Hey Guys,
An update is long due. So turned out that my 'crime' wasn't of mortal turpitude. Spent the whole day at Pearson with Waiver Application in hand. In the end they said that I don't need a waiver for US since my conditional sentence was less than 5 yrs (it was 4 yrs) for it to be considered for a waiver. It was a big ruckus at the airport among US agents over my case. In the end, they just asked me to keep my court documents with me when I goto border. So that's what I did. Went to border explained what I was told and they let me in. I have been to US about 5 times since for both work and pleasure. By air its a longggggggggg wait so I always arrive really early for my US flights in order to board on time. On land borders whenever my passport is scanned they always ask me to park and come in for questioning (basically show my court records and explain every time why I don't need waiver) which is a pain but better than renewing a waiver.

Hope it helps someone in similar situation.

Ps .. do not listen to Ihave it. Your waiver must say you are eligible for a tn! I was even denied a work trip fromantic one of my early waivers not being labeled b1

When you apply for your waiver you will have to submit a letter of intent with all the waiver forms . In this letter of intent you should request for tn. L1. And h1-b. I have received all 3 on my waiver if your waiver is not marked with being eligible for those visas the immigration officer will not even look at your tn package. As was the case that I had. 500usd later and about 6 months of waiting I received my new waiver properly marked.

Please also note you may want to submit a letter of intent for a b1 .. entry for business purposes. Most people don't realize when getting a waiver you actually lost the ability to cross the border for many things... you will need your waiver to say b2 for pleasure in vacations. B1 for business meetings . Trades how's etc. Tn . L1 and h1b for working purposes.

I have done this myself as I am an engineer with charges from teenage days nearly half my life ago. And my charges in canada have been expunged with a pardon... but less they forget... make sure you are honest and submit everything they already know any ways.

I also submitted transcripts. Photo copies of degrees. The letter of intent is nothing fancy just a word file labeled letter of intent and one page describing why you need such access. Best of luck to you!

Get the i-194 waiver which waives your inaccessibility due to your criminal record. Then apply for your TN (you'll provide a copy of the waiver).