US Waiver for Canadians

I successfully received my Pardon from the Parole Board of Canada back in 2013 after a gruelling three year wait. Ill-advised, I applied with assistance from the organization,  Pardons Canada . I later determined they added little value to the process (you really can file for a Pardon on your own) . Fortunately, I received my Pardon before it evolved into it's current form as the Harper-initiated " Record Suspension " (a somewhat diluted version of the old Pardon) . Fast forward to a few months ago. I had the opportunity to do some volunteer work with an organization which requires participants to provide a Background Check ( Records Check ). It was my first chance to see whether or not the Pardon had successfully wiped my records from CPIC . Obviously, I had some reservations as to whether or not my records had actually been wiped (not everything always goes as planned) . As this was a last-minute opportunity, I decided to apply for an express Record Check (same da...

Note: Starting July 1st 2014, the RCMP will only accept electronic fingerprint submissions for the purposes of obtaining a waiver or other civil cause. Processing times currently range from 22 weeks for paper submission to under 3 business days for electronic submission. Contact one of the accredited companies or police services to submit your fingerprints electronically. See notice on the main page of the Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services site:  http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/fing-empr2-eng.htm

Note: this is an update on the process of determining and obtaining an I-194 waiver of inadmissibility. How can a Canadian citizen apply for a waiver to enter the United States if they have been or are likely to be denied admission either because of their criminal history or because they overstayed a previous visit? There are many reasons a person may be ineligible to enter the U.S. The legal descriptions are lengthy and complex, so to help you understand them, I am providing a general description of the most common ones. This list should not be taken as a complete list of reasons to be excluded from entry. In general, you might be denied entry if you have a communicable disease, if you have a criminal record for crimes of moral turpitude (age 18 or older) , for possession of or trafficking in a controlled substance, if you have any involvement with terrorism or terrorist organizations (no waivers can be approved for this category) , if you have trafficked in persons, been invol...

About to reapply? If your most recent set of fingerprints from the RCMP is less than 15 months old, you won't need a new copy. Here's some additional information recently updated on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Find an Answer web site: Reapplying for a Waiver of Inadmissibility, using it for business or pleasure, validity period of a waiver

Question: Do I need to re do the  C-216C  with fingerprint chart and resubmit it to the RCMP for a date stamp and endorsement? Answer: Yes, for each renewal, you will have to resubmit C-216C to the RCMP. You can now file electronically at many of the accredited fingerprinting agencies throughout Canada that utilize the Canadian Real Time Identification Services Division ( CCRTIS ). Processing time by the RCMP if electronically filed is  dramatically reduced .

From wikipedia:  The Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) is the central police database where Canada's law enforcement agencies can access information on a number of matters. It is Canada's only national law enforcement networking computer system ensuring officers all across the country can access the same information.  So how does it work? The first step A criminal history file is created the first time an individual is charged by police. In most cases, it will be reported by the charging police service to the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), a central database. It is supposed to be destroyed by CPIC after five years if there is no disposition in the case. After a conviction If the charge results in a conviction, a permanent file – a "criminal record" – is created. Cases where there is an acquittal, or charges are stayed or withdrawn, also remain in the national system and, depending on the nature of the case, are purged after a set amount of time...

Still waiting for your criminal record check? The RCMP has provided an email address for which you can check the status. Email civilnps@rcmp-grc.gc.ca providing ONLY the following information: Your full name Your date of birth Type of application you submitted – (Vulnerable Sector Check, Criminal Record Check) Date your application was submitted to the RCMP Daytime phone number where you can be reached on weekdays source:  http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/app-dem-eng.htm

Wait times for a criminal record checks seem to have been getting much better particularly if you use the electronic fingerprint submission. RCMP recently updated their site for processing times. I received my most recent criminal record check in about 8 business days after it was electronically submitted through Morpho in Ottawa. source:  http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/time-temps-eng.htm

After much hesitation, consideration and a little bit of research I have decided to apply for a pardon. What's a pardon? A pardon allows people who were convicted of a criminal offence, but have completed their sentence and demonstrated they are law-abiding citizens, to have their criminal record kept separate and apart from other criminal records. Pardons are issued by the federal government of Canada. This means that any search of the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) will not show that you had a criminal record, or that you were issued a pardon. CPIC is the information system which the US CBP (Customs and Boarder Protection) share and use to check if a Canadian individual entering the US has a criminal record. If you've never been stopped while crossing into the US and the CBP has never searched CPIC, then potentially you can apply for a pardon and have you record removed from this database. In my situation, having a pardon does not help for US travel as I am...

