Here are some recent ones, just to give you some timelines.

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Status History (5)
3/21/2022, 10:22 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
3/4/2022, 08:30 AM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/2/2022, 08:53 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
3/2/2022, 08:51 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
3/1/2022, 09:29 AM EST : Application Created

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Status History (5)
3/21/2022, 10:22 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
3/4/2022, 12:30 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
2/28/2022, 09:35 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
2/28/2022, 09:34 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
2/25/2022, 01:46 PM EST : Application Created

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Status History (5)
3/24/2022, 09:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
3/2/2022, 12:30 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
2/24/2022, 09:52 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
2/24/2022, 09:48 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
2/24/2022, 09:27 PM EST : Application Created

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Status History (5)
3/9/2022, 10:00 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
2/22/2022, 04:21 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
1/27/2022, 04:08 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
1/27/2022, 04:06 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
1/27/2022, 09:47 AM EST : Application Created

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Status History (5)
3/28/2022, 12:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Completed
3/4/2022, 02:00 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
2/28/2022, 09:16 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
2/28/2022, 09:14 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
2/28/2022, 08:59 PM EST : Application Created

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Status History (5)
3/25/2022, 01:30 PM EDT : Status changed to Completed
11/16/2021, 04:30 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/11/2021, 02:55 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
11/11/2021, 02:52 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
10/26/2021, 03:30 PM EDT : Application Created

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Status History (5)
3/29/2022, 06:30 PM EDT : Status changed to Completed
3/7/2022, 04:00 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/3/2022, 04:10 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
3/3/2022, 04:09 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
1/27/2022, 10:27 AM EST : Application Created

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Status History (7)
4/4/2022, 07:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
4/1/2022, 03:15 PM EDT : Status changed to Request for More Information Response
1/20/2022, 02:00 PM EST : Status changed to Request for More Information
1/14/2022, 12:30 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
1/5/2022, 04:21 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
1/5/2022, 04:19 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
12/10/2021, 10:51 AM EST : Application Created

@J Rogers Thank you very much

@Rae24 No mail any longer. You download the coy to your computer, and save it in one other place as well. Then print out the 2 pages. You need to present the two pages every time you cross. You can obviously now make and use copies.

My timeline

Status History (5)
3/28/2022, 11:00 PM GMT+1 : Status changed to Completed
3/2/2022, 09:30 PM GMT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
2/17/2022, 08:06 PM GMT : Status changed to Paid
2/17/2022, 08:02 PM GMT : Status changed to Signed
2/8/2022, 03:02 AM GMT : Application Created

5 years

@J Rogers I received a PDF file of my waiver. I just want to ask if that PDF copy is the one I need to print and bring it every time I go to the US? or they are going to mail the original copy?

Thank you very much.

Exception to the rule. This client only got a 1 year waiver, and the result took MONTHS. Nov 16th went to the border, almost 5 months to reach a decision.
-1st waiver granted. Had a waiver rejected in 2018 (not done by me)
-Convictions spanning form 1973 to 2013 mainly stealing merchandise from retailers.
-minor drug charge as well

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Status History (5)
3/25/2022, 01:30 PM EDT : Status changed to Completed
11/16/2021, 04:30 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/11/2021, 02:55 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
11/11/2021, 02:52 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
10/26/2021, 03:30 PM EDT : Application Created

@Magnus

Yes absolutely. 2-3 weeks for re-applications, 30 days generally for first time applicants. Guidelines only, not in every case.

@J Rogers
Is there generally a different timeline in how long it takes for waivers to be processed/granted between first time applicants and those who are doing second, third, etc waivers?

For first time waiver applications how long do you figure it takes for a waiver to be granted from the time biometrics are done at the border for “minor” offenses (overstays, etc…)?

@Jimmy

Sounds like you have a sexual assault conviction or something similar.

This is a very difficult waiver, so bear in mind if you are doing it on your own, the personal letter has to be VERY good. I would be shocked if a person with little to no experience wrote a decent letter for an offence like this. Its not just expertise, your trying to not defend yourself, while hitting all the points they want to see on the SORNA chart.

