AP_since_May2023

Based on the current timelines for Montreal I would lean somewhere between 6-8 more months for you (sadly)

Also not sure if it’s because it’s processed at USCIS directly and didn’t really go through a consulate (being a Canadian and the reason above). 
 
Also proofs the point that DS5535 was issued based on invalid reasons because clearly there are no security threats. 

I just want to ask that what is the percentage of success in WOM and is it possible that my employer can file the law suit or only I can do it. Plz advise me who are the best lawyers for lawsuit these days. Please mention some names. I am already in 221g 19 month but Ds 5535 in 13 month 
thank you for your help 

This is so frustrated ...... I live in a village , so I have society pressure equals Mount Everest on me....Let me tell you all a story ,  2 brothers from my area(3 villages apart) entered US illegally in 2019 and they both visited Pakistan in last few months (with Green card ) Yes illegal got the documents in 4 years and I am waiting for my Ds-5535 , waited 3 years for interview , There father was one of the guest in my wedding in 2016 ..... 
Come on man........ This is just too much . .. People reading this post with village background (especially India Pakistan) can understand what this means for me and my family. 
I fully agree with you , people applying throw legal channels are being affected the most. I waited almost 8 years just to get a visa under Ir-1 category . ........ 

Tomorrow 5th April will be 2 months since my case is in AP(Ds-5535) , I don't have any last case update date yet on CEAC and I am getting panic about this no case status update . I am going to email Islamabad  embassy (Pakistan) and I will ask them politely what <DELETED> is going on . I have also not receive any conformation email from  them about my Ds-5535(If they received it  and was it up to the standards and correct) .
I waited 3 years for my interview (yes for interview) and my category is IR-1......In short this whole Ds-5535 thing is <DELETED> , especially when millions of people illegally cross into US every year.

I'm absolutely floooooored how it seems visa processing has stopped for K1's and IR1's it seems under 221(G) / DS-5535 cases that have been submitted. What possible reason could there be for such a delay?! its time to start cases again. Its been ELEVEN MONTHS for my fiance and we havent heard a thing. What possible reason could there be at this point

Denied is the new refused lol 

Because you're not a dual citizen, and it doesn't seem like you are working in the TAL list (see below).
 
PS. You barely arrived in Canada, and already leaving to the US so quickly. Seems like you saw the light 
 
Technology Alert List
i. Conventional Munitions;
ii. Nuclear Technology, Physics, and Engineering;
iii. Rocket Systems and Unmanned Air Vehicle;
iv. Navigation, Avionics and Flight Control;
v. Chemical, Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering;
vi. Remote Sensing, Imaging and Reconnaissance;
vii. Advanced Computer/Microelectronic Technology;
viii. Materials Technology;
ix. Information Security;
x. Laser and Directed Energy Systems Technology;
xi. Sensors and Sensor Technology;
xii. Marine Technology; and
xiii. Robotics Urban Planning 

Are you dual citizen or from a scientific background? If yes, your chance will be very high unfortunately.
 
I also got verbal approval but was then placed in AP after. Unfortunately, it seems like you're part of this club now.

The absolute worst part of this right now is the fact that no one has even been asked for their passport back in months, let alone issued a visa.
 
We were moving along at a delayed, though consistent manner for a while and now nothing has happened for months.
 
Emails are also not being responded to. I honestly feel like I caught the absolute worst timing imaginable. The people who interviewed just a few weeks before me have had their visa for months now. Yet I'm still sitting in limbo with no updates in over 4 months.
 
Sorry for the rant but I'm just so ###### over waiting.
 

Hi all you lovely people,
 
I have been on this forum for awhile but don’t say much.  However I think it’s time I share my story.
 
DQ October 2021.  I was a F2A at the time, as husband was only a permanent resident to the US.
 
Requested expedited interview in May 2022 as husband had a heart attack at age 48!  He had surgery, was hospitalized in ICU and required post care.  Montreal denied the request.  So if a heart attack is not reason enough to expedite I don’t know what is.
 
September 2022 husbands dog passed away under my watch.  The separation/heartbreak could have been avoided had we had interview in May 2022 and then been all together.
 
Interview was November 2022.  Subjected to DS-5355.  I am a Canadian citizen and a clean record.  Was told I was randomly selected.
 
December 2022 ironically I was RENEWED for my Nexus!
 
End of Feb 2023 issued a WOM.  At end of March Montreal finished review and asked for me to do another medical (would expire on Apr 4) and submit passport to finalize.
 
I sent passport back same day notified and booked another medical for next day.  A few hours of their initial email they sent me another email telling me to disregard.  Because I was a F2A my priority date had just retrogressed so they could not process until current.  It was current at time of interview and at WOM filing.
 
