I submitted my request for additional information response on Nov 22 and haven't heard anything back. I was worried that despite the E-Safe system saying that my response was submitted, that they hadn't actually received it.

I wrote to ARO via email 20 minutes ago asking them to confirm if they indeed did receive my additional documents, and this is the response I received (10 minutes later):

Your application is on file with the Admissibility Review Office. Your I-72 response information has been received. It is currently pending further review. Due to the individual circumstances of each waiver application, there is not a set timeframe to give as to when an application decision will be completed.

At least I received a straight response! A little piece of mind.

@Fardesi

It wasn't down for 3 days. It was down for less than a day, obviously. I wasn't trying to log in when everyone was posting that it was down, I logged in before (I assume) and then the next day when the situation was fixed, I logged in again. We had a case of covid, so we are only doing part time days this week and not seeing clients until the covid quarantine is over. Back to normal Monday.

I assure you, I am using the same eSAFE everyone else is.

@jRogers how are you pulling status updates on e-safe for 1-10-2022 when e-safe was down for past three days...

@J Rogers It's fixed now!

I'm still scratching my head on my applications though. I submitted my response for additional information on Nov 22, and nothing back since. What I provided to them was crystal clear court records that all charges in relation to previous arrest back in 2008 had been dropped. You would think that them requesting additional information would be the last piece prior to a decision. I assume my application will be denied, since my overstay happened just last year, but hell, tell me already!

I wrote to ARO with a concern that perhaps they didn't actually receive my responses, although it says so on E-safe, and they wrote back a generic message as though I was inquiring as to the status of my applications. I was not, I wanted to confirm that they indeed received my response and additional documents that they requested. It's as though they didn't even read my email. I have emailed them twice since with no reply. Maddening.

I logged in for the last time yesterday before 2 I think (EST) and it (eSAFE) was working then. I didn't try to log in after. I am sure it was just timing. I didn't do any files, just logged in to download 2 waivers that were granted. We have a covid case in our office (from the weekend) so we are only doing paperwork and phones, not seeing any actual clients for the rest of this week.

I will be logging in today to do some work, so hopefully its fixed.

@J Rogers How were you able to get your e-safe updates today when e-safe has been down since last night for everyone? There has been a databased breach within Salesforce (the platform e-safe is build on) and nobody can access it. Just curious.

As of TODAY, January 10 2022, here are my most recent 4 waivers granted. The Timeline is now OVER 30 days from the date you are at the border. I am now advising people 30-40 days. (from submitted to ARO)

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
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Status History (5)
1/6/2022, 10:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
12/3/2021, 09:30 AM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/29/2021, 10:45 AM EST : Status changed to Paid
11/29/2021, 10:44 AM EST : Status changed to Signed
9/8/2021, 03:16 PM EDT : Application Created

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Status History (5)
1/7/2022, 08:00 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
12/2/2021, 05:45 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/29/2021, 04:30 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
11/29/2021, 04:29 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
11/23/2021, 10:30 AM EST : Application Created

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Status History (5)
1/10/2022, 11:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
12/7/2021, 04:00 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
12/1/2021, 04:17 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
12/1/2021, 04:15 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
10/20/2021, 11:28 AM EDT : Application Created

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Status History (5)
1/10/2022, 09:17 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
12/13/2021, 12:00 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
12/7/2021, 10:34 AM EST : Status changed to Paid
12/7/2021, 10:33 AM EST : Status changed to Signed
12/3/2021, 02:35 PM EST : Application Created

Congratulations Michelle on clearing the backlog. I would be in a similar situation had my local border not been accepting waivers since May.

Here are a few waivers that came in during the holidays. Most recent granted yesterday. All 5 year waivers. One was one of these ridiculous "prostitution" waivers. She was almost 5 years out, and I am thrilled she got a 5 year waiver on her first try. I am still getting a number of clients from this "crackdown", and am happy to report in most cases, 5 year waivers.

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ARO Decision
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Status History (5)
12/22/2021, 10:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
11/23/2021, 08:00 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/9/2021, 02:13 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
11/9/2021, 02:11 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
9/8/2021, 04:12 PM EDT : Application Created

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Status History (5)
12/29/2021, 02:00 PM EST : Status changed to Completed
11/30/2021, 12:30 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/22/2021, 02:57 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
11/22/2021, 02:46 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
11/22/2021, 09:48 AM EST : Application Created

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Status History (5)
12/22/2021, 11:00 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
11/25/2021, 04:00 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/17/2021, 04:55 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
11/17/2021, 04:53 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
11/3/2021, 02:20 PM EDT : Application Created

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Status History (5)
1/3/2022, 02:30 PM EST : Status changed to Completed
12/2/2021, 05:42 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/25/2021, 10:25 AM EST : Status changed to Paid
11/25/2021, 10:23 AM EST : Status changed to Signed
10/21/2021, 03:38 PM EDT : Application Created

