I have crossed the border 3 times with a waiver in the past 11 months:
1. First time: by bus (Peace arch)- If you travel by bus, all passengers have to go to the office for passport control. They didnt ask me any questions on my inadmissibility, just the usual set of questions, which I found surprising as it was my first time entering with a waiver. Made me pay the I-94 fee (USD 30), and let me in.

Also, I first handed the agent my passport, and whilst he was looking at it, I mentioned I had a waiver. He told me to always present the waiver together with the passport.
2. Second time: by Car to Seattle (Peace Arch): was sent to secondary to pay I-94 fees as my previous I-94 had expired. No questioning besides the usual questions, but he went out to check my car.
3. Third time: Flight from YVR airport: He just asked me where I was going and when I was returning. He acknowledged the waiver printout and never really looked at it (which I think is a good sign. they have everything on the computer anyways). it was 2 minutes at max.

Given my own experience and of others I have read, I think the secondary is warranted depending on your background and on the officer. Mine was a one-time Cannabis offence at the border background.

@ConcernedCanadian2

Ok, I had 1 September Letter (at JFK) and no other waivers revoked arbitrarily. 1 other September Letter 2 years ago, he also had it revoked.

I have had 2 clients where they had waivers, and they asked them to come back with further evidence. Not revoked.

The only waivers I had revoked were because of criminal activity or misrepresentation.

@J Rogers Thanks for your opinions on ICE and Trump and what speculate will happen at the midterms and afterwards.

But you didn't answer:

-Concrete numbers as to how many of your clients have had their Waivers revoked, from the homeland security officers. You said that you've had many. Not nexus cards.

-How frequently do waivers getting revoked happen? Of the hundreds you do per year, how many does this happen to?

I'm looking to start the waiver process next week with you, but you mentioned in a previous post that you've had clients report that waivers are getting taken away from homeland security! i'm not sure I want to spend the large amount of money on the waiver process if they're just going to revoke it, like you mentioned.

Can you please advise on my specific questions. Maybe have a politics speculation about midterms elsewhere?

@ConcernedCanadian

I have seen 3 Nexus cards revoked. I have seen 2 American Citizens killed in cold blood by ICE. (then called "terrorists") These are exceptions to the rule, but they DID happen. Its important I let people KNOW what is going on.

As you can see by the messages, the majority of people (95% I would say) are getting through with most reported "hassles". So it is likely you will have no actual PROBLEM when you have a waiver, more likely delays.

In November Trumps party is going to lose the House and the Senate. The heads of a lot of these departments, like Homeland Security, ICE, Department of Defence, FBI....these idiots who were NEVER qualified to run these departments will be impeached. Even if they cannot remove them, it will force them to change.

I actually think the head of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, (he qualified to run the department by having a plumbing business, wrestling in college and having 5 MMA fights) will be "adjusting" some of what happens at the border, after mid terms, if nothing else to avoid problems for himself.

I will be honest and say my clients who are white males seem the most "scared". Why? White guys can usually feel like they won't be picked on, and the thought that you might be treated badly is much harder to take, than for someone born in a place that the US already hates, like Iran, Somalia, or Pakistan.

I post when people report trouble, but the VAST majority are getting through, mainly more secondaries are the problem.

Although it is not great for business overall, I fully support people who are Proud to Be Canadian, and won't spend money in a place that doesn't appreciate them, although I think we can agree Americans by and large are fine, is MAGA and Trump (and his terrible poll numbers) that don't appreciate us.

@J Rogers This is super alarming and worrisome and warrants a larger discussion of should we even be getting waivers at all and save ourselves the money? As the expert, can you give some more concrete numbers as to how many of your clients have had their Waivers revoked from the homeland security officers? How frequently does this happen? Of the hundreds you do per year, how many does this happen to? Must be a lot to bring this up.

I was about to contact you next week to start the waiver process but if they're revoking multiple waivers then there's surely no point to it, right?

@TheThinker

Great post. I am sure other people will appreciate it.

First, I think you are misunderstanding that 6 month stamp in your passport. Its also not your fault. We take Homeland Security at face value and assume they are accurate, and truthful, and sometimes, much like typical "cops" neither is true.

You are STILL subject to "normal" examination with a September letter (just like a guy with no waiver) but you are showing them something that indicates you were at least "inadmissible" once. So they are acting like "how did this guy get this? What did he do?" Thats why the secondaries.

Secondly. I have had waivers and September Letter taken away from people just because the officer didn't like they were given it. That arbitrary.

Third, the stamp is supposed to mean "this guy had a secondary, leave him alone for 6 months".

But under Trump, these guys are getting CREDIT for stopping people, so they are looking for ANY excuse, although SOME officers are just like they always were.

Guy with a September Letter here...(which I thought was supposed to allay the concerns of a typical waiver).

I've travelled to the US about 6 times this year. I've been put in Secondary EVERY SINGLE TIME. Two and a half hours at LAX was the longest. Every other time it's been 45 minutes to an hour plus (even when I was the only person in Secondary that entire time )... YYC and Pearson.

They've been very aggressive with their questioning and twice have limited my stay which seems draconian seeing as when I entered the US on May 12th, 2026 that admitting officer (actually he straight up asked me why I was in Secondary as he seemed perplexed why I was there)... he gave me until to November 14th, 2026 but every other officer has not adhered to that. One officer even limited my stay to July 13th knowing full well I was supposed to be in Dallas for the semi-final World Cup game on July 14th. I have NEVER been rude, impolite or argumentative with the officers because I'm very well aware it's a completely asymmetrical relationship and being anything but polite and calm is surely counter-productive.

Two officers told me I'd be put in Secondary every single time. I'm a born and raised Canadian citizen. Filed a redress application and still get Secondary. I have no criminal record nor have I ever been arrested. My only offense was an overstay from over 12 years ago.

Really this is frustrating and annoying. I'm at a loss and it seems the officers will just fabricate things about me. Really just mean-spiritedness, cruelty and bullying.

Went to 2 trips to the U,S. This summer. Went to secondary both times. First time was a 50 minute wait (my longest ever - almost missed my flight). The second time was a 12 minute wait. Extremely smooth.

I have been hearing this from clients, although some also say "they get waved through". The consensus seems to be MORE secondaries, more inspections, therefore more delays.

Arrive no less than 3 hour before your flight. You will taken to secondary and the wait can be long. We crossed in June.