@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!

First-time applicant. Got 5 years. The offense was marijuana possession in 2011.
Thanks for this forum giving me all the tools to successfully do it myself. Quick question: My job has changed since I applied. What would be the best time and way to mention it?

4/24/2025, 6:30 AM EDT: Status changed to Completed
5/7/2024, 6:30 PM EDT: Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/27/2024, 3:25 PM EDT: Status changed to Paid
3/27/2024, 3:22 PM EDT: Status changed to Signed
3/15/2024, 12:01 PM EDT: Application Created

Hey! I’m april 26… starting to wonder what’s going on ! Why do you think mine isn’t there yet?

@hans1969

Congrats Hans!

For anyone wanting to know why you need a waiver without a record, about a third of my clients have never been arrested, but they have "misrepresentation" or some "immigration" offence or sometimes they simply went to the US to claim asylum, were turned away, and went to Canada instead. Then when they try and travel, they get denied because of the asylum years earlier. Very common.

I don't know Hans situation, and some people are shy about details, but this is why sometimes a record isn't what makes you inadmissible.

Second application - 1 year first time, 2 year this time.
no criminal record

4/17/2025, 09:30 AM MDT : Status changed to Completed
5/8/2024, 06:30 PM MDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
4/30/2024, 07:46 AM MDT : Status changed to Paid
4/30/2024, 07:44 AM MDT : Status changed to Signed
4/22/2024, 12:34 PM MDT : Application Created

5 year waiver. Re-app she had applied with someone else and got a 1 year first

2006 - Theft Under - Cond Disch
2007 - Possession of Scheduled Substance x2

Ironically BOTH of these are now off the record, no pardon needed because
1. Discharges can be removed easily
2. Sequestration means the possession is removed.

Unfortunately, the US denied her so she needs waivers.

Application Status
Completed
Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
4/16/2025, 03:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Completed
5/6/2024, 04:30 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
4/30/2024, 11:27 AM EDT : Status changed to Paid
4/30/2024, 11:23 AM EDT : Status changed to Signed
4/29/2024, 03:46 PM EDT : Application Created

@Ana

Sorry, got busy and didn't see the request.

The 1 year to 1 year had trafficking, but it wasn't So recent to get him another 1 year waiver, we had drug tests, re-wrote the personal letter, so the 1 year again was a surprise. I thought at worst a 2 year. I think they are just being a bit tougher and tighter, but I have other examples where they gave a similar client a 1 year, then a 5 year.

There seems to be a bit of arbitrariness to be honest.

I went to the border on May 8th 2024.

Status is still “submitted to ARO”

Hopefully some news soon!

Waiver Denied

Trafficking in 2015 -219 days in pre sentence custody and he had $95 000 on him when caught.

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (7)
4/15/2025, 08:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
10/30/2024, 04:28 PM EDT : Status changed to Request for More Information Response
10/8/2024, 02:30 PM EDT : Status changed to Request for More Information
11/30/2023, 09:07 PM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/16/2023, 04:12 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
11/16/2023, 04:10 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
11/9/2023, 01:50 PM EST : Application Created

@J Rogers can you please share a little more about the top one that is a 1 year renewal - how much time has passed since conviction/criminal activity? Trying to see if enough time has passed which warranted another 1 year.

I am sure you ensured the renewal app made a strong case or showed evidence of reformation/rehabilitation.

Thanks.

The top one is a re-application. 1 year to one year. Trafficking, but we are disappointed to have 2 1 year waivers back to back.

The bottom is prostitution/border but no record. She admitted to 10 years of activity, then was less that 2 years in making the application form the time she last admitted to prostitution. I was pretty sure it was going to be a "no" but she wanted to try anyways. I am telling her to wait a full 3 years and she should be fine.

1 year waiver

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
4/11/2025, 01:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Completed
5/2/2024, 01:01 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
4/30/2024, 02:59 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
4/29/2024, 05:08 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
4/23/2024, 03:00 PM EDT : Application Created

Waiver Denied

Application Status
Completed
Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
4/11/2025, 01:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Completed
4/25/2024, 07:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/29/2024, 08:19 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid

@Portfolio99

Withdrawing your application for K1 is irrelevant now. I would not suggest it.

I hope in your personal letter, you did not call in a "criminal absolution".

I am assuming you have a conditional discharge. This means you plead guilty to something. It is no different that a regular conviction, other than HOW it is removed.

Some clients make the mistake (usually because the lawyer is trying to brag what a great job they did) of telling the US that "this isn't a big deal" or saying they were NOT convicted. In fact, you get a discharge of ANY type because you plead guilty. You have to be careful about the wording.

@J Rogers "I have traveled to the U.S. my entire life. After submitting a K1 application and attending the consulate interview, it was discovered that I have a conditional absolution for a minor altercation from 17 years ago. In Canada, this absolution does not create a criminal record; however, the U.S. does not recognize conditional absolutions, as pleading guilty is a requirement for them in Canada.
I applied for a waiver 13 months ago, but I am still waiting for a response. I wonder if this delay is related to my K1 application. Should I withdraw my K1 application? Could the K1 application affect the decision on my waiver?"