How long did it take to receive a response from ARO?

Vancity Girlposted 6 years ago

I sent my waiver around the beginning of Jan. Two days ago, I sent an email regarding the status of my waiver. I included all the information needed, so I know that's not an issue. I am just curious as to how fast people got emailed back.
Thanks!

Replies (recent first):

@MelanieG that's incredibly fast, congratulations, and thank you for the update.

John Rogers replied 4 years ago   #57

ESafe Response time

I got my waiver through ESafe in one week.

Sept 17th - biometrics at Rainbow bridge
Sept 26th - approval, 5 year waiver w/ allowance for L visa

That’s 9 days!!!!

MelanieG replied 4 years ago   #56

@53 try this email.... aro.inquiry.waiver@cbp.dhs.gov

Michelle replied 4 years ago   #55

@Burtburt

Not that I am aware of. Did something happen?

John Rogers replied 4 years ago   #54

Has the email address changed?

Burtburt replied 4 years ago   #53

@Bob2
I’ve been on waivers for 10 years. I travel to the US weekly and last year, I finished a MSc of IT in the US while keeping my job in Canada. I just bounced back and forth for classes. I did get my waiver readjusted to allow for an F1 and that wasn’t an issue and the waiver came within a few months I seem to remember. Funny enough, they sent me the wrong waiver and allowed for a TN Visa but when I emailed them on the discrepancy, they sent me the new one within a couple weeks. Any way, I’m sure this waiver will be fine as I’ve applied for so many in the past but I was just worried about processing times but John helped out with that question.
I was also deathly scared of crossing the border after my issue. Think I waited a few years. Now I travel so much, it’s not an issue. I don’t have that nervousness at customs anymore and really, I’m doing everything by the books so there shouldn’t be any reason to worry. Good luck!!

MelanieG replied 4 years ago   #52

@johnRogers, thank you. That’s great to hear. With those timelines, hopefully I’ll have it back right after I return from vacation. Just to be safe, I’ve requested my work delay my start date to mid Nov-Dec 1 to buy me 75 days. Thankfully I also work for a huge company that is ridiculously slow with immigration paperwork and they said it would take 6 weeks to turn around the internal docs anyhow. Thank you again

MelanieG replied 4 years ago   #51

@MelanieG

The eSAFE program is very fast form the 3 examples I have seen. Less than 30 days total.

John Rogers replied 4 years ago   #50

@MelanieG

I'm a bit in a similar situation. A few years ago, I was charged with mischief after a party that didn't end so well. I was given a conditional discharge, not to mention the embarrassment, depression that followed and the outrageous lawyer fees I had to pay.

I have to wait a few more months to get it removed. According to canadian law, it goes away after 3 years after the actual sentencing date. Unfortunately, they don't remove it and I have to dish out more cash to destroy the records. They don't really destroy them, they just hide them from the public. Anyone however can make a request under the privacy act and get this information. It likely shows up after a vulnerable sector check.

I haven't travelled to the US for obvious reasons and really don't have the intention. Before my arrest, I went for a few visits.

Recently, I was hired by a US company based in Canada. They did a background check and hired me anyways. Goes to tell you that anything is possible even with all this bureaucracy. I asked several questions about possible US business trips or relocation and they assured that I would stay in Canada.

Now, they keep pushing me to travel down there. I manage to come up with excuses. Mind you, your case is more complex than mine. We still need waivers however.

I would avoid the US altogether as much as you can. Waivers are costly and not guaranteed. Waiver and pardon companies are also not regulated.

Bob2 replied 4 years ago   #49

Hello
I filed through ESafe for a status change request (last waiver was F1, B1/B2) to allow for an L inter company transfer. I have 2 more years on my 5 year waiver however, have received a job offer to work for my US division (one of the large tech firms). Any idea how long it’s taking on ESafe renewals? It says this system would be significantly quicker but says 60-90 days estimate.
My company is of course wanting me to transfer well before then and the most I may be able to push the transfer out is 45 days to a Nov 1 start date (luckily I’m on vacation for half of October) but I’m nervous the waiver might take longer. I haven’t told my company that I’m on a waiver. What do people do in this situation?
I’ve been on waivers for 10 years. My inadmissibility is due to visa overstay by a few months and fraud/misrepresentation.

Thank you

MelanieG replied 4 years ago   #48

I have had a couple of clients email, but they both got responses.

John Rogers replied 4 years ago   #47

@#46

I tried emailing them twice within the last four weeks and until now I haven't had no response either.

Unfortunately, we have no choice to do nothing but wait and check your mailbox on a daily basis...

Weezle replied 4 years ago   #46

It’s now been over two weeks since I sent my inquiry with no response. I’m 11 months in now

Hurricanedave replied 4 years ago   #45

Thanks for your reassurance john.

Hurricanedave replied 4 years ago   #44

@Hurricandave

Don't pay anyone anymore money. Seriously, the email is the ONLY way to inquire properly, yes they are slow right now, but they DO answer.

They are taking a couple of weeks minimum.

The email works.

John Rogers replied 4 years ago   #43

@WildMonkeyBum yes it's more expensive but so is everything. congrats on the 5 year --- passage of time

jazzsax1 replied 4 years ago   #42

John Rogers
I have hired an immigration lawyer for the $300 consultation how noticed that the email address that I sent the past three inquiries to was miss spelled. I put a g in inquiry instead of a q. I sent another inquiry with the proper spelling last Thursday afternoon. Today is Tuesday with no reply. Is there anything that you can do to help me?

Hurricanedave replied 4 years ago   #41

39 jazzsax1 . First time applied for waiver was 28 yrs ago . Got 1 yr and have not applied for waiver till dec 2017 . So renewal but a long time . Had old waiver still on hand .was way cheaper back then now .

Wild monkey bum replied 4 years ago   #40

@Wild Monkey - first waiver or renewal?

jazzsax1 replied 4 years ago   #39

John Rogers , put in waiver at boarder dec 23 18 , received 5 yr b1 / b2 business and pleasure dated March 25 2019 in mail today date March 29 2019 , took almost 15 weeks with shutdown in u.s side , shout out to John thx again.

Wild monkey bum replied 4 years ago   #38

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