Hi All, Sorry, I have not been on here much, but in the past 6-7 weeks, have filed 23 e-safe applications. This was clean up of all my old files of people who did not deliver before COVID, all were renewal waivers.. I will not post all of them, but the waivers are starting to come through. I am finding a few glitches with e-safe, as sometimes the email works, and sometimes it does not. I also find that it shuts down or freezes up frequently. Overall, I still like it better then the old system. Here is a recent timeline:

11/20/2021 - Application created
11/26/2021 - Status changed to Signed
11/26/2021 - Status changed to Paid
11/27/2021 - Status changed to Submitted to ARO
12/29/2021 - 30 days to print decision - 5 year waiver

Beginning January, I will start accepting new clients. Have a great New Year..

Here is an example of a first time applicant, who had a waiver denied. See the timeline difference contrasting the fast response when it is granted. . I will give some details to give some insight as to why this was denied.

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ARO Decision
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ARO Decision
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Status History (5)
12/23/2021, 01:00 PM EST : Status changed to Completed
9/16/2021, 05:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
9/14/2021, 03:40 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
9/14/2021, 03:37 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
8/30/2021, 02:11 PM EDT : Application Created

Also, quick notes
-3 trafficking convictions, last one in 2015
-sentence of 3 years.
-crack cocaine, and the last conviction was Oxy, but he was actually not selling it, he was trying to purchase it for a friend who was in pain.
-they accepted remorse, but he was light on 2 things. Rehabilitation, and details. They specifically seemed to want to know if he was part of an organization, and more details about quantities sold, how long he had been dealing drugs etc. He did provide a drug test.
-They said because it was 3 aggravated felonies, and they seemed to indicate they were taking trafficking more seriously because of the damage they are seeing due to drugs.

As always, I always do the waiver again for free. In this clients case, we will bolster the rehabilitation, reply to every concern in the letter, and wait until next year to try again. The more time that elapses, the better the chances.

Just wanted everyons to reflect on the past year and become a better person for the upcoming year. Safe travels and Happy Holidays.

this will be my last post of Waiver timelines until January 2022. Here are my 4 most recent including one today.

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Status History (5)
11/26/2021, 10:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
11/9/2021, 11:00 AM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/3/2021, 02:12 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
11/3/2021, 02:09 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
11/2/2021, 10:24 AM EDT : Application Created

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
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Status History (5)
12/20/2021, 09:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
11/24/2021, 09:30 AM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/18/2021, 04:37 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
11/18/2021, 04:35 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
11/11/2021, 10:23 AM EST : Application Created

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ARO Decision
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Status History (5)
12/21/2021, 02:30 PM EST : Status changed to Completed
11/23/2021, 04:30 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/22/2021, 03:36 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
11/22/2021, 03:35 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
11/18/2021, 10:44 AM EST : Application Created

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
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Status History (5)
12/22/2021, 02:30 PM EST : Status changed to Completed
11/22/2021, 03:30 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/19/2021, 04:23 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
11/19/2021, 04:22 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
9/2/2021, 02:03 PM EDT : Application Created

@ChrisDaB

Remember, the United States isn't like Canada. They don't give as much time off. Historically, I have always had clients receiving waivers between Christmas and New Years, and that was by mail. Now with eSAFE, people will absolutely receive waivers during the holidays. Waivers will continue on days that are not holidays. Don't forget as well that last Christmas there were no waivers being granted, so my information is from the Christmas before. Homeland Security only started giving out waivers to essential truck drivers in early 2021, and to everyone non-essential since May 2021.

Hey is anyone receiving any decisions at this point so close to Christmas or do you think we are all waiting until new year now?

@bob194

Yes I have noticed it really varies. Some clients, no fingerprints at all. Others, fingerprints, and sometimes even DNA. Remember, Homeland Security PAYS the FB! just over $11 for each set of fingerprints. So maybe this is a way on saving money on applications where it isn't needed. Just guessing.

@J Rogers Looks like they are not even taking finger prints if applying for waiver renewal . may be they only take finger prints if applying first time or never applied at border earlier.

@bob194 only original was the RCMP finger print... everyting else was copies of copies (court documents/prior waivers)

The purpose of the trip to the border is to:

-get fingerprinted
-show documents
-sometimes they do DNA

There is no need to take the actual forms, (I-192) but YOU MUST have the original document from the RCMP. The rest can be photocopies of the documents you uploaded.

@J Rogers
Can you please give your suggestion ?
Do we need to show all originals ? I got reference letter in email which I uploaded, do not have original hard copy with me.

@Fardesi Do we need to show all originals ? I got reference letter in email which I uploaded, do not have original hard copy.