My US Waiver Experience

RCMP prints are $25.00 and take 4 months. I have r...

2012-05-26T20:26:58.884-04:00

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.

Rules for receiving a 5-yr waiver are: conviction ...

2012-05-26T20:20:44.508-04:00

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.

We just applied for a waiver today for my husband ...

2012-05-16T18:30:27.942-04:00

We just applied for a waiver today for my husband for the first time. We are hoping for good news at the end of this.

Do you have to let preclearance know you are coming prior to applying?

Simply put, does anyone know the right process to ...

2012-05-11T12:24:47.939-04:00

Simply put, does anyone know the right process to obtain the Petty Offence Exception?

Actually I would like to follow up on this since I...

2012-04-19T11:29:17.927-04:00

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

Actually I would like to follow up on this since I...

2012-04-19T10:59:31.975-04:00

It takes too much of time to be approved. The proc...

2012-04-18T08:55:47.387-04:00

It takes too much of time to be approved. The process is long. Thanks to the author for the efforts.

I say do not expect anything earlier than 9 months...

2012-04-07T13:43:27.339-04:00

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

In 2009 I entered the usa on a student visa when I...

2012-04-04T11:48:56.392-04:00

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.

you will never find any satified customers because...

2012-03-09T16:16:54.890-05:00

you will never find any satified customers because its a scam and they are not afiliated with the government of Canada.Icant beleive this scam is still going

ANDREW TENENBAUM SHOULD BE IN JAIL 4 FRAUD HE IS A...

2012-03-09T16:12:59.460-05:00

ANDREW TENENBAUM SHOULD BE IN JAIL 4 FRAUD HE IS A LIAR AND SHIESTER PLEASE DO NOT GIVE THESE SCAMMERS ANY MONEY BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER GET IT BACK

if your new 2 sign up they will answer your call i...

2012-03-09T16:09:58.352-05:00

if your new 2 sign up they will answer your call if u have a oustanding file you cant get any1 on the phone. YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF THEY DONT DO ANYTHING 4 YOU YOU DO IT YOURSELF ANYWAY AND PAY THEM 4 DOING NOTHING

PARDONS CANADA IS A COMPLETE SCAM

2012-03-09T16:02:46.701-05:00

PARDONS CANADA IS A COMPLETE SCAM

2012-03-09T16:02:13.744-05:00

PARDONS CANADA IS A COMPLETE SCAM

To prove to oneself that a pardon has removed your...

2012-03-05T07:22:43.719-05:00

To prove to oneself that a pardon has removed your record from CPIC, go to your local police, pay them the $25 or whatever they want for a 'criminal record check'.
That's easier & more certain than the comfort of a successful border crossing.
Didn't think of it yesterday!!

If the anonymous poster 'I committed an offenc...

2012-03-04T07:38:43.534-05:00

If the anonymous poster 'I committed an offence when I was 18' has never been denied entry to the US because of the criminal record there should be no problem entering without an Entry Waiver.
US Customs & Border Protection accesses the Canadian Police Information Computer (CPIC) to confirm the existence of a criminal record. Once one obtains a pardon reference to their record is removed from CPIC.
If you really want to feel secure before committing to a trip & don't live too far from the border, try to enter alone. The worst thing that can happen is that you would be refused entry but, based on what you say, I can't see how that could happen.

I committed an offence when I was 18 (1996), I rec...

2012-03-02T08:55:44.855-05:00

I committed an offence when I was 18 (1996), I received a pardon in 2008, did the whole process by myself and didn't find any issues or requests for more info, but I don't remember how long it took to get it. However, for the first time ever I would like to take my kids on a trip possible to Disney, I spoke to US border services (not giving my name or any personal info) and they told me I would never be allowed in the US without a waiver. I was under the impression that once I got a pardon my record was wiped clean she said nope!! When I got home I looked up the waivers... it's $585.00us!!! I've never been outside of Canada so I would never have crossed the border while I had a criminal record there seems to be mixed info every where I look! Some places say if you've never crossed with a criminal record they won't see it, others say they can. Some people seem to be able to go all the time and never have an issue and have never had a pardon. I"m soooo confused!! I want to do the right thing but that's a lot of money just to go there once.

