AP_since_May2023

@justanamericangrl : my status changed to Issued today!! Still waiting on the email but FINALLY!!!
 
1.5 years of administrative process done!!!!! (January 24, 2022 to June 22, 2023). No WOM. Can't wait to see my wife and baby girl!!

Just wanted to update my husbands status changed to issued today! Says passport should be returned within 10 business days. Hope you get some good news soon! Can’t be much longer!
 
edit to add I’ll update again soon with our whole timeline in case anyone is interested. 

I seem to have a different understanding based on what the consulate officer told me. He said that all APs of the same category go to the same place, regardless of Embassy location. There are of course multiple different reasons for AP, including as simple as a missing document or as serious as background check due to national security risk. If it is the latter, then all of those go through the same lineup. 

Correct

Long time reader, first time poster. My spouse is sponsoring is via IR1. She's born & raised American. I'm born & raised Canadian. Been working in the US since 2013 under a TN work permit. Met my wife in Feb 2015, dated for 3 years, got married April 2018. Now the journey with immigration begins. Like everyone here, I've been impacted by US Montreal Consulate's processing time. A brief overview of my timeline:
 
Aug 2018 - Filed application for Permanent Residency - Nov 2018 - Received acknowledgement application receipt Dec 2019 - Received communication  my application with NVC stating a follow up appointment request will come soon 2020 - COVID - Complete Write off Dec 2021 - Interview Appointment confirmed with Montreal US Consulate for Jan 24th 2022 Jan 24, 2022 (AM) - Interview conducted. Very pleasant interview. Was expecting an approval. Received a message at the end "You're application is refused as it is go through administrative processing. You'll receive a questionnaire in your email. Please complete it and return to us as soon as possible. Once we have it, we may begin the administrative processing". I requested approximate processing time. Was not given an estimate and my passport was returned (that's never good). Jan 24, 2022 (PM) - Received the DS-5535 as a word document questionnaire. Jan 26, 2022 - Completed the questionnaire and returned to the consulate Jan 28, 2022 - Case Updated (Status: Refused) Feb 2, 2022 - Case Updated (Status: Refused) Feb 4, 2022 - Case Updated (Status: Refused) and I find this forum and begin reading everyone's frustrating journeys Feb 5, 2022 - March 2023 - Nothing happens. I consider filing the WOM after reading others doing it but my attorney encourages me not too stating "You are able to stay in the US with your TN that is valid well into 2024. Save yourself the $5K. I'm telling you this as your lawyer, save your money." March 17, 2023 - Case Updated (Status: Refused) (first movement since Feb 4, 2022) Apr 5, 2023 - Received communication to submit new medical and RCMP record as they both expired (obviously). Also was requested for passport and two recent pictures "to complete finalizing the process". Lawyer states this is the final line. May 15, 2023 - Conducted new medical and RCMP criminal background check  May 25, 2023 - Medical submitted to US Consulate by the physician May 25, 2023 - Case Updated (Status: Refused) May 29, 2023 - Submitted RCMP criminal background check, Passport, and two Recent Photos May 31, 2023 - Consulate received the package Jun 2, 2023 - Case Updated (Status: Refused) Jun 7, 2023 - Case Updated (Status: Refused) I know I'm likely near the finish line now but in total it took ~5 years for something that use to take 10-14 months just a few years ago. Yes COVID stopped everything and Administrative Processing no one expected. No explanation was given as to why I was put in. I've been in AP for 1.5 years  (Jan 2022-June 2023) now and didn't file a WOM on principal and was I lucky to have my TN so that I could stay with my wife. Now that I'm near the finish line, it's so frustrating watch paint dry and hoping to finally see "Case Updated (Status: Issued)"
 
That's my story. Hang in there everyone. There eventually will be a light at the end of the tunnel (with or without WOM).
 
 
 

Usually you don’t get the actual form at MTL, it’s just an email that you reply to with your answers. 

Does the number of updates matter? I had almost daily updates after my interview x 1 week, then radio silence for 2 weeks until I had congressman follow-up. 
 
For June 5 & 6 updates, did you and/or Congressman contact the Consulate to request a status update?
 
Interesting that you filed WoM earlier than Farzady but you still haven't heard back yet.

To update: my husband just got an email from the DOS asking for passport! 

my timeline is:
- Consulate interview: Feb 24 (T = 0)
- Issued DS 5535 Feb 24
- Filed WoM: May 3 (T = 69 days)
- Court update: May 19 (T = 85 days)
- CEAC case update: May 25 (T = 91 days)
- CEAC case update: May 30 (T = 96 days)
- Email to send Passport: May 30 (T = 96 days)
- Visa Issued: June 6 (T = 101 days)

Congratulations! How long did it take the Consulate to issue the visa after receiving your passport?
 
So to clarify, your timeline is as follows?
 
- Consulate interview: Feb 24 (T = 0)
- Filed WoM: May 3 (T = 69 days)
- Court update: May 19 (T = 85 days)
- CEAC case update: May 25 (T = 91 days)
- Email to send Passport: May 30 (T = 96 days)
- Visa Issued: June 6 (T = 101 days)

Sure.
Today, my status changed from refused to issued.

