BatmanFlow

I so agree they are toying with people's lives. I'm all for vetting people, and doing background checks. But this is too much. How much are you going to accomplish by so deeply vetting someone who can cross the border so easily with their Canadian passport without ever applying for immigration?
 
If someone with a Canadian passport had nefarious intentions, I highly doubt they'd go through the long and arduous process of finding a US citizen spouse just so they can apply for immigration and enter the US to carry out whatever evil plans they had.
 
Wouldn't they be able to do the same just by "visiting" the US? It's laughable that you'd allow these evil Canadians to cross the border without a visa or a background check for a visit, but god forbid they want to marry someone from the States they'll get treated as if the immigration is some unique treasure they are after to escape their third-world problems in Canada or to carry out some evil intentions.
 
It is beyond me what immigration is hoping to accomplish by putting people (who can otherwise cross the border so easily) in AP after they have already gone through background checks and provided police certificates. The only thing they're doing is keeping families from reuniting, and causing unnecessary financial and emotional hardship.  

cant even imagine the anguish you are going through. staying away from your spouse for that long, pretty much putting your life on hold. These people are literally toying with people's lives here.
i really hope movement in your case this coming month

cant even imagine the anguish you are going through. staying away from your spouse for that long, pretty much putting your life on hold. These people are literally toying with people's lives here.
i really hope movement in your case this coming month

cant even imagine the anguish you are going through. staying away from your spouse for that long, pretty much putting your life on hold. These people are literally toying with people's lives here.
i really hope movement in your case this coming month

cant even imagine the anguish you are going through. staying away from your spouse for that long, pretty much putting your life on hold. These people are literally toying with people's lives here.
i really hope movement in your case this coming month

I feel cheated at this point, I am like the longest-serving member of this thread, and no sign yet that anything is changing for me, even after the expense of filing the suit. 
 
Best case scenario, it looks like I will spend *at least* several more months in limbo, after 3.5 years of process already. Ladies and gentlemen and whoever else, I am tired and getting low on money at this point.. I hope none of you will have such an embittering, absurd situation with this process as I have had, I would be reluctant to wish this on my worst enemy.

I got an email with the subject line "U.S. DoS Visa system return travel document shipment notice" from donotreply@usvisa-info.com . In the body of the email, it had the Purolator tracking number. I did select to have it delivered to my home address.
 
As far as I'm aware, CEAC switched to Issued on the same day I got that email.

i am pretty sure your lawyer has zero idea how long this will take. every case is unique and lawyers cant really change that timeline unless you file a WOM and even then the government can ask for extensions, motion to dismiss, etc.
pretty sure asking for passport also has zero bearing on delays. we have people who have asked for passport back and got their cases processed before people who didnt ask their to be returned.
 
this process is pretty "your mileage may vary". Some are done within 60 days or less, and some cant see an end to this madness

My case date was updated today. But I think this is an inquiry update my congressperson sent on Friday. 
let’s see if this makes them review case and take next steps or if they send a generic response to congressperson. 
 
really hoping for a thanksgiving miracle here! Would be so nice to get an issued before Thursday 

I got tracking information yesterday saying my visa is on its way!

October 4, 2021: Interview. Informed we would get questions by email.
October 10th, 2021: DS5535 Submitted
December 2021 - May 2022: Multiple emails exchanged with consulate saying we were still in administrative processing
March 2022: Congresswoman's office give us a lot of false information and then ghosts us a lot. We also mailed our senator and they never got back to us.
June 2022: Started Lawsuit Process with Goldstein
July 14, 2022: Lawsuit filed
Aug 4, 2022: Lawsuit served
Sept 19, 2022: Motion filed to dismiss lawsuit
Early October: Goldstein submitted counterargument
November 16, 2022: CEAC updated to Approved
Nov 18, 2022: CEAC now Issued, tracking received
 
I would not really recommend filing with Goldstein. We never spoke directly with a lawyer. Our questions were mostly ignored by email or answered incorrectly ("we don't know" would have been a better and acceptable answer tbh). We had to fill in many forms stating what hardship we've been through which took ages. 
 
I'm glad we're almost at the other side. I wish the best of luck to all of you!

umm they dont care. my step dad got his visa. my mom was given DS 5535. my step dad had to immigrate to USA since his visa was expiring March 2022. My mom stayed back alone and is still there without a visa.
so yes, as others have mentioned, you could be separated and DS 5535 processing times are all over the place right now.

umm they dont care. my step dad got his visa. my mom was given DS 5535. my step dad had to immigrate to USA since his visa was expiring March 2022. My mom stayed back alone and is still there without a visa.
so yes, as others have mentioned, you could be separated and DS 5535 processing times are all over the place right now.

umm they dont care. my step dad got his visa. my mom was given DS 5535. my step dad had to immigrate to USA since his visa was expiring March 2022. My mom stayed back alone and is still there without a visa.
so yes, as others have mentioned, you could be separated and DS 5535 processing times are all over the place right now.

Oh wow that’s a really fast turnaround time, compared to what I’ve noticed overall once people send additional documents. 
 
they got my moms stuff November 10. Hopefully it’s not a long wait 

My visa now said ISSUED on Nov. 16! I cannot believe it! I first submitted my I-130 Jan 2020 and it was sent to NVC September 2020. My interview was November 2021 and I was issued the dreaded DS5535 and they requested a resume. After exactly a year and some odd days, I finally received an issued status. Some of you might be aware that my last update was Jan. 7, 2022 but in October I sent and email. In the email I explained that I received no updates for more than 10 months and I wanted to raise attention to my case and asked for a just and fair review. This worked for me because soon after, I started receiving 5 new updates and two weeks ago they requested a new medical, passport photos and my passport and I didn't go through with WoM. 
 