-age of victim is VERY important. Go to the police force who arrested you and see if you can get the police report.
-8 years ago is a relatively short period unless this is a very minor offence.
-go to the probation office, the jail, wherever you served your sentence or did programs. I have had clients with much older records get psychiatric evaluations, letters from counsellors, etc.

My advice? This is NOT a DYI project. If you get assessed as a Tier III offender, you could literally make it impossible to EVER get a waiver.

I applied for a waiver and got an information request. They are asking for proof of the ages of the victims but the official court records don't contain that information. They are also asking for proof of any programs completed, but those programs were completed over 8 years ago through my probation officer and I don't have the paperwork.

2 RECENT ONES The timelines are pretty good. Both are re-applications. 15 and 16 days after being at the border.

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Status History (5)
3/10/2022, 02:30 PM EST : Status changed to Completed
2/24/2022, 09:00 AM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
2/22/2022, 02:49 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
2/22/2022, 02:45 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
2/22/2022, 02:16 PM EST : Application Created

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Status History (5)
3/21/2022, 10:22 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
3/4/2022, 08:30 AM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/2/2022, 08:53 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
3/2/2022, 08:51 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
3/1/2022, 09:29 AM EST : Application Created

Since I like to brag about September Letters and successes, its only fair I also talk about waivers that are NOT successful. In these cases I always warn the client that a rejection is likely and we are fighting an uphill battle. Also, I re-do the application for free, which to me is only fair.

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Status History (5)
3/17/2022, 07:25 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
10/29/2021, 12:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
10/28/2021, 10:20 AM EDT : Status changed to Paid
10/28/2021, 10:18 AM EDT : Status changed to Signed
9/29/2021, 02:12 PM EDT : Application Created

Note the longer, much longer timeline.
Here is the "math" on this rejection. 42 convictions, mainly shoplifting over an 18 year period. ! "serious" conviction where she drove her boyfriend somewhere and he shot someone. 1 marijuana possession. Last conviction 2016.

We did have a letter from Elizabeth Fry and a letter from a Doctor in the US saying her father has terminal cancer. The letter I wrote was 6 pages long.

They commented on everything, as usual, but the main point was 42 convictions over an 18 year period were not mitigated by an 'instant" application 6 years later.

I have a few sexual assault waivers pending right now, and I have had 1 success as I detailed on another post. I am VERY interested in seeing the results and will keep everyone in the loop. One is a person deemed as a Tier III offender, so very "unlikely" to be successful, but we will see.

@Michelle

Same fee, the main reason I use esafe is quicker response time and once the waiver is approved you can print it and go to the border rather than wait for it to arrive in the mail.

Kiwi

@Kiwi, Thank you for information, I have not done an e-safe renewal yet, and am wondering how it was going to work. Was it the same as the first time? Same paperwork, process, fees? I was wondering if it was going to be a simpler process now that it is online..

@Michelle

Michelle, for my first esafe application I only got a 1 year waiver, received it Jan 2020 IIRC so it expired during Covid.

I waited until now to submit my 2nd esafe application as I wasn't sure about going to the border and getting back with incurring a 14 day quarantine or fine.

I'll let you know how this one turns out once I hear back form them.

BTW I've done all my own applications.

The reason my first application was denied was I hadn't waited long enough after my sentence was completed, apparently I needed to wait 5 years before I applied. I think I applied at 4 years 10 months because there was talk about the prices going up and I was anxious to get mine in before it went up.

Kiwi

@Magnus

I was charged with Filing a False Statement relating to Income tax.

So that falls under Moral Turpitude which bans me form entering USA.

@Kiwi - I am interested to know why your 2nd E-safe waiver? Thanks!

@Kiwi
May I ask why you need a waiver?

This is my 3rd time applying, the first time by mail which was declined back in 2017 IIRC, this is my 2nd esafe application.

I went down to Blaine yesterday to show my paperwork and do the biometrics for my esafe application.

