MAN2023

Hi everyone! Just wanted to send an update to help you get a sense of the timeline. To recap, I was in AP with DS5535 from Jan 2023 interview onwards until I was asked for a new medical to be submitted and passport to be returned to mtl mid September. I did that promptly and I received my passport back at the end of December with the IR-1 visa stamp. I then crossed the border (land) that week to activate my visa. This week (April), I received the physical green card in the mail. My exact timeline dates are on the excel. Feel free to reach out if you have any q’s!! There’s a light at the end of the tunnel eventually. I did not file WOM.

Congrats! I also was able to get an H1B without any issues through my employer (hospital) while I was in AP for IR1 with DS5535. I was also upfront when the attorney through employer that I was in AP and they also reassured me that there would be no issues with H1B. When I crossed the land border to activate H1B, I was not asked about the AP for IR1. It was fine and I got my H1B stamp.

While I was in AP, I was fortunate to secure an H1B through employer so I could still start my job on time. No issues obtaining it.