@5toa1

Yes it was absolutely because of that. And the assault charge is only 5 years old.

@J Rogers I’ve never seen someone go from a 5 to a 1 before… is it likely that is because they acquired new charges After the 5-year?

Well since everyone is getting waivers in now that took a year, and they went to the border in May 2024..I present to you....a FORMER 5 year waiver applicant, criminal record assault in 2020 (after his 5 year waiver) , went to the border OCTOBER 23 2024. Given a 1 year waiver.

But I guess with THIS administration, this makes PERFECT SENSE.

So he had a 5, for misrepresentation from 2015-2020. Then was charged with domestic. 2020
Now has a 1 year waiver.

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
5/15/2025, 11:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
10/23/2024, 09:16 AM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
10/16/2024, 04:13 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
10/16/2024, 04:12 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
10/9/2024, 01:31 PM EDT : Application Created

Just to update the latest on waivers.
no record whatsoever
ARO sent was May 30 2024
completed today May 14 2024
5 years

My Wife's application approved Today for 1 year (No criminal history)

Misrepresentation 2008-09:
Visited border on May 29 2024
Approved : May 13 2025

Well, it took exactly 366 days, I’ve heard back about my application……denied.

They say that I can appeal the decision within 30 days.

John, I emailed you earlier inquiring as to when we can meet to discuss.

Good luck to everyone else, I fear that it may be another long wait until I can enter the USA again.

Hey what are the processing times for a i-192 renewal. My husband received his first waiver last year and we replied in February 2025.

Please let me know thanks!

5 Year waiver.

1st waiver.
Misrepresentation in 2010

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
5/8/2025, 11:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
5/23/2024, 05:01 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
5/21/2024, 02:40 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
5/21/2024, 02:39 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
5/8/2024, 11:00 AM EDT : Application Created

1 year waiver

his first, Misrepresentation in 2011 - 2016 he worked and lived illegally in the US. 10 year ban.

Completed
Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (7)
5/6/2025, 09:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
5/2/2025, 03:03 PM EDT : Status changed to Request for More Information Response
2/6/2025, 08:00 AM EST : Status changed to Request for More Information
4/2/2024, 05:30 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/29/2024, 10:48 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
3/29/2024, 10:46 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
3/28/2024, 01:18 PM EDT : Application Created

1 year waiver

Stopped for suspicion of prostitution. Ironically, her friend who was also stopped? Denied the waiver last week. I did both applications, and 2 different results from essentially the same application and circumstances.

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
4/30/2025, 08:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
5/14/2024, 03:01 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/31/2024, 08:49 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
3/31/2024, 05:47 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
3/30/2024, 04:13 PM EDT : Application Created

This guy had a 1 year waiver, reapplied.
2014- Poss of Property Obtained by crime. x 3.

2 year waiver

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
4/29/2025, 08:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
5/13/2024, 05:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/31/2024, 06:58 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
3/31/2024, 06:49 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
3/31/2024, 03:14 PM EDT : Application Created

I also have a client who had a 5 year waiver for "Overstaying". He went to the border on March 1 2024. NO ANSWER yet.

5 year waiver

1991- Fraudulent use of credit card

First time applying.

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
4/29/2025, 12:30 PM EDT : Status changed to Completed
5/14/2024, 10:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
5/9/2024, 03:45 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
5/9/2024, 03:44 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
4/24/2024, 10:34 AM EDT : Application Created

2 year waiver

Re-application he had a 1 year waiver.

2010 possession of cocaine.

Application Status
Completed
Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
4/28/2025, 10:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
5/10/2024, 02:01 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/30/2024, 12:09 AM EDT : Status changed to Paid
3/30/2024, 12:07 AM EDT : Status changed to Signed

@Sam 84

As much as I like new clients, I hope you don't have to go through that. The travel the US has fallen dramatically and 2.37 Trillion dollars is what is generated in revenue through travel to the United States from the world. They project it has fallen 75%.

That is a LOT of revenue lost because of basically what is clearly a madman and wannabe dictator. Destroying the US economically is one thing, but its clear he will never cede power unless he KNOWS he can win another term. My worry is Civil War, which I have to ASSUME is bad for Waivers.

