It's been a while since my last update.
I've got less than a year on my current I-194 waiver (expires next November) and I'll be documenting my experience in obtaining a renewal. I plan to start the process again in late January (11 months should be more than enough time, right?).
Got Pardon? I don't. I'm still waiting on the pardon that I applied for through Pardons Canada back last March. I've not be on top of them to do so, but their lack of updates has not impressed me much. I can just hope that they are making good progress (note to self: follow up with Pardons Canada). The main reason why I chose to go with them in the first place was so that I could free myself from the paperwork, bureaucracy, etc. To have to chase after them for updates washes that reason away just a little.
Thanks to those who have been keeping the comments alive. I've seen some good discussions about wait times and other irregulaties. Don't forget you can always subscribe to the comments feed.
Update
Posted:
12/03/2010 03:02:00 PM
|
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About
This is a personal account of a Canadian's pursuit to acquire, successfully receive and utilize a US Waiver (I-194) after learning that he was inadmissible due to a criminal record from more than 20 years ago. This blog should serve as a resource for others who are trying to navigate the waiver process.
My status: Successfully applied for and received my I-194 waiver in November 2006 after a 9 month wait. This 5 year waiver expires in November 2011 and allows me to travel to the US for business and pleasure. I routinely travel to the US on business (1-2 times per month) through many ports of entry. This blog contains my experiences (pre and post application for waiver) and includes resources and links which will hopefully assist you in your pursuit.
In Canada, to Apply for an I-194 waiver you will need to complete the I-192 application (Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Non-Immigrant). Current filing fee is $545 US. The most recent form can be found here: I-192
Labels
- waiver (26)
- I-194 (20)
- I-192 (18)
- customs and border protection (13)
- reference (12)
- C-216C (10)
- application (9)
- criminal record (9)
- I-94 (8)
- RCMP (8)
- advance permission to enter the united states (6)
- article (6)
- us border (6)
- waiver of inadmissibility (6)
- crimes involving moral turpitude (5)
- fees (4)
- fingerprints (4)
- pardon (4)
- section 212(a) (4)
- FD-258 (3)
- G-325A (3)
- I-601 (3)
- canadian border (3)
- immigration (3)
- immigration law (3)
- immigration lawyer (3)
- interview (3)
- legal (3)
- petty offense exception (3)
- processing time (3)
- Canadian Police Information Centre (2)
- DHS (2)
- Department of Homeland Security (2)
- USCIS (2)
- Vacation Travel (2)
- Waivers of Inadmissibility on Health-Related Grounds (2)
- biometric (2)
- canadian citizen (2)
- checklist (2)
- court record (2)
- denied entry (2)
- multiple entry (2)
- off topic (2)
- passport (2)
- poll (2)
- us customs pre-screening (2)
- CPIC (1)
- G-211 (1)
- L1B (1)
- Rape (1)
- TN-1 (1)
- Waivers of Removability for Overstay (1)
- Waivers of Removability for Unauthorized Work (1)
- ambassador (1)
- attorney (1)
- blog (1)
- canada customs (1)
- david jacobson (1)
- departure record (1)
- felony (1)
- lawyer (1)
- nexus (1)
- obama (1)
- ontario bar association (1)
- questions (1)
- secondary screening (1)
- september letter (1)
- twitter (1)
- us election (1)
- visa (1)
- wait times (1)
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. The information contained in this blog is provided as a public service for informational purposes only. The content of this blog does not constitute legal advice and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel.
This web site contains links to other web sites operated by parties other than myself. These links are provided for your convenience only. I make no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the use of any links provided on this web site. I have no control over these web sites and I am not responsible for their content. I do not intend for any links provided on this web site to constitute referrals or endorsements of the linked entities.
Archives
-
►
07
(23)
-
►
November
(10)
- Criminal Conviction from 1964 Bars University Teac...
- Is Statutory Rape a Crime of Moral Turpitude?
- Puppets, Marriage, Immigration and the US Election...
- I-601 Waivers And Extreme Hardship
- Japan Now Fingerprinting Visitors
- DHS can lookup your FPS number
- Can you claim the Petty Offence Exception?
- Crossing the border - have all of your documents?
- TN-1 Visa possible with a valid Waiver
- Update
-
►
November
(10)
Blogroll

19 comments:
I just submitted my waiver application a couple of days ago. My current waiver expires at the beginning of June next year. I've left it a little longer than with previous applications but I found the last one did not take as long to process as previous ones.
A couple things I've noticed.
1) The fee went up on November 24th of this year to $585 USD. (Missed cheaper rate by about a week).
2) The US government website that outlines the requirements seems to make it sound like you do not need 4 copies of the G-325A and 2 copies of the I-192 anymore and only require one of each. I tried to confirm this with US preclearance here in Halifax but they could not confirm that was correct so to be safe I submitted 4 G-325As and 2 I-192s like before.
I've received 3 updates from Pardons Canada and it has almost been 2 years since I filed with them.
I still don't know if the pardon process has been completed or not and getting a reply from them is like winning the lottery.