Here we are today March 2024!  My priority date is still not current.  Current date is Aug 2020 and I’m April 2021.
 
However, husband just became US citizen.  Yah!  Therefore I’m not subject to a priority date.  We have emailed Montreal a copy of naturalization certificate and US passport.  10 business days have gone by and no response!  The subject line could not be any clearer F2A to IR1 upgrade.
 
No response to our lawyer either.  Had congressman follow up and they got a response!  It was noted that I was a F2A therefore priority date still not current.  Congressman only inquired and not did inform them of the status upgrade like we asked.  Clearly Montreal did not acknowledge our email with the upgrade request!  
 
Beyond frustrated at this point.  I was told at time of retrogression I would need to only resubmit another medical, passport, photos and police certificate.  Now waiting Montreal to acknowledge such and put me back in the line.
 
we are also a LGBTQ couple, not that should matter.  
 
I feel for all of you in your situations.  Just letting you know you’re not alone!  I get the need for added security reviews, but there’s got to be a point where it becomes too excessive.
 
Even after all this time, and as draining as this is, I do remain as optimistic as I can!
 
Thus has been my journey so far…
 
 

May I know where is this from? When I spoke to the CO, it is my impression that her hands are tied, and it was outside of her decision to put our case in AP. She even gave us verbal approval, and collected passport after the interview.

Kepe me posted if you hear anything. I am also May 2023.

sorry to say this but I think you may be part of this club. I wouldn’t try to apply for a new temporary passport as this might further delay the security clearance. 

sorry to say this but I think you may be part of this club. I wouldn’t try to apply for a new temporary passport as this might further delay the security clearance. 

Yep - had my interview in Feb 2023. To make matters even worse, I have not even had a case update since November 2023 (almost 4 months ago).
 
I sent another email today (my previous 3 received zero response), so I'm not expecting a response, but all I can do is hope at least one decent person looks at it and is kind enough to look into my file.
 
Honestly I've never felt so hopeless this entire process. From everything we've seen on here it seems like processing times are getting slower and nothing I have seen or read gives me any hope this process will speed up any time soon.

Just remember to hit the actual refresh button on the top right corner. Even if the top bar says refreshed, it's not actually accurate.

Just remember to hit the actual refresh button on the top right corner. Even if the top bar says refreshed, it's not actually accurate.

They asked for not only research and publication but professor references as well. I provided them with the link to research the full document and sent them just the content and the first chapter. Although my field is all oil and gas related and had a job offer from the USA, they asked for that offer letter as well. Imagine for IR5, they are asking so much, although it is not EB1 or any other work visa. 

If you contact them too quickly, they start ignoring you. This was my experience.

Not only spouses but they ask for resumes from parents for the IR5 Visa category as well, if the visa applicant is a professional as per their TAL list. I am asked my resume, and research publications for my chemical engineering.

If you contact them every week, they will begin to ignore you. Once a month seems to be the reasonable number of times to contact them.

>> Also once a ds5355 form is submitted, does anyone know where it is processed? Is it processed in Montreal? Or does it get sent to be processed in a central agency in the United States?
It is processed in State Department DC involving different agencies
You can go to redeaglelaw web site and read the Blog "Administrative Processing Backlog of 66,000 Visa Applicants" to understand the high level process. 

Just a heads up for when you guys do finally clear security and can rejoin your loved ones - as a permanent resident, you will not have an I-94 record to rely on.  Once you become an LPR, the US no longer has to worry about your status and overstays.  That said, if you plan to apply for citizenship under the 3 or 5 year rule, depending which you choose, you will have to provide travel history.  I highly recommend getting into the habit of filling out a spreadsheet to track this information so you're not stuck rifling through your airline's app and credit card statements to rebuild this history and even worse - if you cross by land, trying to track that information down.  
 
For those of you who may be perusing the forum and weren't aware but are on work visas, especially those on TN's, ALWAYS pull your I-94 record to verify you've been statused correctly by CBP.  Many people have been in a situation where they should have been statused as a TN and CBP entered B.  You're not legally entitled to work when you're on a B visa.  This has to be fixed. 
 
Additionally, people don't pay attention to the expiration because their visa is supposedly good for 3 years (depending on type), but the I-94 will be for less.  This is often tied to the expiration of the visa holder's passport.  The visa holder needs to get a new passport and present it to CBP prior to the expiration listed on the I-94.  The officer will then extend the I-94 expiration to match the visa expiration.  Both the incorrect status and the I-94 corrected extension can be done at a Deferred Inspection site.