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Because MANY people log on here to see timelines, not discussions, lets keep THIS thread ONLY for timelines. Then people don;t have to sift through to find out how long they are taking. I was trying to amend the old one but it got deleted, so I saved the last page, and added a bit to it. My apologies if you were looking for old info. The page was getting spammed all the time and had a lot of comments on it.
[ J Rogers appended this reply on September 18, 2025 @ 4:02 pm ]
As for the timeline......when the fees went up the backlog slowed these applications down. That backlog is GONE. They could get every application they have done by Thanksgiving if they want. They do NOT want then done quickly. If this seems like "why would they do that?" then you aren't paying attention. Notice Canada has tariffs for made up reasons, and we have been threatened by Annexation. Notice Russia has not a SINGLE TARIFF. Notice Trump met with Putin in Alaska and got embarrassed. And STILL his "friends" have tariffs and the Russians.....nothing.
[ J Rogers appended this reply on February 18, 2026 @ 2:14 pm ]
sorry everyone, my mistake, this is his FIRST waiver. Not a re-application.
5 year waiver
First waiver 195 days
1988- (1) THEFT UNDER $1000 (2) POSSESSION OF PROPERTY OBTAINED BY CRIME x 2
74 years old now. (switched Price tags)
Notice they asked him for more information, those were court docs.
Notice as well, they "looked" at the file about 188 days later, which is pretty good for a first time waiver. Also a "rare" 5 year waiver on the first try.
Status History (7)
09/23/2026, 07:30 AM : Status changed to Completed
09/22/2026, 04:24 PM : Status changed to Request for More Information Response
09/18/2026, 09:57 AM : Status changed to Request for More Information
03/12/2026, 09:28 AM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
03/05/2026, 02:20 PM : Status changed to Paid
03/02/2026, 04:53 PM : Status changed to Signed
02/26/2026, 04:40 PM : Application Created
First of all, GREAT questions. These are 2 topics I have talked about in the past, but its time to put it back out there so more can see it.
1. Discharges. An absolute or conditional discharge means you PLEAD GUILTY. Its IS a conviction.
-The criminal records act was amended on July 24 1992. These "convictions" do not need a pardon, you simply wait 1 year for an absolute, and 3 years for a conditional, and then get a set of fingerprints done. That is it.
-The RCMP do not "look for things to remove" that is why you need fingerprints to "bring it to their attention".
Do you need a waiver? Yes. (you plead guilty to SOMETHING)
How would you avoid doing a waiver?
-If you have never been denied entry
-if you do not have a gun prohibition
-if you get fingerprinted and the discharge HAS BEEN REMOVED
Then there would be NO SIGN you ever had a record. No need to admit it. The US cannot see it.
Pardons/Record Suspensions
If you have a single conviction that predates March 2012 you can get a pardon 3 or 5 years after your sentence
If you do not have a conviction BEFORE 2012 then you get a Record Suspension, 5 or 10 years AFTER your sentence.
-If you get a Pardon/Record suspension BEFORE you are denied entry, then your record is gone (sealed) The US would have no way to KNOW you have a record, unless you admit it.
**Exceptions**
-If you admit you have been arrested
-If you admit you had a record or HAVE a record or pardon
-If you have a gun prohibition, or have HAD an EXPIRED gun prohibition, they can SEE the prohibition. Then they KNOW you had SOMETHING.
Also, if you get a pardon and try and get a "green card", they FORCE you to do fingerprints under the "Privacy Act" so they see it anyways.
Remember, the US has access to CPIC, and they also have their OWN immigration database.
If you are wondering which administrations try to hurt Canadian Citizens, ask yourself this:
Which Prime Minister gave the US access to the part of CPIC that shows gun prohibitions, who also tried to ELIMINATE pardons, (was stopped) so then jacked up the price x4 and made them HARDER TO GET, then renamed them so on the campaign trail, he could pretend he "eliminated pardons"?
Stephen Harper. What did Canada get in return? Nothing. He was HAPPY to RAT OUT Canadians to the United States. Pierre Poilievre was IN HIS CANBINET when he did this. He also REFUSED to legalize marijuana, because Julian Fantino, another cabinet member, (former Toronto Police Chief) told him "it would lead to more crime". This despite statistics showing the opposite.
For all the criticism he gets, Justin Trudeau did the following:
-lowered the cost of the pardon back down to $50
-legalized marijuana
-in 2022 "quietly" passed "Sequestration" which meant the RCMP could AUTOMATICALLY remove "Possession" convictions. This meant if you had been convicted of that, even multiple times, (not trafficking) you would NOT need a pardon.