I just renewed my I-194 this past summer as it expires Feb 2011. The processing time was about 4 months, less than the 6 months I had expected. I just received another 5 year I-194. The only negative I can see with submitting your application 11 months early, is that when they issue the next I-194 to you it expires 5 years from date of issue, not 5 years from when your previous I-194 expires. So it's conceivable that you may have 6 months of overlap on your I-194's. I know I felt a bit jipped with 2.5 months of overlap.
Good luck!
Hi Eric.
Congratulations on getting your I-I94. I was at the Peace Arch crossing to submit my forms. I thought I had everything, but they would not accept my application. They said I did not have enough Affidavits, but they would not explain what they meant. The only affidavit I included was my explanation of the crime and the sentence. Do you know what they are referring to?
I included the court documents relating to my case. My situation is a bit different as I took someone across the border claiming they were Canadian in the pre-passport days. I gave them any documents relating to the case and that seemed to be enough for them. I went to the truck crossing to file my renewal.
How do i obtain a certified criminal record check with a pardon? It clearly states in the how to obtain pardoned crim record check for a waiver that you need to use the Privacy act form and c216c. It clearly states on the privacy act website that using the privacy act will not result in getting a certified copy. Homeland Security requires a certified copy...what do i do ?Going to reapply as mine(5)year expires in Dec 2011. Previously did not have a pardon.
'Highwayman' can apply at any Corps of Commissionaires office and receive, quite quickly, a copy of his certied criminal record check. They do it electronically which really speeds it up.
Otherwise you have to do the 'slow' process via a local police force.
Just received my 3rd Waiver
Got another 5 year. Time waiting was 3months and 1week.
Highly recommend the Commisionaires fingerprint service. great service and advice.
Also highly recommend you get the waiver package from a port of entry. The one at the Calgary airport is excellent. Follow it to a tee. If you are missing anything, they will not accept your application. The online package at US Border and Customs is not complete and will not be accepted.
The quick turn around is encouraging, I am am applying for my first renewal and have heard that 3 years is the standard. This does not appear to be the case from what I have read here.
Have submitted at Pearson Airport in Toronto on September 1, 2010. Now almost six months...does anyone have an update on what the current initial processing time is? Oddly enough no information on that anywhere!
waivers received from consular posts: 30 days processing time, from the time forwarded from the post (consulate processing times unknown).
■Waivers for Canadian citizens: 90-120 days from the time of the initial filing; 75-90 days for subsequent filings.
A foreign citizen seeking admission to the U.S. as a non-immigrant (e.g. TN, H-1B, L-1 visa status), may file an I-192 waiver application in order to enter the U.S. despite being subject to one of the inadmissibility grounds listed in INA § 212 (a).
See AILA National CBP Liaison Meeting (March 25, 2010), AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 10072870. (Posted 07/28/10).
Update on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 11:12AM by Brian D. Zuccaro, Esq.
Please note that these are approximate processing times. Our office has received reports of I-192 waiver application processing taking up to 6 months or more (even for renewals). In fact, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's web page on I-192 Waivers now states that a full review can take up to 6 months or longer.
I've applied for my I-192renewal on Dec 08, 2010 at Champlan,NY.I received the following response, to my status inquiry.
"Your application was received and is being processed. Due to the individual circumstances of each waiver application, there is not a set timeframe to give as to when an application decision will be completed".
I'm not sure how long the renewal process take.
With regards to timeframe for waivers...applied for my waiver at Pearson airport in Toronto on September 1, 2010.
Just received it in the mail.
Approximately 9 months of waiting.
I've recieved my second waiver today by mail.It was approved on Apr 18, 2011 and is valid for three years from the date of approval.Total processing time is over four and half months.
I am so greatful for maintaining this blog, without this blog it wouldnot have been possible to apply on my own.
Thank you all for sharing your experiences.
Best wishes to All the members.
I have applied for my first US Entry Waiver and submitted the paperwork and payment at the CBP office at the Edmonton Airport, on May 30th 2011. Does anyone know how long it takes to actually receive the waiver?
Hi, I am just starting the process of application for a US Waiver I-192. Do I have to submit 2 letters from reputable members of the community and a letter from my employer? I did not see anyone mentioning this in your checklist.
In 2009 I entered the usa on a student visa when I went to go visit family may 2011 in canada and crossed the border to return back the the usa I got stoped they checked my criminal record and found out that I had been charged with fraud of writing a back check and told me I could not return back to school or the usa until I get a usa waiver. I finally was able to apply for my waiver in january of 2012. It has been a long time and I am wondering if anyone knows how long this process takes. I have heard 3-12 months or more. All I want to do is return back to school and finish my education.
I say do not expect anything earlier than 9 months... just my 2 cents from what I have been reading. Especially for a new application. It seems renewals are faster.
I am now in month 4 and waiting...
hth
Actually I would like to follow up on this since I just received my 1 year waiver today. It is my first one... so confirms the fact that the initial one is usually granted for a 1 year period.
Applied for it in november 2011 and received approval now in April 2012.
It was not for criminal record offense in my case but for a previous overstay.
HTH
Post a Comment