NykahDeah

8 hours ago, ice-qube said:

May your stay in this purgatory be short.

 

Today was 300 days since submitting my DS-5535 and 303 days in AP. 

I know you were looking to do the WoM on your own.. found a post on Reddit that might be helpful for asking questions so thought I’d share:

Good luck. 

On 7/16/2022 at 10:59 PM, ice-qube said:

Ah i see. I am behind on it. My head is swimming. Trying to figure out if there is a way I can do it.

This might be some useful information if you want to know more about what is required:

Also came for some good news but I am  sorry you guys are still in AP hell. 
 

Praying for you guys to see some positive soon.

13 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

That’s what you see printed on the stamp you see on your passport right? 
 

That basically means you got a waiver because certain vaccines were found to be  not suitable/ required for you. It’s very common and maybe even everyone gets it. I got it too, and I even had the varicella shot.

 

Not exactly sure what triggers it. I think it may be that you don’t need certain vaccines as an adult and get a waiver? I doubt it is the mixing of vaccines as people commonly got this even before the COVID vaccine became mandatory…

 

In any case, it has no bearing on your entry or anything…

Yes. Did find it had no bearing on entry but maybe they are checking stuff more diligently??? The Covid one is a new mandate. 
 

So I don't know if this matters but I did get a 212(g)(2)(B), waiver from ineligibility due to missing vaccines (I have a feeling it was due to mixed doses of Covid Vax that Canada has been doing since I wasn't missing anything else) on my VISA. Not sure if that would warrant additional processing / time to complete but thought I'd share.

16 hours ago, Hamlet said:

Issued!!!!!!!!

Congratz!

I got tracking today!! Anyone else get good news?? Please say yes. 
 

13 hours ago, cdndesro said:

Great news for all who are finally getting movement on their cases - I hope this is the beginning of a trend!  Hope you move quickly to to final processing with the tracking number following close behind.  I received my passport back today and hope every else gets theirs soon!

Congratulations! 
 

Can you share the timeline between issued AP, final processing and tracking number??

Thanks!

7 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

 

 

 

 

@NykahDeah@DS5535 @DrJanko10
 

If you guys remember, when was your last update before the visa was issued today? 

Jan 20

2 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

thats awesome news! Congrats!!!

 

so for them to review your medical it took about 58 days?

Medical was received by consulate on Dec 9th, so just over 6 weeks.

40 minutes ago, Danii said:

Hey everyone, I mentioned a few weeks ago that I would put together a FAQ. I copied the first few sections from the general Montreal thread and then added a bunch that are specific to DS-5535/AP. I'm not 100% finished but thought it would be helpful for newcomers anyways. If there are any Q/A you would like to add, please message me!! Also, does someone want to try answering the first DS question? 🤣 I was having a hard time figuring out how to word all of our theories into one paragraph. 

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ugWHNDQxlNW3VL2FIqpDvD9tQYqFVb-yvhwFBKKWSwI/edit?usp=sharing

This is great!

I would add a section for AP without the DS-5535 just so people don't panic, I for-sure thought I was going crazy cause I didn't get a DS-5535.

Cause I never got the DS but I did get a 221g.

Great work!

My attempt at Q1 of the DS 5535:

This happens when the CO has additional processing, questions or checks to perform or your case is missing information required under law for them to adjudicate your case during interview. This is not a denial of a visa, this is called Administrative Processing.

Administrative processing includes clearance checks, investigation of documents provided or missing documents such as medical or originals of the documents listed in the interview checklist. 

(Did I miss any??)

41 minutes ago, Tony Nikolovski said:

Is anyone here trying to immigrate to Florida? If so, which Representative/Congressman/Senator did you contact? Which one takes in cases immediately? Which ones take you within 30 days or so (I'm on day 46)? I'm asking because I'm trying to immigrate to Pasco County and their Congressman does not help. Which other ones within Florida help the quickest? Most of them we've tried don't assist you if you're not within their County. My wife is from Miami, but even Miami-Dade haven't responded as she now lives in Tampa. Thanks in advance!

You could try this site: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FindYourRepresentative 

For me there were at least 4 people who could potentially help..

Good luck.

On 1/21/2022 at 8:03 PM, CAN_PA said:

Hi there! I did receive my visa. My medical was delayed but was received by the consulate a few days after my interview. It took them over 7 weeks to finally issue my visa (even though there had been "case updates" on one or two occasions) and that was only because I had contacted our State representative. I think if you're waiting over 4-6 weeks it wouldn't hurt to contact your State Rep/Senator etc. to inquire on your behalf. I waited quite a while before contacting State Reps to ensure I had a good argument, but some people have had successful results contacting them after 4 weeks.

 

Three days after contacting my State Rep, I was issued my Visa. She even called a few days later asking whether we made it through alright (across the border). She was spectacular! I would advise writing a formal letter. I know it's tough times as we're all coming from an exhausted and frustrated place waiting around to be with loved ones/or begin new lives but I would be cautious NOT to sound like a whino (haha). I had to edit/re-edit my letter several times before I was ready to submit my inquiry so as to compel them to help. Reading from other posts made me believe we only had one shot, otherwise you get shut down with generic responses and then stuck in the back of the line waiting for who knows how long. It truly sucks.

 

As for medical results, you can contact the medical office and ask how long it'll be when they send it over. They'll likely send an email of the Medical report to you at the same time as when they send it to the Consulate. Best of luck!

Hey, State Rep, for your intended area? Did you contact them or did your husband? I tried a congressman but that didn't get me anywhere, if I don't hear by end of week I'll attempt the state rep for my intended address.. Any tips other than avoid being whiney?

Thanks!