"Make sure you only travel through Buffalo, the Democratic border, avoid Montana, its held by Republican forces" could be a post one day but I hope not.

John, I completely agree with you. Every country has the right to uphold its laws against terrorism, and there should never be any space for hate. The fact that you're taking the time to engage on this forum really shows how much you care, and I have no doubt you'll attract a lot of clients. Who knows—maybe I'll end up being one of them, especially if they dig through my old phone, find some weed jokes from 2012, and decide to revoke my waiver again.

5 year waiver. He had a 1 year, so this is a re-application.
Note that despite it being a re-application, he still took almost a year.
This is different than most of my other re-applications, which are mainly applied for in the fall.
He also indicated he MAY want a TN visa in the future. Was that a factor in the time? No idea. Need more data.

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
4/24/2025, 10:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
5/9/2024, 10:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/28/2024, 08:25 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
3/25/2024, 11:18 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
3/5/2024, 03:26 PM EST : Application Created

@Jobswitchquestion

Quick response, First time applicants would get 5 year waivers about 70-80% of the time. They just need the right record (old) or did something not criminal, but old like misrepresentation.

Now its probably closer to 40-50%. I would have to run actual statistics to be sure.

@Sam 84 I doubt many people even have the word "Hamas" in their phone, or social media. But if you have "I stand with Palestine" or "stop killing Palestinian children" or "any reference to "Zionists" you are as likely to get into trouble as having the word "Hamas".

If people were openly racist or anti-semetic then they SHOULD be banned. Notice NO ONE is being banned for having the "N" word on their phones, or racist jokes. The problem is that you can love Americans but hate Trump. You can dislike Israel and like Jewish people.

I am a proud Canadian but I am DEEPLY ashamed of our treatment of aboriginal people. We had residential schools OPEN until 1993????? I was in University and had NO clue.

What the US is doing at the border is deeply disturbing. I want people to do waivers (I feed my kids that way) but I do not want my clients or ANY Canadians harassed. This is Germany in 1933-35 all over again, where criticism of the "Fatherland" was criminalized.

@Sam 84 delete your apps and download them after your trip: Facebook messenger, Twitter, Instagram. For texts, Go through your texts and emails and delete every mention of the word Trump. Also delete your website history. Search for key words the exact same way they would. I spent a couple hours the other night doing that. Even little things like, “tariffs are bad.”

…and if you’re saying anti-Semitic or pro terrorist stuff then yeah not gonna help you there, you’re on your own for that. (Hamas is a designated terrorist group btw)

@Jobswitchquestion Honestly, I’m just as surprised as you. I’ve been lurking on this forum for over a year, and I think I might be the first first-time applicant to get the full five years. Maybe it's because I’m one of the few unlucky ones who got banned just for smoking pot—no other aggravating factors involved?
I had no idea how to approach the letter, but I went with an apology. I made sure to acknowledge that I now understand the difference between federal and state laws when it comes to marijuana. Threw in a bit of humor, too.
That said, I’m still a bit nervous about crossing the border with family or booking flights that connect through the U.S.—the idea of an insane phone search for no good reason still freaks me out a little. I have nothing to hide but I'm sure that an angry officer looking at 15 years of emails would manage to find something

@Sam 84 good to see first time applicants are still getting 5 years. And for drugs too. I was being led to believe that was almost an impossibility based on a lot of doom and gloom messages being put on here by specific people.

Re: job switch, anecdotally, I’ve crossed the border about 5-6 times now either via plane or driving with a different job title / company than my waiver and they didn’t even blink or ask twice. Personally, if you’re very worried I would just bring a letter of employment from new job to have and present it if as a very last minute backup plan in case they really give you the 3rd degree.

Be overly respectful. “Yes sir, no sir. Thank you sir.” Etc. Should be OK

May 8th 2024 I submitted my biometrics, I recently inquired with ARO about the status of my application, they replied with “Pending further review”

So I guess that means it’s been sent to a supervisor?

Good luck everyone!