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ShawnK

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  1. ShawnK
    The worst I've seen in this dreaded thread (except for the odd rare person in an endless blackhole) is take 12-13 months before sending a medical request. I believe that was users batmanflow and watching paint dry, no updates until they got past 12 months post interview. So hopefully you Feb folks will see something soon, but again, Montreal is awful.
  2. ShawnK
    To answer your question - yes, your fingerprints must have been taken by the first officer, the one that checks your documents. You then sit back down and get called up again for the actual interview. That's how Montreal does it. Bull*** indeed, seriously, this is monstrous level bureaucracy. Utterly insane, filling out endless forms for nothing.
  3. ShawnK
    It's usually about $1-2K, not for an extension request, no charge for that. The extra is to respond to a motion to dismiss. I think Goldstein includes it in their full price, same with Hacking. Goldstein is also quite proactive and aggressive with responding. I would say we do need to plan for this because there is no way to know if/when Montreal will do anything. Feb interviewers still haven't received any medical requests. This is a frightening blackhole they can keep you in forever. They even argue this in court (judge thankfully rejected it in a recent case), basically saying it's a final decision and we don't have to adjudicate your case, you've been refused.
  4. ShawnK
    You'll be fine, if you got the email that a CO is looking at it or will, I would say you are good in Feb or March. This process has been mentally excruciating. It's a Friday night and I'm stuck here posting on this forum. Stuck in the frozen hole that is Edmonton, in another horrid Alberta winter. I could be with friends and family enjoying nice warm weather in Hawaii. At least my kids are warm. Oh well, what can you do.
  5. ShawnK
    I hope all you new DS5535 folks clear quickly, us 2023 old timers have been waiting since Feb 2023 and still waiting 😕 for them to clear the DS5535. It seems to be taking Montreal 11-14 months to clear these, and we aren't even sure of that anymore. They seem to be getting worse. There were some lucky few who cleared fast but that is rare. Please see our tracker , you can add your info. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jV7rzX2eCRVoEDRhOtN9a6hDoHRLNEf1P3ZGZbQ0_Dc/edit#gid=0
  6. ShawnK
    I never got any sort of confirmation that they received it either, however you see case updates a few times once you send it in. I believe you are not supposed to send in your passport until they are finished processing the DS5535, even if they state it on the 221g, I know - confusing. Perhaps you will clear fast, perhaps it is more efficient now. If you need to travel you can always request your passport back, otherwise, they will send it to you with the visa after you are finished admin processing.
  7. ShawnK
    Sorry to hear that man...I would say that a motion to dismiss DOES NOT mean it is over. It's just a motion. I was recently following a class action case from Red Eagle, they filed a group lawsuit for mostly Persian applicants (mostly Iranian Americans sponsoring their parents or spouses) stuck in Armenia. They too got a motion to dismiss, however, when you look at the arguments made by the DOS -they were quite pathetic, I am no lawyer but they looked pretty silly to me. They tried to argue that it's a final refusal and they don't need to do anything. The lawyer was able to respond and the judge agreed and denied their motion to dismiss (this was a few days ago , in California). The DOS Is now scrambling to adjudicate the cases. The lawyer shared everything online, now people are getting case updates etc..they are working to clear them. The lawyer also believes this whole DS5535 thing is a big sham, they delay and delay and then all of a sudden when they are forced to respond they start clearing cases. This is for applicants in Iran, I highly doubt Iranian authorities are going to share info with the vetting people in the US. It's all nonsense, they quickly clear these people when forced to. This is just another travel ban without calling it a travel ban. If you have a good lawyer, you've probably already spent 5K +, might as well fight. There is no expectation that they will clear any of these cases anytime soon.
  8. ShawnK
    Interesting, I would ask for actual examples where they have been successful, especially since the summer. From my understanding - a MTD doesn't mean it is fully over, you can respond, then they get to respond, then it is up to the judge who can take as long as he/she wants. However, often , before the judge will rule, they will adjudicate. A lot of it seems to be luck, even now, some people quickly clear on Pacer. I will see what happens, if it goes a year without any medical requests, then I think that would be a good time to go the WOM - because you then run the risk of being in a forever black hole. I do like Goldstein, he seems very enthusiastic and ready to fight, gives you some hope. Some other lawyers don't seem too confident, and very defeatist when it comes to a MTD.
  9. ShawnK
    The scary thing to me is those folks actually received their medical requests around September. So it's very concerning that February folks still haven't received a request for a medical. I am hoping it's just our small sample size and that there are some Feb Montreal Ds5535 folks who have gotten medical requests. I don't know what is going on, I thought after the DV ended they would start to speed up, however, nothing. Their new fiscal year started in OCT, yet these incompetent dip***ts are just sitting on our cases.
  10. ShawnK
    I agree with the moderator , send in the correct police certificate ASAP. I hate to say this, but that is all they probably ever wanted from you, no wonder they NEVER emailed you the DS5535. You can't rely on the competence or intellect of these low level consulate officers. No offense, but these aren't the most brightest or "can do" people, they wouldn't take such a lame job if they were. They are largely miserable souls doing a completely useless job that adds nothing of value to the economy or the to the world. It must be pretty soul crushing. Like 99.999% of what they do is basically useless and just adds pain to the world, and/or gets in the way of actual productive folks adding something of value to the economy (think of how many bright/creative people are blocked from accessing the US). They sent me 2 incorrect DS5535 emails (with someone else's case # and a name kind of like mine but not exactly) before sending me the correct email with the correct name and case#. Think about it, the form is utterly useless and has likely never resulted in them catching anyone. Everyone seems to eventually clear it. It's just pointless paper shuffling work.
  11. ShawnK
    Seems now creeping up to 12+ months. There seems to be no relief.
  12. ShawnK
    What exactly is their method? I'm curious what they said regarding MTD. Basically, you can respond to a MTD, government responds back...then you wait for the judge, and the judge can take as long as he/she wants.
  13. ShawnK
    Wow, seems they see Montreal as a shady place.
  14. ShawnK
    What's super frustrating (good for them though, wouldn't wish this in anyone ) is you see other embassies starting to clear these 5535s efficiently. I've recently seen posts from folks in Beruit and Ankara cleaning in 3-8 weeks. Even Islamabad. I understand these security clearances go to some other unknown agencies for processing, it just seems odd that for Canadians -who come from a country which instantly shares all police/security issues with the US... - would face such severe delays ? Saw a post from someone who was worried their spouse would be stuck in DS5535 because they lived in Turkey , close to Syria, but cleared in a few weeks? Yet Canadians, who mostly live in the thin habitable strip near the US border, are being heavily delayed? I just really question what is going on? Are our files just sitting there until someone picks them up, does a few clicks, "yeah he/she is good". If anyone had any sort of background security concerns, they would never be allowed to enter the US.
  15. ShawnK
    I keep overthinking some of my ds5535 responses and was wondering, would it be a red flag if you haven't listed any of the major social media sites? I simply deleted mine long ago (over 10 years ago) for personal and privacy reasons. I'm a millennial and it's rare not to have FB/Instagram etc..but I honestly don't and was wondering if that would delay my AP process?
  16. ShawnK
    Thanks man, I'm truly praying for everyone here. It's so cruel to hold up people like that. I feel all your pain. I can feel the agony in this thread.
  17. ShawnK
    Don't know anymore man. I got little kids and my spouse has been so strong, but now, after 8 months, I'm seeing her start to break. Raising little kids alone isn't easy, sure, I visit, but it is not the same. I just daydream about the day I finally get that visa in my hand and clear US customs. Kind of a nerdy example but I think I'll feel like frodo when he finally woke up in Rivendale and everyone was laughing.
  18. ShawnK
    Good points, I would also add, avoid filing WOM in DC, highest chance of dismissal.
  19. ShawnK

