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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.
Remember, the Pardon documents ARE NECESSARY to explain why you are no longer on CPIC. If your pardon stayed intact, then you SHOULD (this is for others because you have already submitted your application) give them the pardon AND PRIVACY ACT fingerprints, in addition to the "normal fingerprints" which will come up "no record existing".
Remember, never file a re-application like "oh they already know this" or "they have these documents already". You file like its the FIRST TIME, EVERYTIME.
These people can simply ask you for a massive list of documents and completely ruin your application if they want. Spell out EVERY detail. I have so many people coming to me with applications they did themselves, and because they got one 5 years ago, its literally a photocopy of documents 5 years old and new fingerprints. That is a BIG mistake. Attention to detail ALWAYS.
Once they say "give us these 7 documents in the next 87 days" and you don't give them EXACTLY what they want, they get to simply close the file with a form letter and you lost $1100 USD.
Be smart, treat the application like your trying to impress someone, and if you are too lazy to do that, pay someone to do it for you.
@J Rogers i submitted mine on May 13 but this time i included my pardon certificate. 1st waiver (2016) was 6 months 2nd 5 years 3rd 2 years because i was charged while on the 5 year waiver. Now im wondering if the pardon documents could trigger a deeper investigation from them and take longer to issue or deny my application? Ive never waited so long for a waiver even when the online portal didnt exist i still received it within 2 months. :(
5 year waiver
Re-application had a 1 year waiver first
2012-2014 - 4 convictions, credit card fraud related convictions
Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
9/18/2025, 09:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
4/10/2025, 01:30 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
4/8/2025, 04:23 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
4/8/2025, 04:21 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
4/8/2025, 02:11 PM EDT : Application Created
Waiver timelines.
The times I posted are for RIGHT NOW. In 3 weeks it could be different. Also, they are for the MAJORITY. If most people are getting in in 11 months and you have been waiting for 14 months, that means they are:
-deciding on something outside the "norm" the norm is 1-5 year waiver.
-That could be a rejection, which takes longer to do and is sent to a supervisor. Or they could have sent it to a supervisor because its outside the norm.
-reasons for more scrutiny COULD include
---"ambiguity" about the offence (like some sexual assaults)
----person born in the country the US doesn't like at this moment
----ties to criminal organizations but not a specific record
----red flags they raised in their application
I have had clients who waited a full 3 years. But 90% of applications will fall under the "regular" waiver timeline. 10% will take longer.
September Letters, which technically are the BEST possible result take "longer" usually too.
@PGH469 There are 2 lines. Look at all the results I posted.
People in April who are ALL re-applications, about 5-6 months.
People who went to the border in October some reapplications and ALL new applications. 11 Months.
I post the results so you don;t have to think "about 9-12 months". Calculate todays date from "Submitted to ARO"
Here is a waiver that's new from today.
1 year waiver - First application.
Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
9/17/2025, 01:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Completed
10/16/2024, 02:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
10/1/2024, 04:22 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
10/1/2024, 04:20 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
9/26/2024, 01:29 PM EDT : Application Created
This person went to the border on October 16 and they got the Waiver today which is September 17th. So technically 11 months and 1 day.
Today I posted THIS
5 year waiver
Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
9/17/2025, 09:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
4/11/2025, 09:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/6/2025, 01:53 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
3/6/2025, 01:51 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
3/5/2025, 12:16 PM EST : Application Created
Re-application. April 11 2025 to September 17 5 months and 5 days.....exactly.
5 year waiver
Re-application he had a 1 year waiver
1993- Importing
1993-Trafficking
Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
9/17/2025, 09:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
4/11/2025, 09:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/6/2025, 01:53 PM EST : Status changed to Paid
3/6/2025, 01:51 PM EST : Status changed to Signed
3/5/2025, 12:16 PM EST : Application Created
9/11/2025, 07:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
3/26/2025, 10:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/22/2025, 01:18 AM EDT : Status changed to Paid
3/22/2025, 01:06 AM EDT : Status changed to Signed
3/21/2025, 11:28 PM EDT : Application Created
2nd application.
1st was approved for 1 year in 2019.
This one is approved for 5 years.
In contrast, here is a guy form last week, he is older so we check on his email periodically and we discovered he had the waiver today.
5 year waiver. He had a 5 before.
Possession of a Narcotic 1989
Application Status
Completed
Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
9/11/2025, 09:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
3/28/2025, 11:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/27/2025, 11:27 AM EDT : Status changed to Paid
3/27/2025, 11:20 AM EDT : Status changed to Signed
3/26/2025, 10:05 AM EDT : Application Created
This one is weird.
Different wording.
5 year waiver
Documents Shared With You
Additional Support Documentation
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
9/16/2025, 11:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
4/9/2025, 12:30 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
4/2/2025, 02:56 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
4/2/2025, 02:55 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
3/26/2025, 01:39 PM EDT : Application Created
Instead of "Completed" in eSAFE is says
Application Status
Pending Supervisor Review
The instead of saying "ARO decision"
it says "Additional Support Documentation"
But it was the 5 year waiver, he had a 1 year, and a VERY serious record.
5 year waiver
re-application had a 1 year
Fraud 2002
Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
9/16/2025, 09:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
4/9/2025, 12:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/17/2025, 03:40 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
3/17/2025, 03:06 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
3/17/2025, 02:55 PM EDT : Application Created
1 YEAR WAIVER
First application - Prostitution (suspected) 2017
Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
9/16/2025, 03:30 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
10/10/2024, 02:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
9/17/2024, 05:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
9/17/2024, 04:59 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
9/12/2024, 04:10 PM EDT : Application Created
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You will either get it VERY soon, or in a few months. But you should not even wait a full 12 months from the date you went to the border. If your
"lawyer" is telling you 12-18 months they simply don't do waivers. So you may be their only recent waiver. Don;t use them again and also you need to get them to constantly CHECK on it every 2-3 weeks. If they have few waivers on the go then they probably don't understand to log in and check it.
You guys are giving me hope...
My lawyer is adamant that I will not get a waiver for 12-18 months after biometrics. Previous lawyer I used for this retired in 2023, so I had to find a new one. They have been absolutely terrible and negative. They seem like they just don't want to be bothered. They could at least spend a few minutes answering e-mails for the $2000 I paid them. I had all documents and everything ready to go, they literally did nothing except set up the e-safe account and submit the paperwork I provided.
This would be my third waiver; previously had a 1-year granted in 2019, then a 5-year granted in 2020. All for one minor possession charge in 2014 that was dismissed. It expired at the end of May 2025. My 2020-2025 waiver was approved in less than 6 weeks, and I didn't realize things had changed so much.
4/15/2025 Application Created
4/16/2025 Paid and Signed
4/30/2025 Biometrics done at Rainbow Bridge
Work is all over my ass about not being able to travel to the US. But looking at recent posts in this thread, looks like March applications are being approved now, so hopefully just a few more weeks...I hope this forum is real.
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