Remember, we KNOW how to lower crime, and crime rates. REDUCE POVERTY. Countries that take money from the ultra rich and INVEST them in communities to reduce poverty, reduce crime, reduce the cost of police, reduce the need for jails, and reduce TAXES.
But remember how Stephen Harper got elected. "tough on crime". He even introduced mandatory sentences which were struck down by the courts. He did everything he could do to PUNISH people more severely, increase police budgets, and keep- people in jail longer. He also cut taxes to the ultra rich.
Why would a politician do this? Because fairy tales like "tough on crime" get you ELECTED. If I told you the truth, that the way to lower taxes is to actually treat the "causes" of crime, to TREAT drug addicts, not punish them, NO ONE WOULD VOTE FOR YOU.
Don't worry, crime is NOT way up in 2026. Only people who have "means" get bail. Poor people DO NOT get bail. But politicians know the electorate is dumb, bitter and vindictive. Also a bit racist. "Tough on crime" is a dog whistle to white voters. More police and harsher sentences NEVER lead to less crime, just higher taxes. Statistics prove it. But compassion to a 50 something year old voter feels "unfair". They like "harsher justice"......unless its them.
Hi John! Could you please clarify two things I frequently see people say on Reddit?
1. If a person receives an absolute or conditional discharge, is it true that they do not need an I-192 waiver because a discharge does not make them inadmissible to the U.S.? Is it also true that U.S. border officers will not see the discharge on their system?
2. If a person receives a record suspension ("pardon") after a conviction, and they did not travel to the U.S. between the date of their conviction and the date the record suspension was granted, is it true that U.S. border officers will not see the old conviction because the U.S. never received/pulled their Canadian criminal record before the suspension?
I’m specifically asking whether these two statements are accurate, and whether there are any exceptions or important details people should be aware of. Thanks for all your information!
I have some weird delays for clients recently.
This client is at 152 days.
Status History (4)
04/23/2026, 03:38 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
04/22/2026, 02:02 PM : Status changed to Paid
04/22/2026, 02:00 PM : Status changed to Signed
04/22/2026, 01:42 PM : Application Created
Him and his friend come and do their waiver on the same days, every time.
His friend who has a similar VERY old record, got his waiver in 120 days. But the day after they granted it? They cancelled his wife's NEXUS card via email. No explanation. Ironically, he showed me a pic of him and Trump on the golf course in Florida about a month before they filed.
Both clients have had 4 waivers, all 5 year waiver with me.
Waiver denied
In totality, 616 days since he went to the border, but he was also asked for additional information as well.
1992 (1) POSS OF UNREGISTERED RESTRICTED WEAPON (2) FAIL TO
ATTEND COURT (3) ATT OBSTRUCT JUSTIC
1994 ATT OBSTRUCT PEACE OFFICER
1994 ASSAULT
1996 (1) CBH WITH INTENT (2) poss OF FIRARM OR AMMUNITION WHILE
This is what we thought was his complete record. But the US asked for Privacy Act and this was then added
2015-POSSESSION OF A SCHEDULED SUBSTANCE
PROHIBITED (3) poss OF UNREGISTERED RESTRICTED WEAPON
The denial letter seems to indicate that they were upset that the 2015 was not included, and that the record, taken it its totality, was too serious.
He also had no rehabilitation. The 2015 conviction was missing off the original prints because of sequestration.
Status History (7)
09/18/2026, 08:40 AM : Status changed to Completed
02/13/2026, 02:06 PM : Status changed to Request for More Information Response
11/21/2025, 02:03 PM : Status changed to Request for More Information
01/10/2025, 09:00 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
12/19/2024, 03:05 PM : Status changed to Paid
12/05/2024, 09:29 PM : Status changed to Signed
10/23/2024, 05:34 PM : Application Created
5 YEAR WAIVER
Reapplication (had a 5 year before)
131 days
Overstayed from 1998-2001. Was legally in the United States from 1994-1998. Applied for asylum, was denied in 1998. Did not leave.