    Any updates? What happened with your case? Did lawyer fight it?

  20. ShawnK
    Very disturbing to see (as per the tracker) that even Feb 2023 interviewees haven't received a request for an updated medical. This is getting worse than anything we've seen in the past. Even with a higher risk of motion to dismiss, it might be our only chance to move forward. You have to hire a firm that is willing to push back, that may be the only way forward. I think Red Eagle Law and Goldstein are both good when it comes to that. Another thing to keep in mind, if it looks like Trump is leading the polls, we will see a ton of new applications and lawsuits as people desperately look to get status before he is in. He has already said some very tough travel bans would be implemented on day 1. He is also known to cut staff at embassies/DOS, a lot of people at the DOS quit under his administration. It's never recovered.
  21. ShawnK
    Quick question, before the interview I recall setting up the delivery location of the visa. If you move provinces while in AP, can you change where you want them to send your passport when they are finally ready to issue ? Where can you update this?
  22. ShawnK
    You can send Montreal your passport, it should be fine. However, they will only mail the visa within Canada to the location specified before your interview. So you would just need a document to get back into Canada to get your visa. You'd have to use a land border.
  23. ShawnK
    Nice to see some minimal movement . Seems like January interviewers in DS 5535 are getting cleared. So those of us who interviewed in April , can we have some hope of a medical request by March?
  24. ShawnK
    I think he meant he will mail it in when he is back in Canada.
  25. ShawnK
    What happened with the WOM? It's appalling to see so many on the list who have filed WOMs.and have no relief.
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