@jazzsax crap you are right, I read it to early or quickly LOL

two shopliftings from 2005? That lawyer should be disbarred. That's a pretty easy waiver.

@John Rogers - she said two from 2005, but applied in 2018.

@Ferry its not that these are serious, its that the most recent one happened in 2018. Were you denied entry to the United States?

@nonameplease You hired a lawyer but does he do a ton of waivers? 1) If he didn't wait long enough, that shows he either doesn't know or doesn't care 2) the sentence isn't the issue. Time from the conviction is.

If you are charged with a crime, hire a lawyer (but get an honest one) If you need a waiver, hire a waiver specialist. We do nothing BUT waivers, where a lawyer probably does an occasional waiver. Even immigration lawyers don't primarily do waivers. A law degree is useless. Volume and experience matters.

I bet he charged a nice chunk of change. Why won't he re-do it for free until you get it?

Hi, I have two convictions dates 2005 of shoplifting under 5000$ applied in October 2018..is this a big crime? How long does it take to process thanks in advance..Quebec

I did all that..my non-family members wrote letters (3 of them..), I wrote a letter, my probation officer wrote a letter. I did all this with a lawyer. I thought I would be succesful if I hired a lawyer but..negative! Someone mentioned that because my probation finished in 2015, thats when ARO begins the countdown..if that is true then its basically only 3 years. I also heard that I should wait 5? is that true?

I keep mentioning that I have a child in the states but I dont think they care either.
I've showed them my property tax, school tax...to show that its all paid and that im in good standing. this was my first offence EVER. I didnt have a record before this.

Sounds like my case except I have yet to apply.

You need to show significant remorse. You need to show what you are doing to not reoffend. You also need to show why you're being impacted by not going to the US. Reference your child in the US and what that causes. They weigh out balance of probabilities among everything else.

John and Ken could add more to this but honestly you need to build a massive pack showing them WHY they need to let you in, and WHY you won't reoffend. The probation officer is just one piece. They want ties to community, other people. What are you doing to benefit society, etc. (VOlunteering, etc)

hi guys!
I would appreciate any help/info/guidance.
I was convicted for fraud OVER 5000$ back in 2012. My probation finished in 2015. right when my probation finished I applied for a waiver and was refused because I didnt wait long enough to apply.
I waited a year and then re-applied..it took almost 2 years before I got a response which was a NO! ....
Its very important for me as I have a child who lives in the US. I really want to go.
on my second refusal they told me I haven't waited long enough.....HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT????? and they also mentioned that my letter didnt show much remorse.
I am not so good at expressing my feelings on paper. its very hard for me. I want to re-apply but im so skeptical. Should I wait? 3 years have passed since my probation was finished.

I did not have any jail time. I was on house arrest? no ankle bracelet I just had to curfew. My probation officer always writes the best letters which I include in my file that I send to the ARO but they don't care. My prob officer indicated that it was my first offence ever and I am not likely to re-offend.
SUGGESTIONS WELCOME........

Thanks for your help John - will keep you posted! Cheers.

Just in case everyone thinks I am ignoring @Wes, we talked on the phone. His situation is pretty unique, so if he is able to resolve it, he can share with everyone here.

John I applied Sept 25th for a waiver renewal because I got a job offer in the US (my current waiver is still good but only for B1/B2 but not for the TN visa I'm trying to go down on). My question is will my job offer help in processing time at all from the 3 month benchmark? Is there anything I can do to expedite?

@sk123

Yes, first waiver. Travelled since 2009 before being stopped this year, unfortunately.

3 months is actually the "standard" time, although it does climb to 110 days in certain times of the year.

If your waiver takes closer to a year, its in the minority and means you were put into "secondary security".

First time applications and second and third do not take longer of shorter BECAUSE they are initial waivers or not. It seems logical to conclude that, but that's not how Homeland Security works.

@becca Is this your first waiver or have you applied before? 3 months is amazing.

@becca that's great.

@jm what are the convictions? I assume (although you did not mention it) that you also supplied reference letters proof of employment etc?

3 months to receive approval

Applied July 11 rainbow bridge. Letter dated October 9

Theft under 5000$ from 2009, received a 5 year waiver !

I applied around June 23rd...

I submitted all the required documents--Fingerprints, official court documents and a letter explaining my convictions. This further info request seems to be particularly focused on details relating to the circumstances related to my arrest and conviction as well as my motivations of my actions leading to the the charges.

@sk123 "sometimes they contact you by email"

I have never seen this with a regular waiver in recent memory. He received I am sure the standard letter they always send out. And its ALWAYS by regular mail. Only rejections come via registered mail, and that is actually fairly new.

The answer to your question depends on what they wanted and why. If you have a trafficking offence or something that they are targeting, it could take 6 months to a year. If its something simple, you might have it just after Christmas. Count on it being much slower now that they have asked for more information.

sk123 "If it is your first time applying for a waiver, then it takes longer then 2nd or 3rd. Typically another 2 months." This statement is not true in my experience at all.

First time waivers are taking 90-110 days right now as are reapplications. I see no difference in the processing times unless they go to secondary security screening.

How large is the sample size you are using for your answers? How many people do you know that are getting emails from Homeland Security?

@ JM. When exactly did you apply in June (date). What documents did you already submit with your waiver application, such as disposition documents. Are they certified?
Sometimes, they contact you by email. Response to these is easier and sooner. If they have contacted you by regular mail then it may take longer. Processing time depends on the kind of conviction you have. If it is your first time applying for a waiver, then it takes longer then 2nd or 3rd. Typically another 2 months.

Question...

I applied for a Waiver in June. I just received back a request for more information---details of my arrest and the circumstances leading up to it.

Does anyone have a sense of how long it takes to get a decision once I submit this?

Well, we would have no issues actually as well as Mr Ben Archer never said such things and is someone of impeccable character. Perhaps you have info confused as such. #1386 Sounds like we would have no other issues then. We already have the security cameras in place so that is not an issue. Also, the Surrey office has plenty of parking. I met the Clearneed owner before about 10 years ago and I believe that his name is Greg. I am unsure if he is still involved with Clear need or not.

Again, it is something that is on the back burner for late 2019 as we have more things to put into place before that time. It would be the very last thing on our list. Don't know if I see the relevancy of a thread being older in terms of I-824's since my comment was specifically about what was told to us on Oct 4, 2018, and is much more recent than a prior thread.

Fingerprinting is not as high on the passion list for us just yet.

However #1384 and 1386, the info is very much appreciated.

:: @K SCOTT added on 06 Oct ’18 · 21:24

We also have a special program where we occasionally need 1-2 people with certain criminal convictions that we rarely come across in BC. Specifically, these people would get their cases done pro bono and we will publish the request here and on our site. It is usually limited to a maximum of 2 people with specific convictions and we prefer that they are in BC or Alberta only.

An example is that we previously had a need for 1-2 people that had convictions for Car Theft but we found them already.

We already have 1 client for this offence but we would like another person that has a Manslaughter conviction or one where they have a conviction for selling stolen cars.

Please contact us privately if you want more info.