Status History (5)
09/16/2026, 10:55 AM : Status changed to Completed
05/08/2026, 12:44 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
05/06/2026, 04:54 PM : Status changed to Paid
05/06/2026, 04:52 PM : Status changed to Signed
04/13/2026, 03:41 PM : Application Created
1 year waiver
first waiver application was denied in 2025
195 days
2008- (YOUTH) UTTERING THREATS AND ASSAULT
2012- POSSESSION OF A SCHEDULE II SUBSTANCE
2015- FAIL TO COMPLY WITH RECOGNIZANCE
2015- (1) POSS OF A SCHEDULED SUBSTANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
TRAFFICKING (2) POSS OF PROCEEDS OF PROPERTY OBTAINED BY CRIME
Status History (5)
09/16/2026, 07:40 AM : Status changed to Completed
03/05/2026, 08:33 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
03/05/2026, 11:32 AM : Status changed to Paid
03/05/2026, 11:30 AM : Status changed to Signed
03/05/2026, 11:00 AM : Application Created
5 year waiver
reapplication had a 5 year before
133 days
They also put the wrong country of birth. He is born in Serbia, they put Russia.
He had a serious record, including a 10 year sentence for manufacturing Meth in the US. Has had multiple waivers.
Status History (5)
09/15/2026, 08:11 AM : Status changed to Completed
05/05/2026, 03:37 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
05/05/2026, 10:25 AM : Status changed to Paid
05/05/2026, 10:23 AM : Status changed to Signed
04/21/2026, 04:09 PM : Application Created
I think this is my longest. 1057 days
He tried to get asylum in 1998 using a different name.
He was already a Canadian Citizen. Went to the US from Mexico and tried to claim asylum pretending to be straight form Somalia.
Stayed in the US until 2010
Status History (4)
10/23/2023, 08:07 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
10/12/2023, 09:02 PM : Status changed to Paid
10/12/2023, 09:01 PM : Status changed to Signed
10/04/2023, 02:58 PM : Application Created
This is a client STILL WAITING. 1st waiver
2016 Armed Robbery - Disguise with Intent (jewelry store robbery) 3 years + 1 year
2016 Theft Over (stole rings over 20k) 90 days
577 days. I assume the severity of the offence is the main problem.
Status History (4)
02/14/2025, 04:00 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
01/20/2025, 08:39 PM : Status changed to Paid
01/20/2025, 08:37 PM : Status changed to Signed
10/23/2024, 07:10 PM : Application Created
The reason i posted this is to illustrate that some waivers can take MUCH longer. This is not even my longest waiver PENDING.
1 year waiver
1st waiver 248 days
Overstay 1981-1987
1985 Possession And Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana
1988 – Maintain a Dwelling for Possession and Sale of Drugs
1989 -Assault with a Deadly Weapon on Police Officer
All convictions are in the US.
Status History (5)
09/11/2026, 06:43 AM : Status changed to Completed
01/06/2026, 02:34 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
12/29/2025, 01:08 PM : Status changed to Paid
12/29/2025, 01:06 PM : Status changed to Signed
09/30/2025, 10:07 AM : Application Created
5 YEAR WAIVER
Reapplication (had a 5)
129 days
1998- Uttering threats Assault CBH (youth)
2001 Assault CBH
2004 Theft Over $5000
Status History (5)
09/10/2026, 03:40 PM : Status changed to Completed
05/04/2026, 02:46 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
04/30/2026, 10:48 AM : Status changed to Paid
04/30/2026, 10:45 AM : Status changed to Signed
04/29/2026, 11:02 AM : Application Created
UPDATE ON TIMES FOR WAIVERS
New Waivers (first time)
212-228 days (7 to 8 months)
Reapplications
120 days (4 months)
I expect it to get FASTER, probably closer to 90 days (in June they were 86-95 days)
Remember, this is TYPICAL, not EVERY waiver. I have 2 clients who have both had 5 year waivers and went to the border together, and one got his waiver in August, the other has not gotten it yet.
85% of waivers should fall into this timeline, but that means 15-20% are going to be longer.
1 YEAR WAIVER
FIRST WAIVER
212 days
Status History (5)
09/08/2026, 05:42 AM : Status changed to Completed
02/09/2026, 03:04 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
02/04/2026, 02:50 PM : Status changed to Paid
02/04/2026, 01:18 PM : Status changed to Signed
01/30/2026, 01:52 PM : Application Created
Overstay 2015-2018
Yes I usually say MINIMUM 3 years. This is not an easy waiver, but if done properly and the right things are said, they CAN get a 1 year waiver.
The personal letter is SO important in this case. The person has to remember that this is a step BELOW "importing" and you cannot argue that this is a legal substance in Canada. You have to treat it like the US sees it, literally like Canada would see a concealed handgun being smuggled "by mistake" across the border.
It becomes an easier waiver after 5 years, but 3 years is doable if done right.
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