Any first timers have any recent updates ?
I’m waiting since Nov 10 2023 for first time applicant
Definitely encouraging seeing some November's start to come in recently on here
Hang in there guys ours will come
Please update when you receive yours

I’m praying for you all. I know there’s processes in place but i pray the each application will be approved and divine speed will be each applicants portion.

@CruelSummer Its is not common for waivers to suddenly not be approved, when in the past they have been approved. Unless you did a terrible job with the application.

But something tells me it is simply a matter of they haven't gotten to your waiver yet.

It's not just first timers...
I have been waiting for my third waiver since Dec 8th 2023. The other two took 4 and 5 months respectively to be approved, this is now approaching 9 months. I have had to cancel 3 trips that were planned and some were paid for. It is absolutely ridiculous and even more disheartening to hear about people that applied in Jan, Feb, March and April getting them before me. It has ruined my summer, but what do the ARO care?

@JohnRogers - in your opinion, if a renewal has taken this long after being so quickly renewed before is it a likely denial? Have you heard about a waiver being denied after multiple approvals like this?

@CHI hope you hear something soon, its very frustrating to wait for so long. I don't know what is the average processing time for the first timer. They are processing the renewal very quick, I don't understand that.

@MarkD still waiting from October 19th, 2023
Don't understand

Any update from anybody here? I am Dec1, still waiting.

I’m really starting to worry as well that November and December applications have somehow gotten forgotten
How do we alert them of this without getting the same old response
It’s concerning and so disheartening:(

first timer been waiting since December 4th

Hmmm then i wonder how others are getting a response within 5-6 months

First time, submitted Dec 01, still waiting.

I'm also a first timer, unfortunately one of those waiting since November 3, 2023. Im almost starting to think that the Nov-Dec applications got misplaced somewhere

First timer, submitted Dec 3, still waiting…

I am waiting since Nov 30th 2023 for my first time waiver. Seems the aro are full of crap that the applications are handled in order received. If that was the case people in March 2024 would not be getting their applications until mine was complete.