@JohnB2 agreed. The difference is that getting grilled via 45 min on land is a headache but you’re in danger of missing your flight if you’re grilled for 45 minutes at the airport. I’m going to Chicago with my family in August and I’m thinking I need to arrive 3.5 hours ahead of time just in case.

When crossing via a land port of entry, pretty much everyone who is not a U.S. citizen and who is entering the United States, is being pulled into secondary and grilled for about 45 minutes. If you have a choice, I recommend air travel. Land ports of entry agents have too much time on their hands. I believe they have been instructed to find anything they possibly can making someone inadmissable. Whereas, the ports of entry at airports have much less time to screw around.

I crossed with a waiver for the first time last weekend at a Quebec/Vermont land border. Everything went extremely smoothly. If you have a waiver, your case has already been scrutinized and adjudicated by people who do that all day. I got photographed and fingerprinted. I got a six-month stamp. When asked if I would have to go to secondary every time, the officer said he stamped my passport for six months and that I would cross like a regular person within that timeframe. Not knowing what to expect, I made sure I had a clear itinerary. I don't understand how a border officer can re adjucate a case?!

Re-entered with wife 2nd time in one month on 1 year waiver approved in last Oct. Secondary @YYZ. Waited 45 mins. Basic questions such as purpose, destinations (4 states). duration (2 months) and proof of funds (how much cash, bank statement etc) to support. Asked for all inter-state travel flight booking along with return flight. That's it. I was out within 5 minutes.

The client who was "detained" at the New York Airport (He says La Guardia) was released back into Canada. He was told his September Letter was "real" finally but they want him to reapply because the letter is "from 2022" and that means little to them.

They could not come up with a legit reason to deport him, but tried for hours. They did also ask him for a DNA sample and he refused.

He is going to avoid the states for a while.

Just to update border crossing
my first waiver, 5 years posted 3 days ago on the other board
today I just crossed the border from yul
no hassle or any questions, nothing
just quick verify documents andsend me on my way out
good luck to all

@Manypeople

So I posted EXACT numbers. 3. THREE.

READ IT AGAIN.

2 waivers have been revoked for no real reason and I can not reach the client with the September Letter. (He got it in 2022 so its possible its just the info is outdated)

The "reason" seems to be "unable to overcome presumption of an intending immigrant". In my opinion, based on the stories I am told, the only factor is the officer. Once an officer DECIDES he is going to deny you, he/she will find a reason.

so its pretty SPECIFIC. 3 clients had a problem. I even said

I am glad many of you are NOT having problems. Many of my clients who have waivers are not crossing.

What part of this was TOO VAGUE????

@Manypeople yes John why are we just hearing now that Many of your clients are not able to cross the border???

Because I never SAID THAT. I said "many of my clients who have waivers are not crossing". They are not travelling to the United States.

THREE had problems.

And I am not fear mongering. I am telling everyone what is happening to 3 REAL people. I want everyone to be AWARE of what is happening, so they can make decisions based on reality, not what you hear on FOX NEWS.

I want everyone to be careful and be safe. Interesting that a poster is making 2 comments under different names that have NEVER posted before, asking me to keep it quiet. Why?

@Manypeople yes John why are we just hearing now that Many of your clients are not able to cross the border???

@J Rogers John if you’re going to Fear Monger every single day please provide statistics and facts. “Many of your clients are not able to cross” ??? Please tell us how many are many? You say you do hundreds to thousands of waivers a year. Are dozens to hundreds of people being denied entry to the states after paying thousands of dollars to get this waiver?

Isn’t the point of this thread to get hard stats and data? Every single message I see from you is a troubling, concerning post that makes me sick to my stomach. Please tell us how many of your Many clients are being turned away from the border.

I am glad many of you are NOT having problems. Many of my clients who have waivers are not crossing.

2 waivers have been revoked for no real reason and I can not reach the client with the September Letter. (He got it in 2022 so its possible its just the info is outdated)

The "reason" seems to be "unable to overcome presumption of an intending immigrant". In my opinion, based on the stories I am told, the only factor is the officer. Once an officer DECIDES he is going to deny you, he/she will find a reason.

Hopefully we get a "consistency" so that people don't have to worry about this.

In the case of one client, it was the first time she used it (it had just been granted). The other guy has had it and travelled without incident for 2 years. One was a 1 year, one was a 5 year.

Lets hope these are isolated incidents.

Went through secondary at YVR last week with 1 year waiver (approved in Oct 2024). No que at all. Wife was told to remain seated. He took around 10 minutes to review my file and then called me. Basic questions around purpose, duration and destination. No proof of any documents/phone search. He told me to ensure to follow SORNA guidelines (for SA case) and visa can be revoked if not adhered to. That's it. I was let go after 5 minutes.

I am retired and went through secondary. Ask for the date of my return ticket at YYZ, reason for stay and address where I am staying, nothing else on April 15/25.

@Kg it is very tricky for connections. My experience in the last 6 months flying out of YYZ…is I am sent for secondary now every time. Apparently this is a change. I am on my 3rd - five year waiver. It is taking about 45 minutes to an hour to clear secondary based on staffing and they don’t hurry. Please don’t travel tight with connections at Pearson or travel at all. Got to give yourself 1-2 hours for secondary to be safe.

Curious how the crossing time has been? I am flying Halifax to Orlando with a layover in Toronto. Layover is only 2 hours and it is my understanding I will have to go to secondary with my waiver. I am familiar with the process as I drive a fair amount where secondary is required every 6 months but I am worried about missing my connection. Can anyone one give an idea as to how long things have been taking?

More curious to know about the (type and depth of) questions (and which airport) than the wait time. It will be appreciated if people (whatever possible) can share it.

I am going to consider at-least one hour wait time, just to be on safe side.

Only about ten minutes only two people ahead of me however I have a friend who was in there almost an hour and said it was busy so give yourself lots of time

@cal123
went through yyc with spouse and I was directed to secondary and she was allowed to go through. Spent around 10 minutes and just said we were going on a cruise. There was only one other person in there.
I'm retired and had no questions about a return ticket or employment .
Possible they know all that on their computers.

@Kris1988 approx how long did you spend in secondary?

@Kris1988 Thanks. Which Airport?

@cal123 in the airport I did secondary, wife and daughter were told they could go to the gate and they I’d meet them there , they did ask about a return ticket yes I had a copy of my flight itinerary, but they didn’t ask about employment. They did inform me that there is a new policy in effect that requires you to go to secondary every time and to be prepared for it