I completely understand the hopelessness you all feel in this process and I wish you all the best, especially @ice-qube and @BatmanFlow although your mom is also nearing the end of this process too! 

sorry about your DS 5535
 
it was funny when they asked my 63 year old mom for her social media lol. Umm i barely taught her how to use facetime to call me lol

WOW, i cant believe the email i got....TO SEND THEM Medical, police check, etc so they can continue processing my moms visa!
 
On August 18, 2022 i had a one on one chat with my congressman. At that time he just listened to me and said what he can do is write a letter to embassy asking what is holding my moms case up. Since then i didnt get update on the letter. whenever i would email the case manager for the congressman, i would get the run around about DC staff working on it etc. i gave up hope on the letter.
 
Then last week of September my moms last date updated changed. I thought this was maybe then getting the congressman's letter. Then it updated twice again in first week of october. I didnt really want to get my hopes high. Then radio silent for 29 days.
last week i asked the case worker about the letter and they had NOT sent it yet. But she said she would do it last week.
 
Today i emailed her in the morning for a follow up on the letter. she didnt respond.
 
at 1:45 PM i checked CEAC status and it changed the date to today. I thought maybe the case worker followed up? I check my email and I got this email!!!!!
 
Good afternoon,
To continue processing your immigrant visa please submit the following:
- A new medical from our Panel physician (please bring a copy of this email to your medical appointment)
- Update your DS-260 application form (CEAC.STATE.GOV) submit a copy of your bar-coded confirmation page
- Your valid passport
- A new Canadian Certified Criminal Record check with fingerprints (Type: For personal use: “Other” search within the RCMP - National Repository Entire Holdings
- 2 recent passport size photos
- I-1864 with 2021 Income taxes from Petitioner
Once received we will be able to finalize processing.
Best regards,
OP29
 
i literally could not believe my eyes! I am so happy.
 
long list of things they want. Not sure what they want updated in DS 260.
I had my sister get the criminal check two weeks ago just because, so we save some time there.
 
ah man this feels unreal.

All the requested documents for my mom was delivered today to the embassy return address. 
 
 Now the waiting game continues again 

Tuesday morning as well. What a coincidence since you and my mom also interviewed on the same day (10/4)
 
think positive! everything will go great and visa will be issued asap!

Nice! Same here. Hopefully this wait isn’t too long 

Thank you! I totally forgot about the tracking number they gave me. They said I'd get an email when it arrived so I was focused on that. (I have gotten no such email).
I checked the tracking number and it says it was delivered Nov 10th!
Our case timelines are eerily similar. I did do a WOM though. I'm still sooo happy for your mum. Even if it takes them a while to process the final steps, at least we both know it's moving!

case updated today. i assume this is likely for the medical they received online.

we did my moms medical yesterday at Dr Lyndon
and today my sister mailed out the passport, updated police cert, updated DS 260 bar code page, passport pics, and updated I864 affidavit of support form along with 2021 tax transcript. they asked a lot of stuff!
 
now its waiting time for them to get all this and process it. hopefully not too long of a wait
 
no WOM

we did my moms medical yesterday at Dr Lyndon
and today my sister mailed out the passport, updated police cert, updated DS 260 bar code page, passport pics, and updated I864 affidavit of support form along with 2021 tax transcript. they asked a lot of stuff!
 
now its waiting time for them to get all this and process it. hopefully not too long of a wait
 
no WOM

WOW, i cant believe the email i got....TO SEND THEM Medical, police check, etc so they can continue processing my moms visa!
 
On August 18, 2022 i had a one on one chat with my congressman. At that time he just listened to me and said what he can do is write a letter to embassy asking what is holding my moms case up. Since then i didnt get update on the letter. whenever i would email the case manager for the congressman, i would get the run around about DC staff working on it etc. i gave up hope on the letter.
 
Then last week of September my moms last date updated changed. I thought this was maybe then getting the congressman's letter. Then it updated twice again in first week of october. I didnt really want to get my hopes high. Then radio silent for 29 days.
last week i asked the case worker about the letter and they had NOT sent it yet. But she said she would do it last week.
 
Today i emailed her in the morning for a follow up on the letter. she didnt respond.
 
at 1:45 PM i checked CEAC status and it changed the date to today. I thought maybe the case worker followed up? I check my email and I got this email!!!!!
 
Good afternoon,
To continue processing your immigrant visa please submit the following:
- A new medical from our Panel physician (please bring a copy of this email to your medical appointment)
- Update your DS-260 application form (CEAC.STATE.GOV) submit a copy of your bar-coded confirmation page
- Your valid passport
- A new Canadian Certified Criminal Record check with fingerprints (Type: For personal use: “Other” search within the RCMP - National Repository Entire Holdings
- 2 recent passport size photos
- I-1864 with 2021 Income taxes from Petitioner
Once received we will be able to finalize processing.
Best regards,
OP29
 
i literally could not believe my eyes! I am so happy.
 
long list of things they want. Not sure what they want updated in DS 260.
I had my sister get the criminal check two weeks ago just because, so we save some time there.
 
ah man this feels unreal.