It took just over 9 months since submitting my I-192 application and almost 12 months since my process started but today I finally received my I-194 US waiver!
For those of you that haven't gotten yours yet. Here is what it looks like: It comes on an ordinary letter sheet and includes a cover letter. The letter was dated November 3, 2006 and reads:
Your application for advance permission to enter the United States as a nonimmigrant has been been approved. Enclosed is a copy of form I-194. The terms and conditions are: You are granted multiple entries into the United States at various points of entry as a visitor for business/pleasure/employment for a period of stay to be determined by the admitting officer, provided that you are not inadmissible to the United States under any other section of the law other than Section 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended.
VALID FOR FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF APPROVAL.
This letter and the form I-194 must be presented to the Custom and Border Protection Officer when you make application for admission into the United States.
The actual I-194 includes similar information including my birth date, my employer, country of residence and under a section called 'Basis for favorable action': Humanitarian.
I'll be booking my first trip to the US in over a year shortly. I'll post more when that event occurs. Labels: advance permission to enter the united states, customs and border protection, I-192, I-194, legal, section 212(a), waiver
23 comments:
Entry Waivers are issued for durations of 1 to 5 years. Congratulations for being lucky enough to get a 5 year one, but the fact is that most waivers are only issued for 1 year. The fee is the same $265.00 regardless of duration.
Thanks for the comment janmar. My sympathy goes out to those who only receive 1 year. I wonder what the thought process is behind that? Is this some sort of a random decision or is it the degree of the conviction?
Perhaps it is $265.00 times 5?? In my case I have a pardon from the Canadian government yet still am sadly in the 1 year group. With the RCMP now requiring between 120-150 days to generate a Criminal Record Check/Pardoned Record you need to start the process PRIOR to receipt of a renewed 1 year waiver in order to keep it current.
I received my i-194 form but it has a typo. My date of birth is incorrect. Does anyone know who to contact or how I would get it fixed? There was no cover letter. Just the form.
rd, congrats on getting your I-194! I would suggest you call the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office and ask how the typo will affect your ability to travel. You might need to wait until they correct it. I posted the phone numbers in an earlier post (Jan 2006). Good luck.
I'm curious, did you get a 1 year or 5 year?
Ryan thanks for the info. I only got a 1 year. My inadmissibility was due to a drug conviction 8 years ago.
Congrats rd! Just wondering how long did it take for your i-194? Also, did you apply from Toronto Airport? Thanks
Thanks for the comment Sathiyaseelan. For my I-194, the entire process took about 12 months. Also, my application went through the Toronto Airport.
Good luck and keep me posted on your progress.
I am trying to track a friends us waiver claim but the phone number they gave him at pearson does not work from canada to check the afile number does anyone have a way to check ? This is frustrating and i am not even the one waiting.
Hey Dave, you could try this number:
1 800-283-4356
Or alternatively call one of these custom and border offices:
Montreal (514) 631-2097
Toronto (416) 929-6011
Winnipeg (204) 783-2206
Calgary (403) 221-1730
Edmonton (780) 890-4486
Vancouver (604) 278-3360
How long have you been waiting?
To be honest its not me its a friend and every year we goto PA on a golf trip well last year he was turned away and had to start the process he handed his papers in April 15 at Pearson airport and we are all anxious to see if its gonna arrive for Aug 17th ? I found that #416 929 6011 number on this site .... i gave it to him monday and when he called all he got was a voice mail and it wanted just his name and phone number. They said on the voice mail that he would get a response in 3 buisness days . But no response yet. The kicker was he went to apply in december for the waiver even though his case was pending in buffalo court in feb . The same agent he had seen later in april told him he couldn't apply yet but the judge in buffalo said he could've so he got screwed out of 4 months of waiting cause the guy made a mistake (dumbass)..... the same guy did say they were opening new offices for these waivers and that he should get it but then again they'd probably say anything to get you out of there and give you hope just to crush it !
