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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.
1 year waiver
First waiver
2008- FAIL TO COMPLY WITH RECOGNIZANCE
2009- FAIL TO COMPLY WITH RECOGNIZANCE
2010 - (1) CONSPIRACY TO TRAFFIC IN A SCHEDULE III SUBSTANCE (2) CONSPIRACY TO POSS PROCEEDS OF PROPERTY OBTAINED BY CRIME
Status History (7)
10/31/2025, 07:34 AM : Status changed to Completed
10/22/2025, 04:54 PM : Status changed to Request for More Information Response
09/18/2025, 03:30 PM : Status changed to Request for More Information
10/16/2024, 11:00 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
10/11/2024, 07:37 PM : Status changed to Paid
10/11/2024, 07:35 PM : Status changed to Signed
10/10/2024, 03:02 PM : Application Created
Also I am confused about "intent"....you said "did not disclose when asked".
How was it asked? Also logic dictates "if you just broke a rule, and they will give you a waiver RIGHT AFTER, why would ANYONE tell the truth?" You lie, then if caught, you get a waiver anyways.
I assume you applied....whoever did the application (unless you did it alone) SHOULD have told you (if they know waivers) that LOGIC says you cannot get a waiver RIGHT AFTER you broke the rule. If you applied yourself, of course you would not have known that.
Misrepresentation is misrepresentation, especially now. If a person with this came into my office, I would tell them to wait 3 years.
A lot of people send me rejection letters to get my opinion (and I am grateful because I would not get the insight I would get otherwise) and when it comes to "I didn't mean to lie", they HATE that argument. Lawyers especially, will almost "demand" that they get a waiver because "there was no intent", when in fact, getting a TN visa is supposed to be:
"The purpose of a TN visa is to allow qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to temporarily work in the United States in professional-level occupations under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). It facilitates the temporary movement of skilled professionals to fill specific jobs, enhancing trade and economic cooperation among the three countries. The visa is for nonimmigrant status and requires the applicant to have a pre-arranged job offer in one of the approved professional fields".
In reality, Homeland Security sees it as "doing a job that is not easily filled by Americans". But when a "relative" is involved, then they see this as an attempt in reality at "backdoor immigration". So the tricky part, before 3 years has passed, is "arguing" that "your sorry" in a way that doesn't focus on "intent".
After 3 years, you can say "I didn't intend to beat the system" but make it more about "I now realize I should have been more careful, and I should have been sure on the rules before I applied", even though you may have "honestly" made a mistake. They see "admitting fault" as the #1 proof of rehabilitation. Of course that is ridiculous, but this is what they use as a guideline.
I see a lot of letters from lawyers that come off as VERY aggressive, and they are addressed to people that are blowing fishing boats out of the water with NO proof or evidence with Hellfire missiles. Lawyers don't care if you get the waiver (they got their money) but I care about GETTING the waiver and not wasting the clients money on an application doomed to fail. So we write a letter that tries to "convince" them, not force them.
The application should be kissing their ass, not "demanding" they must accept your explanation. If every Canadian who did waivers stopped doing them, not a single Homeland Security officer, and most Americans, could not care less.
I know that's not smart, because we bring 2.3 trillion to their economy. Watch an interview with businesses in Florida that are going under. They still don't understand "why" they have less business. Most of them probably voted for Trump, so they probably still think Nancy Pelosi and pedophiles that sell pizzas are to blame.
@JRogers - you mentioned this in your recent post "If you have less than 3 years since you overstayed, this application will be denied. (In 95% of cases)"
In your experience... What are the chances of approval for someone applying for a waiver within the first year of getting barred. The person has no criminal history, with a good professional background, who was banned for 5 years while applying for TN visa. The misrepresentation ban was due to not disclosing the blood relationship with with the employer when asked. The job was a legit job offer and there was no wrong intent involved?
5 year waiver
second 5 (so re-application)
2002 Trafficking in Credit Card
10/31/2025, 09:34 AM : Status changed to Completed
07/17/2025, 05:00 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
06/19/2025, 07:15 PM : Status changed to Paid
06/19/2025, 07:10 PM : Status changed to Signed
06/18/2025, 07:39 PM : Application Created
When I do applications, I do it as a "preparer" so the CLIENT gets the emails, but I use our own email and log in information to log in. Why? Well I log in periodically ANYWAYS, and because it requires a "code" to be sent to your phone, its too problematic to have to wait for the client to give me a code.
An overstay was mentioned for 6 months. That is not the same waiver as a criminal record. The US is PARANOID right now about people staying, so hopefully the Law Firm recognized this and didn't write a patronizing letter, but instead a sincere apology and explanation. Also, hopefully they didn't say "he didn't know" he was breaking the rules....which they HATE.
