Marbles_

On 11/23/2022 at 12:44 PM, MikeBr said:

 

Hi All.  Looks like I join the ranks with all of you fine people.

 

Had my interview yesterday at Montreal Consulate.  It went relatively well.  Provided my original documents - marriage license, passport photo, birth certificate, police certificate and a copy of 2021 taxes.  She did what she needed with them and returned the originals back.  She kept my passport.

 

she also took my fingerprints too.

 

Second person asked me simple questions - who is your petitioner, where did you meet, what you like about your spouse, where you would live.  He was friendly.

 

He then said you have been randomly selected for additional processing.  Visa refused at moment.  Await email with questionnaire for completion.  Once completed send it back to the email it came with (and not to attach and corresponding documents, just answer the questions).

 

He then said would it be ok for them to hold onto my passport, so I said yes.

 

A few hours later I received email with questionnaire.  It was a DS-5355.  I now read unsettling stories about it.  I completed it and sent it back last evening.

 

I have seen stories where it can take up to 60 days to review, if not much longer!!!

 

this process has been long enough, but I have to remain optimistic.  I am a Canadian citizen with no concerning background.  

 

any insight on this matter would be greatly appreciated. I do have my Nexus which I referenced in the questionnaire, but not sure if that will help expedite the process.  
 

thanks 

Sorry to welcome you to our little club, I also have NEXUS and had my interview beginning of February and got the DS-5535, at least your consular officer admitted it's a randomly selected process, because the rest of us have been in the dark for almost a year or more as to why on earth we got chosen to fill in the extra questionnaire. 60 days for review would be the luckiest break, I truly hope that happens for you!!!  Most of us with DS-5535 it's about a year process, including filing the WOM which is close to $6000 USD to get them to actually just look at your file. I'm hoping all these WOMs against Montreal will actually get them to review the DS-5535s in 60 days like they are supposed too 🤞

5 hours ago, dennisv said:

@Waitinghere I got my DS5535 email like 3-4 hours after my interview, while I was sitting at the airport thinking. I sent it back within 48 hours.

I haven't tried crossing while on AP, but I heard mixed info regarding outcomes.

You can visit the USA as much as you want as a tourist during AP, to answer @dennisv and @Waitinghere, you just can't wait in the USA... you have to abide by normal tourism visit rules and only stay a maximum of 6 months. I have visited twice for a month or longer at a time since I got the DS-5535 in February.

2 hours ago, jgauthi242 said:

I talked to an attorney that said if you file an FOIA request, you can eventually figure out why they gave you DS-5535 and get the information they compiled.

 

I think once everybody's visa is cleared, they should file an FOIA request, so that we can compile this information.

 

The attorney did say in some cases it is entirely random.

That's a good idea about the FOIA, I don't know much about filing a FOIA request but as long as it didn't cost too much I would do it. With this specific group of us Canadians and the fact Montreal gives it out more than any other consulate, it seems to be entirely random! 

35 minutes ago, Throwitaway1988 said:

What is this WOM group? Is it telegram?

It's a group message of everyone who is filing a WOM with Goldstein. 

6 hours ago, Godzilla875 said:

Welcome me to your club!
Was interviewed early June and placed on DS5355, similar to most of the community members without obvious reason. I have been breaking my head trying to understand what wrong I did in my past life, couldn't find anything. Not sure it's their computer program or management's instructions, but they have too many applicants on AP, more than any other consulate in the world. If it's a program, then they must be the only consulate that has it. Just for stats - in my visa category, 1 out of 9 applicants was approved last week. The previous two weeks: 3 - out of 18. This just doesn't make sense.

My visa program requires me to complete immigration before September 30th. So, while it only two months past since I was AP-ed, not much time left for me to clear. Couple questions to help me:

1. What is the average time to clear, excluding extreme cases - I know it can be 3 months, it can be 9. What is a typical timeline? Assuming my case is typical, lol

2. Do lawsuits help? I did not see strong evidence supporting this from other forums, curious about your observations.

So sorry to have to welcome you to this club! I've been in DS-5535 for 6 months, I'm not in the Google Doc for some reason so I would say there are even more of us than what's represented in that info. I would file a WOM now or definitely talk to a lawyer to see if that can help delay your deadline as September 30th is not far away and there are people in here waiting almost a year with still no end in sight
Good luck!!!

On 8/6/2022 at 9:37 PM, From_CAN_2_US said:

My understanding is it is mainly in the name of applicant. If the name matches (sometimes only vaguely matches) someone in their database of people suspected to be a threat to national security, they are targetted for extreme vetting. Other parameters are education/ work in technical fields, and origin from certain countries.

I really think it's more random than that. I think it's just like airport security where they randomly pick every 12th (pick a number) person to pat down. I think the Consulate's computer is picking people that randomly. Because so many of us in here are Canadian born, never been to any countries that are not already best friends with the USA (UK/Canada/USA/EU) and we don't work in STEM. I also have an incredibly unique name, I am the only person in the world with my name, I joke all the time that I'm the most Google-able person, you can find out anything about me so easily, when I was born etc. Oh and none of us have criminal pasts.

My husband and I started the WOM with Goldstein, we've sent them our info.... now waiting for them to draft up the lawsuit 🤞 

8 hours ago, yvesemma said:

hi all,

 

just requested my passport back, because of a trip next week. and got a couple of questions....

do they completely stop working on our cases when we do so?

my medical expires aug 22nd.. should i just redo it, and send it back?

im coming back at the end of the month should i just resent my passport?

ca you apply for a nexus card while on AP? 

 

many thanks 

I got my NEXUS while in DS-5535. I did apply for NEXUS back in 2019 though and only started the petition for my CR1/IR1 in February 2021. There is such a massive backlog of everything you might as well start. It's incredibly ironic that all of us in here can visit the USA as tourists, be approved for NEXUS, all while we are languishing in the DS-5535 hole (as I type this from California on my third trip the USA since being put in the DS-5535 hole).

Montreal does not have my passport and they technically "should" be working regardless of that. 

Here for page 2. Interviewed Feb 02, sent my DS-5535 back Feb 06, still nothing but copy and paste replies. Medical expires tomorrow (July 24) sigh. At least I'm IR1 now rather than CR1, trying to look at the bright side! Oh and I got my NEXUS approved during this time too.

On 4/22/2022 at 11:29 AM, Krisara said:

I also meant to ask everyone in the group if they are on Danii's spreadsheet?  If you are in DS-5535 via Montreal and NOT on it,  it would be very helpful to ask @danii to add you so we have a more accurate picture of active, or should I say, dormant, cases.  

Reach out to @Daniiand she will add you.

Link to spreadsheet is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1L8T4Yp7oWm0imRrEOEES_28QicBY1DsKKvMmEGMVPd4/edit#gid=0

 

@Danii Hi, I'm also a long time lurker. I had my interview February 02. Sent my DS-5535 February 06. No updates, unless I've emailed them to check (last time was March 16).