10 hours ago, Rosinasaur said:

When my case changed from "Immigrant Visa" to "Non-immigrant Visa", many people told me I was on the home stretch. It's been 2 more weeks so I guess it wasn't meant to be. I'm back waiting just like I was before.

 

To cope, I have made this chart using the Google Sheet just to illustrate how messed up their approval process is... From this you can really see how cursed those mid-November interviews were. Gosh.

It's really a black hole, for the 36 of us on this sheet, how many aren't? They don't release these numbers, but they are quick to release how many they've approved. How many are sitting in AP for how long?

34 minutes ago, BatmanFlow said:

My stepdad was delayed for medical. He was actually approved and only delayed cause medical wasn’t received. The officer said you’re approved and needed medical. 
so there’s no other AP or checks for him aside from them reviewing the medical. It’s literally the medical 

My CO said the same thing. She basically said if I had medical I would have been approved. I interviewed at the same time as my daughter but because of system errors my medical couldn't be taken at the same time as hers, therefore was late (they gave me the interview letter with less than 5 business days before interview.)

Her Visa will expire before I get mine if this keeps up, lol.

5 hours ago, DamAk said:

Just had my interview. It was at 7:45am, I got there at 7:30 and waited in the line outside till about 7:50-7:55. Overall, I was there for 2.5 hours.

Once upstairs, I was called to the first window where they asked for my passport, marriage certificate, police certificate and birth certificate. The lady confirmed some general information for both me and my husband (name, date of birth, Canadian/US address and phone #s). She then asked about my name change since I applied with my maiden name at the NVC stage (using my old passport), but had gotten a new one in my married name in the meantime, so I showed her both passports. She asked if I had any documents to prove the legal name change, I told her I didn't have any document like that since I didn't go to a court to get the name changed, instead just assumed my husband's last name. I went to Service Ontario to get the name changed on my driver's license and health card initially, which were then used for the name change on my passport. (If you have a similar situation to mine, I would recommend taking any documents you get from Service Ontario). I don't know if she was satisfied with my answer but didn't press on about it any further. She also asked me about my mom's last name, I told her both my mom's maiden and married last name, and she that began using her married name by the time I was born. She asked for any documents that mentioned her last name because it was not written on my birth certificate (Indian BC). Thankfully, I had my "school leaving record" from my elementary school in India which had both my parent's full names. After that, she asked for a copy of my husband's passport/birth certificate and the Form 1040 and W2 for 2020. At the end, she told me they haven't received the medical reports yet so it's very likely I won't get approved until they get it. Gave me a pamphlet for domestic abuse and told me to wait until I get called to the second window. 

 

At the second window, the lady asked me about my husband (I told her his name and date of birth), how we met, how long I was in the states for during my studies, what I studied, what field I want to go into, which states I had in mind once I got accepted in my field (I was in med school so these were specific questions based around my education/career). She then proceeded to ask when I came to Canada, how old I was, what my husband does, any children, previous divorces, some more straightforward yes/no questions. Then came to my medical, and basically said the same thing as the first lady. She gave me the 221(g) form and told me everything else was pretty straightforward but didn't mention if I was going to be approved or not, depends on my medical reports. They kept my documents and passport and was told after the medical, it'll take around 2-3 weeks to process everything. 

 

Pretty bummed out, since I was not expecting this long of a turnaround time for medical results. So I came back and called Dr. Zakzman's office to see if there are any updates and apparently this week, they were receiving the results from the tests that were done during the last week of December. Anyone else that was/is sitting in "refused" status due to a pending medical, please keep us updated.

Also had delayed Medical.. Interview was Nov 29, Medical arrived 1.5 weeks after interview, still waiting for approval. There are quite a few, and now more and more with this new wave, that have been delayed due to medical. Unfortunately I was also told it would be no more than 4-5 weeks (since they factored in the holiday season) and it's been much longer.

Good luck and don't give up.

2 minutes ago, DamAk said:

That's honestly alarming. By any chance, have you tried to contact your state rep? I've read some people get approved few days later when they did this. Hopefully things will start looking up for you soon! Sending out all the best wishes.

Did that as well. Congressman reached out to consulate, and they got the same generic reply I got from them.

Still standing by.

@Danii has a spreadsheet going: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1L8T4Yp7oWm0imRrEOEES_28QicBY1DsKKvMmEGMVPd4/edit#gid=0

1 hour ago, CAN_PA said:

Hi! I did! I picked it up a day after receiving the tracking number.

Ok phew, I didn't see you mention it anywhere and I was thinking you were still waiting, like a whole new AP nightmare.. lol.

@CAN_PA Did you get your passport?

2 hours ago, ice-qube said:

84 DAYS AND... nada. 

Well I have a case update today… but still refused. 😭

19 minutes ago, DS5535 said:

Has @Aram private messaged any of you? I find it weird hes a member since 2017, theres chats of him in the k1 visa threads in the past and now he's got a DS5535 asking me about my updates.

 

Anyone else?

Nothing in my inbox. However with your user name they thought you were the expert? 
 

1 minute ago, Hamlet said:

I just got another email from the consulate asking me to send in my passport again!!!! These guys are a joke. 

Hey, at least they are communicating with you! But let's hope someone acknowledges receipt soon so they don't keep asking.

1 minute ago, Hamlet said:

I’m checking every 30 min today 

I was trying to taper my reality.. it's like an addiction from 8am to 5pm, refresh waaaaay too many times.

8 hours ago, DS5535 said:

Yea man, inflation is like 150% in Canada. A Chocolate bar is like 9 dollars now. Screw flowers 

I think flowers are cheaper than chocolate these days. You can still find flowers for free  but now you can’t even get a sample of chocolate at Costco.