

 

On 08/10, the status updated to issued, and I received a tracking number that very day. On 08/11, I received my passport with the approved visa in it. 

 

All in all, we don't know whether it was our emails or our physical letters that generated a movement in our case, but we feel very blessed. We were in AP for 6 days which appears to be an anomaly, likely because of the petitioner's life-threatening condition. 

 

Our thoughts are with those that are still stuck in AP for no apparent reason. There's some case law arguing that family separation is a form of irreparable harm. I suggest perhaps trying to get in touch with the consulate's higher-ups and making a case for your current situation. Not sure if that's what helped us but it's worth a shot. 

Such wonderful news @ThisIsHell.  I am so happy for both of you.  

[ThisIsHell 15]

14 minutes ago, addpeace said:

Do you happen to have the information still of the higher ups that you contacted? 
 

Congratulations by the way I was sending positive thoughts your way as soon as I read your first post. 

We looked at the lawsuits that were filed against the Montreal consulate, and we contacted the parties that were sued as we believed they had some decisional power. This included the consul general and chief of mission. 

[ohmygod 60]

1 hour ago, LAMA9 said:

That's amazing news @ohmygod!  You should likely wait until they request it back.  Did you end up filing a WOM?  If not, this could be good news for October DS-5535s @ice-qube!

Fingers crossed. Just requested for passport and next day got request for medical and police clearance along with courier instructions. So we thought of sending passports along with those documents. 

[HopefulMgee 0]

So from what I’ve observed since 2021, it takes a MINIMUM of 10 months to see any form of movement on cases hit with DS 5535. And case status updates can occur during this time, but are meaningless. 

[roshakky 13]

7 hours ago, ThisIsHell said:

We looked at the lawsuits that were filed against the Montreal consulate, and we contacted the parties that were sued as we believed they had some decisional power. This included the consul general and chief of mission. 

Do you have specific email addresses and addresses you contacted? I am unable to find this information 

[Siarg 72]

This link has names - Ana Escrogima is the consul general for Montreal, David Cohen is the US ambassador to Canada. Maybe they mailed it to the consulate?

[throwitaway 189]

2 hours ago, HopefulMgee said:

So from what I’ve observed since 2021, it takes a MINIMUM of 10 months to see any form of movement on cases hit with DS 5535. And case status updates can occur during this time, but are meaningless. 

No. It can definitely take that long, but 10 months is absolutely not the minimum.

[HopefulMgee 0]

Yea there’s people here who had interviews in October seeing movement now, which makes 10 months the AVERAGE minimum…lol unless someone can inform otherwise.

Edited August 12, 2022 by HopefulMgee

[HopefulMgee 0]

@Throwitaway1988 I haven’t heard of any approvals within this thread of cases hit with DS5535 since March without a WOM. We are just hearing about those interviewed in October seeing movement now… so that’s 10 months based on what I’ve read since the beginning of this year.  
 

Anyone hit with DS5535 that has observed movement and was processed less than 10 months please let us know. Thanks 😊 

[BatmanFlow 481]

yea i dont think anyone here has had any movement from the October group without filling WOM.

[ThisIsHell 15]

19 hours ago, Siarg said:

This link has names - Ana Escrogima is the consul general for Montreal, David Cohen is the US ambassador to Canada. Maybe they mailed it to the consulate?

Correct, we emailed the general montreal-IV address and we mailed the physical letters to the mailing address listed on the consulate's website while addressing them specifically to some of the names on that list. 

[Fna786 9]

It will be 3 months end of this month that we mailed my husband's passport,  updated forms, medical,  police reports etc (everything they asked us to mail them by mail) and our case is still in AP/refused. I see the Last updated date updated once a week but status doesn't change.

 

We have been waiting for so long in our entire process that I even lost my mom in January (my co-sponsor) since I don't work in US.  Now my brother is my co-sponsor.

 

I just don't understand why it's taking so long...I'm really hoping we can move back to the US before the Canadian winter begins 

[BatmanFlow 481]

i have a meeting with my congressperson on thursday. lets see how it goes. i will give him all the information i have and bring up whats ive noticed lately in terms of DS 5535. Not hopeful in how this will help, but worth a shot and i will try to ask for answers from him.

[ice-qube 648]

5 hours ago, BatmanFlow said:

i have a meeting with my congressperson on thursday. lets see how it goes. i will give him all the information i have and bring up whats ive noticed lately in terms of DS 5535. Not hopeful in how this will help, but worth a shot and i will try to ask for answers from him.

Good luck. I am still here stuck in AP hell. Coming close to 300 days with not enough spare cash laying around yet to file WOM. I am so frustrated.

[Ap 5535 2]

To be honest with you i feel like front desk lady just made up excuse . She was not to sure about hep b . As she was going through my previous file she seems confuse. Dr was not there i feel like she want it to doctor first and then proceed ahead. I will call them again in afternoon to find status on it. Its just so painful procedure to do all over again. Where as i feel this should have been done in first time. After getting served it took them magically 10 days to clear all background checks & working on file. So what it tells me they just do this on purpose. Yes it is an expensive way to get what you deserve.