I'm so sorry to hear that! Travelling back and forth for a visa is insane.
 
Memorial day weekend is coming up. Hopefully you'll get good news from SG consulate before then to take advantage of the long weekend...

For family based green card, it requires the petitioner to show that they have sufficient income to support the applicant. The 221G I received was a request for the latest 2022 tax transcript or tax return + W2. At the time, my husband hadn't filed 2022 taxes yet as the consular interview was before the tax filing deadline. We quickly filed taxes on the same day of the interview and then submitted the requested documents to the consulate via CEAC.
 
At the time of the interview they asked if I wanted to keep my passport due to 221G. I told them to keep it as I thought the process might be even longer if I had to re-submit my passport. Thankfully my 221G cleared in about 2 business days and I got my passport with visa shortly after.
 
For checking on visa status, you can check both CEAC and USTravelDocs.
 
Good luck! I hope things go as planned for you

They pushed it up by a week, but we got lucky by kept refreshing the police appointment portal, so will be doing it next week, hopefully this is the last step.

Thanks!
 
Also looks like #6 - Varicella. She has pock marks, but probably not sufficient.
 
I read somewhere Influenza is only required seasonally, Oct 1 - Mar 31 but not sure if that has changed.

Yeah she has to do the fingerprinting. Luckily the 221g process is just to submit the documents and passport, they don’t hold the passport. So the sooner you have the docs, the sooner you get it sorted.

Thank you! I hope things will go well for you. Honestly, 2 business days is a little tight... it's a gamble as you never know if the embassy has any backlogs to clear.
 
I remember getting the status update on  ustravel docs after I left my office around 6pm. I was checking it every couple of hours. Which led me to believe that the embassy probably sends the passport for visa printing at the end of the day as a batch.
 
You can also track your case here https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx
 
When your visa is printed, the status will show as "Issued"
 
The interview was very informal for me. Kinda like catching up with a friend. In the room, there were 8 counters and I think family based visas were served by counters 7 and 8. We were able to sit and wait instead of being in a queue. When the officer was ready, they will call out your name. My spouse wasn't required to be there. The questions were simple, asking about when and how we met, what were our jobs, where and when did we get married, if we have kids, what I'd want to do in the US, where I'd live.
 
Counters 1-6 were for travel/business/student visas from what I observed. They had to queue up, go to counter 1, then counter 2, before getting interviewed at counter 3-6. I dont know what they asked for at counters 1 and 2, but I imagine they were checking documents.
 
It was a little strange during the interview to be spilling personal details or plans with so many strangers behind you. There's a glass barrier between you and the officer, so people were speaking loud enough for the officer to hear. It was also loud enough for me to hear all about some of the applicant's travel plans, visa type, family details.
 
I think if you're honest and concise, you'll both will be fine. Arrive early as there is a initial check outside the embassy regarding your interview appointment. And you'll also have to go through security where they took my phone, portable charger, and earphones.

They only asked for originals. I printed a whole bunch of copies for nothing...
 
They'll ask for each original doc one by one in the order specified in the email so arrange your docs accordingly and it will go quicker

@SGtoMurica just got a SMS from Aramex notifying me that my passport is ready for pickup. I chose the free pickup option
(Aramex c/o Bstone Travel Pte. Ltd
101 Upper Cross Street, #B1-31, People's Park Center Singapore 058357)
 
2 business days
Visa approved 17 Apr.
Passport available for pick up 19 Apr 

Yes, same. 1 day before interview and this email sent AFTER medical report got by embassy. 
 

Yes! I got that 1 day before the interview too. But I've got those docs prepare already in advance. There wasn't anything additional that wasn't mentioned here https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/SGP-Singapore.html
 
Before the actual interview, they asked for the original docs in the exact order specified in the email. After they collected the docs, they asked me to wait at the waiting area for my name to be called for the interview.

We have not received any update yet, probably given the weekend. Hopefully something soon.

Finished my interview on 11 April and received my passport at Aramex changi in next day. Within 2 days.

Indeed the NIV's should be revoked/canceled if the IV's are approved.
 
My guess is that if the IV's are denied, the NIV's could be revoked as well, but, as per the following paragraph, in such case, you can argue the decision: 
"FAM 403.11-4(A)  (U) Visa Revocations by Consular Officers
(CT:VISA-1275;   05-10-2021)
(U) Although the decision to revoke a visa is a discretionary one, you should not use this authority arbitrarily.  When practicable, you must:
(1)  (U) Notify the individual of the intention to revoke the visa;
(2)  (U) Allow the individual the opportunity to show why the visa should not be revoked; and
(3)  (U) Request the individual to present the travel document in which the visa was issued"
 
Regarding all the grounds for revocation, you can read the following links (both are the source of the extracts I've shared): 
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/22/41.122#d
https://fam.state.gov/fam/09FAM/09FAM040311.html
 

Sharing my timeline too
- DQ: October 12, 2022
- Interview Letter: March 31, 2023
- Interview Date: May 11, 2023