The key factor is "time since the overstay". If you applied more than 3 year AFTER you returned to Canada (ideally 5 years) then you have a decent chance, but expect a 1 year waiver. If you were over 10 years since, you have a chance at a 5 year waiver (assuming everything else is done properly)
If you have less than 3 years since you overstayed, this application will be denied. (In 95% of cases)
Time, for ANY application is the one thing you cannot manufacture or argue around.
As for law firms, the volume of waivers they do is more important than anything. If they do a lot of waivers and have a large amount of applications going (that would mean they specialize in this and not other types of law) then they probably did a good job.
If they are just a regular law firm, then the price matters. Because they probably don't do very many, which makes them not experts, but just people who do paperwork. For comparison, I am an expert. I do a lot of waivers (I am posting 2 more granted below) and most of my business is referrals. I am proud to say my first client (1992) is STILL a client and does his 5 year waiver every 5 years. my fee regardless of difficulty, is basically $850 which includes fingerprints and taxes. We are accredited by the RCMP so we can do our own fingerprints, so the client needs to go nowhere for additional documents.
Here are the waivers
5 YEAR WAIVER
Re-app had a 1 year waiver first.
2009- TRAFFIC IN A SCHEDULED SUBSTANCE
2010- TRAFFIC IN A SCHEDULED SUBSTANCE
Status History (5)
10/30/2025, 10:32 AM : Status changed to Completed
07/11/2025, 04:30 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
06/11/2025, 09:14 PM : Status changed to Paid
06/11/2025, 09:12 PM : Status changed to Signed
06/11/2025, 08:07 PM : Application Created
1 YEAR WAIVER
First application
6 Youth convictions
3 Adult convictions
1996- Possession Of narcotic
1998- Aggravated Assault
2000- Assault
Hopefully this give some insight into why they received the results they were granted.
Status History (5)
10/30/2025, 08:02 AM : Status changed to Completed
12/10/2024, 07:30 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/28/2024, 08:42 PM : Status changed to Paid
11/28/2024, 08:38 PM : Status changed to Signed
11/18/2024, 07:07 PM : Application Created
I'm a first time applicant. Im 10 months and 1 week in since i was fingerprinted at the border (rainbow bridge). I applied through a law firm who does waivers, downtown toronto but haven't heard from them since. For anyone who might be curious, reason why i need a waiver is, i overstayed more than 6 months. My question is, are lawyers supposed to give us the e-safe log in information, or just wait for them to reach out once a decision has been made?
Thank you in advance
5 year waiver
Her first waiver
9 convictions from 1980-1991 mostly minor
Last conviction Theft Under 1991.
Status History (5)
10/29/2025, 10:32 AM : Status changed to Completed
12/05/2024, 09:30 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/21/2024, 07:16 PM : Status changed to Paid
11/19/2024, 09:59 PM : Status changed to Signed
11/18/2024, 08:13 PM : Application Created
That is unusual, (3 years) and that's a recent conviction so a pretty decent result. (even for the 2nd waiver)
In the past few years, I think I have had 1 -3 year waiver and 1 -4 year waiver, but both are VERY rare.
3 year waiver
Had a 1 year (this is second waiver)
2019 conviction.
10/24/2025, 07:32 AM : Status changed to Completed
07/01/2025, 02:00 AM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
06/29/2025, 01:38 AM : Status changed to Paid
06/29/2025, 01:36 AM : Status changed to Signed
06/02/2025, 12:03 AM : Application Created
5 year waiver
Had a 1 year
1987- Possession of Acid
10/24/2025, 06:32 AM : Status changed to Completed
06/30/2025, 01:00 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
06/25/2025, 09:00 PM : Status changed to Paid
06/25/2025, 08:53 PM : Status changed to Signed
06/18/2025, 03:23 PM : Application Created
5 year waiver
Re-app had a 1 year
1993 and 2007 Trafficking
10/22/2025, 06:47 AM : Status changed to Completed
06/20/2025, 05:00 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
06/10/2025, 08:36 PM : Status changed to Paid
06/10/2025, 08:26 PM : Status changed to Signed
05/30/2025, 01:46 PM : Application Created
Drug offence. Got a 1 year. I was told i have 6 months valid visa.
Timeline for application:
09/29/2025: Status changed to Completed
11/01/2024: Status changed to Submitted to ARO
10/25/2024: Status changed to Paid
10/25/2024: Status changed to Signed
09/17/2024: Application Created
Questions:
When should I re apply, I dont want to apply too late, but worried if too soon maybe cause problem?
I heard alot of people get 5 years after this is that true for my case?
Thanks in advance!!
1 year waiver
re-app had a 1 year already
1996 Was a Canadian Citizen, applied for a green card pretending he needed asylum, they found out and took away the green card.
Status History (5)
10/17/2025, 07:33 AM : Status changed to Completed
06/13/2025, 12:30 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
06/04/2025, 09:57 PM : Status changed to Paid
06/04/2025, 09:54 PM : Status changed to Signed
06/02/2025, 03:29 PM : Application Created
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