@Hali31

This type of waiver can hinge a lot on saying the right things in the personal letter. There has to be a clear "arc" of change, and reasons why you are a different person.

"The reason you want to go" is a trap. When you file certain applications (like an I-601) the reasons are front and center; in this application it NEVER helps unless its something like "experimental" cancer treatment or something like that.

This is not an impossible waiver, but it is a challenging one. "Immigration Lawyers" doing waivers is like asking a painter to change your oil. They are good at what they actually DO, but waivers are a sideline to them. I can tell because he allowed you to write your own letter, which means they couldn't care less if you succeed, or even send other people to them, they just want the money, to do barely any work, and they can spend time on the things they are good at.

When you do waivers constantly, in high volume, and you take each application as a personal challenge, then you gain the experience to not only be better at success, but you can be more honest about people who should NOT apply. People appreciate experience, and integrity.

I discourage clients from writing their own letter, simply because I take person accountability and I leave no stone unturned. No one likes a waiver that is denied, it crushes your spirit and it is a waste of money.

If someone tells you, who is not an expert to "write a letter", then that is the ONLY red flag you need. The other is fingerprinting. If a professional tells you they cannot fingerprint, but do a lot of waivers, I would dispute that claim.

In 2002 I was charged with Fraud over $5000.00 ( $14,300.00) I plead guilty and paid restitution. My sentence was 6 months conditional sentence- House arrest and two years probation plus two months community service.
In 2007 I was charged with Uttering a Forged Document, I plead guilty and received a $750.00 fine.
In 2015 I was charged with 5 counts of Fraud over $5000.00 ( $21,000.00) I plead guilty and paid restitution. My sentence was five years probation with strict counselling requirements.
I had crossed the border many times between 2002 and 2016 with no issue and one trip across I was stopped and pulled into secondary and told I could not cross again without a Waiver.

In 2016 I applied on my own for a waiver ( I was still on Probation) and was denied with the reason being not enough Rehabilitation and with a pattern of over 20 years of crime I was a risk.

In June 2024, I reapplied for a waiver with my biometrics being done at the Peace Bridge and last week this waiver was also denied- 5.5 years after my sentence ended and 10 years after I was sentenced. The reasoning this time was not enough time had passed since my sentence ended, no proof of counselling and in my personal statement ARO had wanted frequency of my counselling while on probation and letters from the therapists and probation officer I worked with for my five years on Probation. ARO also stated I did not have enough rehabilitation and that my reasoning for wanting a Waiver ( to visit my son and his family) did not outweigh my risk to the USA. I hired an immigration lawyer to help with this waiver and I did all the work I was hoping that the lawyer might have tweeked my personal statement or let me know if I should add more to my waiver package but he said it all looked good and submitted it through Esafe. In 2019 when my probation ended I left my husband and moved five hours away, bought a house secured a good job and started over but I am feeling pretty hopeless in ever getting to the US. The lawyer does not recommend appealing the decision but recommends just reapplying for another waiver.

Thank you so much, Man !

YES ABSOLUTELY. The older the conviction the better. Anything over 10 years is better than under. 20 or 30 years even better.

thank you very much my friend,

it means, when these convictions would have happened like 20 or 30 years ago my chances would be higher?

Time is the biggest factor. Your age not as much. Fraud can be tricky, lately they want transcripts to see how involved you were, and they have been asking about the restitution being paid.