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First Post - Day 1

Hello. I'm a Canadian who works in the High Tech industry. I've done so for the last 15 years. I'm in my early 40s and my job requires frequent travel to the US. On average I spend between 30 to 50 days in the US per year. While considering a new management role, I was asked by the company I work for to apply for a US work visa (an L1B). Thinking that this was a good opportunity for advancement, I went ahead and applied for the visa.

The process involved my company's legal department drafting up some papers. While traveling to the US on one occasion I arrived at the airport early to submit my application and have my interview. Strangely for me, at one point during the interview the officer left the room briefly. He returned to ask me if I had ever had a criminal record. I did. I had been involved in delinquent activity when i was 18 and unsuccessfully attempted to steal a car stereo and then a second attempt to steal an actual car. On the first occasion I received a warning but for the second I was charged with theft under a $1,000. I paid a small amount of restitution and was on probation for 1 year. Afterwards, I went to college, straightened out my life and never looked back... until now.

The officer informed me that with a criminal record, not only could he not process my application for the work permit, but that I would now be inadmissible to the USA - FOREVER! In order to return, I would need to file for a waiver. The waiver is called an I-192. It would permit me to travel to the United States for business and leisure for short periods of time.

This blog is about my experience of applying for and hopefully receiving that waiver. I hope my experience will help others as I plan to post often.
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