The US Customs guys at the booth and in secondary were very stern and serious, remember I'm there voluntarily, and I know I'm not crossing the border, but they treated me like I've done something wrong, 3 officers searched my car for 30 minutes while I was inside. Maybe it was a slow day and they were training new people.

The guys inside were awesome and even though they had trouble with the computers so it took about 45 minutes to finish up the process they were reasonably friendly and personable.

They did discuss whether I needed to provide a DNA sample, but it was decided that I did not.

When I came back to the Canadian border and was asked for my Arrivcan application, I was a bit surprised as I didn't realize I needed one as I was technically not out of the country, but I did, so I had the guy in the booth show me how to upload the app on my phone and then went inside to get more help completing the form.
There were questions about a recent Covid test and because I answered NO to that question it required me to provide all the info where I would quarantine for 14 days, they told me to fill it all in but I was exempt from the actual quarantine, so that was a bit of a scare.

Hope this info helps others going down while the Covid restrictions are in place, BTW no mandatory masks in WA so none of the border people were wearing masks.

Kiwi

Hi all, approved for 2 years. I have a 10 year ban that has less than 2 years left, so 2 years fully covers this. This is a 3rd waiver.

Did biometrics at Rainbow bridge.

Status History (5)
3/7/2022, 08:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
2/22/2022, 04:21 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
2/17/2022, 04:12 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
2/17/2022, 04:09 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
1/25/2022, 11:29 AM EST : Application Created

Here are some recent ones. I wanted to post yesterday but I wanted everyone to see Michelle's post so I waited.
Some highlights
-2 instances where they made them do I-212's and ONE of them resulted in a September Letter.
-Some of these are quite fast, it seems that re-applications are sometimes coming in 2 weeks.
-I also have a few waivers that are taking much longer. So if your waiver isn't as fast as these, do not panic.

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Status History (5)
2/14/2022, 06:00 PM EST : Status changed to Completed
1/27/2022, 04:00 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
1/5/2022, 11:08 AM EST : Status changed to Paid
1/5/2022, 11:02 AM EST : Status changed to Signed
1/4/2022, 03:37 PM EST : Application Created

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Status History (5)
2/1/2022, 02:29 PM EST : Status changed to Completed
1/5/2022, 09:00 AM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
12/14/2021, 04:18 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
12/14/2021, 04:15 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
12/10/2021, 02:23 PM EST : Application Created

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Status History (5)
2/16/2022, 05:00 PM EST : Status changed to Completed
1/28/2022, 02:00 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
12/20/2021, 03:42 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
12/20/2021, 03:40 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
12/15/2021, 11:06 AM EST : Application Created

****SEPTEMBER LETTER**** below
I-212

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Status History (7)
3/1/2022, 10:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
3/1/2022, 01:01 AM EST : Status changed to Request for More Information Response
12/3/2021, 01:00 PM EST : Status changed to Request for More Information
8/17/2021, 03:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
8/5/2021, 03:07 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
8/5/2021, 03:06 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
8/3/2021, 09:23 AM EDT : Application Created

I-192

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Status History (5)
3/1/2022, 10:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
2/10/2022, 10:03 AM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
12/21/2021, 11:23 AM EST : Status changed to Paid
12/21/2021, 11:21 AM EST : Status changed to Signed
12/16/2021, 10:06 AM EST : Application Created

I-192

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Status History (7)
3/3/2022, 12:30 PM EST : Status changed to Completed
3/3/2022, 10:50 AM EST : Status changed to Request for More Information Response
2/8/2022, 01:08 PM EST : Status changed to Request for More Information
1/12/2022, 11:30 AM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
1/8/2022, 11:28 AM EST : Status changed to Paid
1/8/2022, 11:23 AM EST : Status changed to Signed
12/17/2021, 09:55 AM EST : Application Created

I-212

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Status History (5)
3/3/2022, 11:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
3/2/2022, 10:30 AM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
2/24/2022, 05:10 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
2/24/2022, 05:08 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
2/24/2022, 11:11 AM EST : Application Created