Wow, 5 years. I have had two waivers and both were only for 1 year. I just recieved my third finerprint chart back form the RCMP today, and im now ready to apply for my third waiver!!! does anyone know what to say or how to get 5 years? and now the waiver fee has just gone up to I think 540.00!! does anyone know the times where you can apply for the wiavr at the Toronto airport? I can not seem to find that paper
Hello Jen. I've been told that the waiver is A) given randomly so next time you might be lucky enough to get a 5 year! or B) that it is based on the type and seriousness of the crime. I've not been able to confirm which if any is accurate.
For Pearson:
CPB office # 905-676-2606
Office hours are 4:30am to 9:00PM daily
And I believe it is $545.00 for the application, $80.00 for the Bio (prints). Please confirm the latest cost when you can. Thanks
Good luck!
I've read that a criminal conviction must be at least 20 years old before a 5 year waiver will be granted. True? I don't know, but it makes as much sense as anything I've heard. Why do they keep this info so close to their chest?
As to the $80 biometrics fee, I believe they usually waive it, and/or it's included in the waiver application fee. I know it was mentioned on the paperwork for my application, but I "only" had to cough up the $285. FWIW.
I just received my I-194 Dec.14/07.
This waiver is only good for one year. Does anyone know how long it takes for the second waiver to be approved?
I plan on re-applying around May 1/08.
I am wondering is this posting can give me answer, most of the conversation i see back in 2007. please reply here or directly to me at ahimani365@yahoo.ca and i will ask my question here. thanks.
Does Dept of Homeland Security contact your job during process and if they do, Do they divulge information concerning your arrest,conviction?
This is for people who have done the process before.
Thanks
just recieved my second waiver after3 month ,applied from pearson. it is validfor twoyears.my first one was valid only for 1 years.
can anyone say what forms the $545 is payable?
I applied last Saturday and they were accepting "all" credit cards and US cash. I'm not sure about other forms (debit card?) but it looked like several people came with money orders and they were being refused. Also, the cost is now $585.
It took 14 months, and I got my I-194 today. It cost me $585US. I have no criminal record of any kind; am a tax-paying citizen who votes in every federal, provincial, and municipal election; I give money to charity; I volunteer...and still my I-194 is only valid for 1 year.
Maybe next time I will be luckier?
Rules for receiving a 5-yr waiver are: conviction (and all fines paid, sentence served, probation completed etc.) must be no less than 10 years ago.If it's less, you'll get a 1-year waiver. Also, it should be a subsequent waiver/a renewal. First-time waivers are (almost) always 1-yr regardless of how long ago it was and what it's for.
The fee is now $585, regardless of if it's a 1-yr or 5-yr. There is no refund if it's denied. You will likely be denied if the conviction is less than 3 years ago. If it is, save your money and wait.
You greatly improve your chances of a 5-yr waiver if you have received a pardon or expungement, if it's a renewal, your crime is over 10 yrs old, and you show in your letter that you have done things to "rehabilitate" yourself. You can check on the status of your application by contacting the Application Review Organization with US Homeland Security. Look for the email link on the website with the I-192 applications. Make sure you include the port of entry and the date you submitted your application in your inquiry. Do not inquire about the status of your application until at least 120 days has passed since you submitted the application package.
Lastly, if you're submitting your package at Pearson in Toronto, go at least 3 hours before the opening hours (Saturdays 7-3)to add your name to a list. They only take 40 people a day. If you go and there are already 40 people in their list, you will be turned away. That means arriving at about 4am and returning when they open and waiting about 3 more hours. Instead, I drove to Buffalo Peace Bridge and didn't wait in any lines. It's a 90-min drive, but I prefer that over line-ups, parking fees at the airport, and being anywhere for 3am. Good luck and be patient.
RCMP prints are $25.00 and take 4 months. I have received 6 waivers and never had to pay a "bio" fee. Not sure what that is. The border crossing prefers the $585 be in US cash. They might accept a credit card. No money orders, cheques or debit cards. Cash is best. Renewals take 3-4 months. First time waivers take about a year or more.
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