@SarahB it was 6.5k for my visa, and 3.5k for the waiver, but still on the pricier side, so I’d probably go to J Rogers next time. And yes I do have a recommendation which I’m supposed to hear back from within the next 3 months, but that’s still not a 100% slam dunk so I’m stressed out trying to figure out backup plans. I’m gunna see if I can get a free consultation from that firm and see what they did differently for that client (if they were telling the truth), and if I learn anything figured I could report back to this forum too

@DT it’s called I-212 & I-601 Waivers Questions. It’s honestly not helpful for canadians applying thru esafe, but I was desperate and posted my question everywhere slightly relevant and finally found someone in the same boat

@Waiverwaiting you weren’t convicted of the charges you mentioned earlier? If so, why did you need a waiver initially since this is your third you mentioned?

@KatM i find this person story bit hard to believe and because a law firm is big doesn’t mean they know what they’re doing when it comes to waivers. Not trying to tell you how to spend your money but didn’t you say you already put over 8,000 into getting a waiver and wants to sue for the money? You would really put more money into a waiver even though you said that you have a recommendation from the consulate? J Rogers could get you a waiver for far less I’m sure.
Perhaps I’m just reallt too much but I don’t believe someone need to pay thousands of dollars to get a waiver. Imagine paying that kind of money and still don’t have a waiver. You must be doing something wrong so time to reconsider your position on law firms and choose someone with a proven track record of success.

@KatM what’s the name of the waiver group on Facebook? I was never really lucky to come across anything except this site

@Kev I am in the same boat. I actually don’t even have a canadian criminal record but I couldn’t risk being stopped on a business trip because they looked into CPIC one time. I actually went down to the border with my court records and showed them everything and I was then deemed inadmissible. Who knows, based on everything I likely could have travelled forever without a problem but I couldn’t risk being stopped.

@Honestguy
Yes they let me in but I was travelling under certain circumstance that may helped my case.
I was also under 18 yo when I got arrested which may had put weight in the balance, but like I said I can’t keep pushing my luck I can’t afford a ban due to my career.

@SarahB Yeah I couldn’t believe it either, but I was talking to them on FB so I can see exactly who they are (I reached out from a waiver group). We had a lengthy conversation over days as we are both in similar situations. They had zero agenda and had no reason to make up an elaborate lie so I believe their story. Could there be more to the process than what we believe, I wonder

[ KatM appended this reply on April 28, 2023 @ 10:54 pm ]

I also asked for the lawyer that they used, and it’s a biggish firm, so I might reach out and find out more info

@waiverwaiting
Congrats, I’m happy for you I’m glad you don’t have to cancel your trip.

Now I’m getting closer I guess

Thanks for the update

@waiverwaiting congrats! Kev your waiver is next in line.

Exciting news and just in time. Got my 5 year waiver at 2:30PM today. I have a flight to Atlanta at 6AM i was going to be cancelling but not anymore
Applied December 19th 2022
I cant copy and paste as J rogers does because I used a lawyer so I don't have portal access
As previously mentioned my charges were 2014. applied in 2016 - denied
Applied in 2017/2018 ish - denied
applied in 2019 - approved 1 year (min 5 years it seems in most cases)
applied in 2021 - approved 1 year
applied in 2022 - approved 5 year

They really said that you should need a waiver and let you in !!!!!! I am travelling on waivers for the last 25 years and this is unreal to me.

@KatM that sounds like it was made up. A small overstay doesn’t give a 10 year ban and 2022 was last year. They don’t care about family etc in the US. I notice people on here post a whole lot of lies to be honest especially because we don’t know who is who. They don’t ban you and then let you in out of pity. They simply don’t care.

@KatM
The waivers seem pretty arbitrary depending on the agent processing.

Same as CBP they let me in last summer and give me a warning I should get a waiver, few months later they still let me in but they focus on me needing waiver next time going across, so I stop pushing my luck and did the process for my waiver.

@Skuiggles I recently spoke w someone who got a 10 year ban for a small overstay in 2022. They were on a work visa and had family, kids, and business in the US. They received a one year waiver just 3 months after the ban! This is crazy and totally unheard of, since the “waiver math” says they shouldve had to wait at least 3-5 years before reapplying.

1 year waiver.
2012-Trafficking (cocaine) plus other charges same time
2017 Theft Under

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
4/28/2023, 09:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
12/16/2022, 02:30 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
12/1/2022, 03:41 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
12/1/2022, 03:39 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
11/29/2022, 09:54 AM EST : Application Created

@Skuiggles
Yeah we have the same situation, I have meeting in the US several time a year and I already cancelled 3 trips.and I can’t keep cancelling at some point that won’t pass.

It don’t seem work or pleasure reason really matter but more on time since conviction and how the agent can handle the case, I may be wrong I assume just from previous feedback.

@Skuiggles possession of property obtained by crime (digital)
And criminal harassment

Charges were fairly minor but it was an extremely high profile case

@Skuiggles oh ok. I went back to older comments to get a bit of background on your situation so understand now your need to get it sooner rather than later. I hope you get approved soon. Let us know when you do.

@SarahB Ah, my apologies. I get what you are stating now. No, I am due to fly out May 8th for training in the states so just wanted to clarify if ARO was more lenient towards waivers for work. With Waiverwaiting's response that essentially is not the case.

@Skuiggles no no, my feeling was that you were coming off as being worried about approval because people with verified job offers etc may stand a better chance than others so I’m saying no that lots of waivers approved for people not work related. I thought you weee expecting a response to which to me would make you even more doubtful about getting approved.