I thought it might be useful to briefly recap the steps needed to apply for the I-194 (advance permission to enter the United States) after being denied entry at the US border (you can read about when I was refused entry and my background here ). Find your local fingerprint office (call to see if you need an appointment). Bring your passport and $25 CDN. See this previous post for details. Mail the C-216C form to the RCMP. Include a check for processing ($25 CDN). Refer to this post . Wait up to 2 months for a reply... When you receive your completed C-216C from the RCMP ensure it includes the fingerprint chart with a date stamp and the documentation related to your conviction and disposition. See this post about when I received mine. Complete a personal statement regarding your intended activities in the US. If you are inadmissible because of a criminal conviction you must also complete a statement explaining the circumstances of each arrest, conviction and the sentence or fi...

I called the Border Protection office today and an Officer advised me that they don't make appointments - just show up in person to submit the application. He reminded me to bring $265.00 (US), my passport, and the rest of the items from the checklist. Here it is again: Completed and signed I-192 form Form G-325A (get it here ) The completed fingerprint chart C-216C which was endorsed and time dated by the RCMP (see previous post on where to get this) Canadian passport The copy of my court record, conviction and disposition (which I received from the RCMP - see this post ) My personal statement regarding my intended activities in the US A personal statement explaining the circumstances of my conviction There was another requirement (FD-258, another fingerprint chart) but this is completed by the Border Protection Officer when I submit my application.

It's been over 2 months now since I was found ineligible to the United States based on a 20 year old indiscretion. It's almost a month since I mailed my C-216C to the RCMP. Unfortunately I have yet to receive a reply. Today I found some contact numbers for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection office: Montreal (514) 631-2097 Toronto (416) 929-6011 Winnipeg (204) 783-2206 Calgary (403) 221-1730 Edmonton (780) 890-4486 Vancouver (604) 278-3360 Here's an interesting article from the Edmonton Sun about another unlucky Canadian (and his family) being stopped at the border because of an age old minor criminal conviction. You can read it here .

3 weeks since I mailed my C-216C to the RCMP and still nothing. I've read on a few bulletin boards ( like this one ) that processing times for the I-192 are taking upwards of 10-12 months.

Today I mailed form C-216C to the RCMP. I included a check for $25.00 (the processing fee) and a letter explaining my situation and the need for the official court records form my conviction. In case you need it, the address for the RCMP: PO Box 8885 Ottawa, Ontario K1G 3M8 I sent mine Canada Post Xpresspost.

Today I called my local police department, located the fingerprint office and arrived during lunch to complete my C-216C. The process took a little over 15 minutes. They took my photo (mug shot), fingerprints and in return provided me with the completed form (C-216C) and the address of the RCMP location that I am to send it into. The processing cost $25.00. Don't forget to bring your passport! The purpose of sending this form to the RCMP is so they can endorse and time stamp it. I will also request the copy of the official court record from my actual conviction. I learned that all municipal conviction records are eventually forwarded to the RCMP for storage. For me that conviction is 20 years old so I'm for a change, really happy they keep everything. The guy at the fingerprint office told me that getting the endorsement and record from the RCMP can only be done by mail. The reply should come in within 3-4 weeks. Here's hoping.

Check list for I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter the United States. All listed items below must be provided at the time you present yourself for fingerprinting by the US Customs and Border Protection Service: Completed form I-192 signed and submitted by you (no copies - download it here ) Fingerprint chart FD-258 (this will be done at the time you submit your application by a US Customs Officer) Form G-325A completed and signed by you (download it here ) Completed fingerprint chart C-216C contact the RCMP or your local police department for fingerprint locations you'll need to send this to the RCMP to be endorsed and time dated once returned, you will need to submit it as an original Your passport proving that you are a Canadian citizen A statement regarding the purpose of your intended activities in the US (e.g. business, vacation, etc) A copy of the original court record from the actual court of conviction indicating plea indictment, conviction and disposition for...