US Waiver for Canadians

Whether denied entry to the US because of an overstay, criminal record or other reason, the visa application is often unnecessarily bureaucratic. The following is list of important reference links that will hopefully assist you in successfully being permitted into the US for travel. Forms: I-192 waiver application   G-325A, Biographic Information   RCMP fingerprint form C-216C (info site)   All other US Immigration forms   Background information about the  United States Waiver of Inadmissibility (Wikipedia) Do you actually need it? US waiver inadmissibility decision chart Discuss your application:  I-194 Waiver forum   Ask a question, get an answer  

Not YouTube Everyone who reads this blog already knows that you don't need a lawyer to get an I-194 US waiver. The application and interview – although bureaucratic – is something you can do yourself. Well, it's the same with a Record Suspension (formally called a Pardon) and the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) is doing their best to teach the public this important fact. The Parole Board of Canada on YouTube Last February the PBC created a YouTube channel that already has a surprisingly good list of helpful content. While not recognized by the US , it's still quite obvious that getting a Record Suspension is a good idea. If you've started your application and need some help, PBC has created this short 4 minute video " Tips for completing a Record Suspension Application ". The main point PBC is trying to share is that you don't need a pardon services company to make an application for a Record Suspension. To emphasize this point, PBC has even crea...

I flew down with family during the holiday from Ottawa to St Petersburg, Florida and stayed through January 1st. Although it was Christmas break, customs and border protection seemed to be lightly staffed as we were the last flight of the day heading to the US. As with all other times – when travelling with my wife and children – we were not passed on to secondary screening. Once the border officer had taken my digital fingerprints and mug shot we were sent on our way. Quite painless. Total time through customs was less than 5 minutes. Of note, Ottawa pre clearance has not yet implemented the  automated passport control systems  which have been popping up in other parts of Canada.

The I-194 waiver is typically issued in durations of 1, 3 or 5 year increments. Here's another poll on the duration of entry waivers. Take a moment and provide your feedback below.

This month, US Customs and Border Protection introduced their new Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks at the Edmonton Airport pre clearance US entry facility. The new kiosks are intended to expedite the entry process by eliminating the need to fill out the blue paper customs declaration form. US and Canadian passport holders and international visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries are eligible to use APC kiosks. The kiosks can even be used by more than one person at a time, if they live at the same address. There are five steps to the automated process: scan your passport, take your photo using the APC kiosk, answer the customs declaration questions using the touchscreen, collect your receipt and proceed to a USCBP officer to complete the process. APC is a free service and does not require pre-registration or membership. If you are an I-194 waiver holder and used the kiosk, please leave a comment about your experience.

Just a reminder about this free and indispensable US entry waiver resource. Held each Wednesday at 12pm eastern, immigration legal expert Laurel Scott hosts a live chat. I took advantage of the most recent session and asked the following with regards to a question I had about my inadmissibility: canadianwithwaiver: First, thanks in advance for your support. Canadian with 2 criminal convictions (both theft under $1K) who travels to the US with an I-194 waiver. I found the following on state.gov about how ARO accesses admissibility. Specifically: "if you have more than one conviction, CIMT or otherwise for which the aggregate sentence was more than 5 yrs, you are inadmissible.” The combined for my summary convictions is 1 year although as stated, I have 2 convictions. So my question is: is the determination of inadmissibility based on more than 1 CIMT or is it based on the aggregate of those sentences? I am trying to determine if I might be eligible for something called a Septem...

Yesterday US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released an app to help travellers cross the border more quickly and easily. Initially available for Android and iOS, the CBP Border Wait Times app provides estimated wait times and open lanes status. Aiming to provide a bit of holiday relief for Canadian travellers', the app breaks down those wait times at each crossing by lane type (Standard, Sentri, FAST, Ready Lane, Nexus, etc.). Finally, using the smartphone's GPS, the app can also locate your nearest port of entry and best route to the border. The Android version is available in the Google Play Store The iOS version for iPhone, iPad and iPod can be found in the App Store