Any advice???

An update with regards to wait time...I had a vali...

2012-02-21T08:32:04.244-05:00

An update with regards to wait time...I had a valid one year waiver that expires mid-March. I applied for a second waiver at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel on November 14th. I received a second waiver, good for 5 years, on February 14th. 90 days! The first waiver took 9 months.

Pardons Canada is an absolute scam. I paid an exhu...

2012-02-14T11:12:14.136-05:00

Pardons Canada is an absolute scam. I paid an exhuberant amount of money to have my case expedited almost 2 years ago. It has been with the national parole board for 16 months and still i have no answer. I was told by Mr. Tannenbaum himself that it would only be 3 months. This is distressing to someone, who yes committed a crime DID THEIR TIME, and is a contributing member of society. I want to get on with my life. Their staff have very bad customer service I found dealing with them emotionally distressing. I went to them in the first place because I didn't want the stress of dealing with the details of reliving my past. Find a more reputable group to deal with. Pardons Canada, these people don't even have a good reputation with the national parole board. As soon as you mention their name you get " oh, I'm so sorry. You know we get that a lot"

Pardons Canada is not a satisfactory service. I re...

2012-02-14T08:45:47.770-05:00

Pardons Canada is not a satisfactory service. I recomend seeking a lawyer or a smaller organziation to look after you. They give not always accurate advice and its hard to get a hold of an agent. Plus they charge an arm and a leg for mailing forms. I say do it yourself

I just received my reply from the RCMP after sendi...

2012-02-06T11:48:28.506-05:00

I just received my reply from the RCMP after sending my fingerprint forms. However, it doesn't sound like it is a C-216C. It a form which declared that I "could not be associated to any existing Criminal Record of conviction which may disclosed in accordance with Federal Laws." i.e. a Criminal Record Check. Was I sent the correct document, I wonder?

Good Information. Thanks.

2012-01-23T01:41:20.930-05:00

Good Information. Thanks.

I've been going to the US for years. I never h...

2012-01-12T20:50:20.244-05:00

I've been going to the US for years. I never had a problem. On January 2nd, 2012 I was headed for Florida to sign the papers at the notary and the bank for a condo I had just purchased.

The agent at the booth told me I was to go for a random check up.

To my surprise the agent performing the check up ask me if I had ever been refused an entry to the US, which I had not, he asked me if I ever was arrested or on probation, I answered no. He continued by mentionning a conviction in 1985, when I was 18 years old..... I didn't even remember this. So I told him the story of how I ended up with the wrong people at the wrong time.

He left me in the office and returned 5 minutes later and allowed me to go through and told me to fix it.

Upon my return last week I searched the web and talk to Parole Canada, the US customs office; etc.... I will be going to the customs office at the airport next week to find out how to fix it.

I will obviously apply for a Canadian Pardon and take the necessary steps to get a US Waiver.

My question is to know if I can still go to the US while my application for a Waiver is in process?

I would appreciate any feedback I can get.

Thanks

After this much has been said, i still believe tha...

2011-12-01T01:09:46.710-05:00

After this much has been said, i still believe that if you are eligible and applied correctly you can get immigration permission.

Just to keep things in perspective, I have been in...

2011-11-24T23:01:35.734-05:00

Just to keep things in perspective, I have been in the process of getting my pardon through this organization for over 2 years.

The first year of this process was filled with repeated letters from PC requesting more information and more forms to fill. This did not seem to unusual, as I am aware that the process can take some time.

This past year has been nothing but waiting. My last message from them stated that the final process can take some time... I believe they said to wait 8-10 months before I should expect an update. This had me a little suspicious, but I decided to wait it out.

It has now been over a year since I have heard anythng from them, and they have not yet replied to any of my email requests for a status update that I sent to them 2-3 weeks ago.

I wish their program director would spend less time on blogs, stating "...as quickly as possible.", and more time ensuring things are actually being done as quickly as possible.

I feel this may have been the biggest waste of time and money I have ever been a part of.

I would suggest that anyone in need of a pardon, just skip the extra costs and do it themselves. Even if you do it wrong the first time and have to start over, it may still be faster and cheaper.