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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.
5 year waiver
10/07/2025, 12:33 PM : Status changed to Completed
05/13/2025, 01:00 AM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
05/08/2025, 08:43 PM : Status changed to Paid
05/08/2025, 02:34 PM : Status changed to Signed
04/08/2025, 02:40 PM : Application Created
Had a waiver, it got revoked because of another criminal charge. The charges were withdrawn, so we gave them court, then they gave him a new 5 year waiver when he applied.
The 1 year had a 1 year last time too and has serious drug charges but old.
The 5 year had a 5 before. So both are re-applications.
1 year waiver
Status History (5)
10/07/2025, 07:02 AM : Status changed to Completed
05/09/2025, 02:30 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
05/07/2025, 03:47 PM : Status changed to Paid
05/07/2025, 03:44 PM : Status changed to Signed
05/06/2025, 07:06 PM : Application Created
5 year waiver
Status History (5)
10/07/2025, 07:32 AM : Status changed to Completed
05/12/2025, 01:30 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
05/06/2025, 05:40 PM : Status changed to Paid
05/06/2025, 05:35 PM : Status changed to Signed
05/05/2025, 07:37 PM : Application Created
Weird result.
First time applicant. Never denied entry, just realized with a gun prohibition, would need a waiver anyways.
2017- Assault Causing Bodily Harm - Probation 12 months, 219 days pre sentence custody.
-A bouncer hit his friend, so he pulled out a knife, stabbed the bouncer.
2018- Assault with a Weapon, Fail to comply. - 2 years probation
- Was involved in a fight, so told everyone he had a knife to get them to back off.
What do you think this person would get? I told him I thought he would get a waiver, but probably a 1 year waiver. He was born in Canada, but his parents are Sri Lanken. (In case you thought it was because he was a certain ethnicity)
Result??? September Letter.
Status History (5)
10/02/2025, 10:02 AM : Status changed to Completed
10/15/2024, 09:30 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
10/11/2024, 01:53 PM : Status changed to Paid
10/11/2024, 01:50 PM : Status changed to Signed
10/07/2024, 08:35 PM : Application Created
I have NO idea why they gave a client who was a single mom a 1 year waiver for a CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE in 2001 because she lied to police because she and her kids were living in her car.
Her "rehabilitation" was a PILE of certificates, good things she has done for the community. She even works NOW for the Salvation Army.
But this client, with NO rehabilitation and basically admitting to stabbing a bouncer.....September Letter.
Thrilled for the client, but how inconsistent is THAT?
1 year waiver
Re-application.
2015- Fraud over This is his second 1 year waiver in a row.
Status History (5)
10/02/2025, 12:32 PM : Status changed to Completed
05/07/2025, 03:30 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
05/02/2025, 04:48 PM : Status changed to Paid
04/30/2025, 02:16 PM : Status changed to Signed
04/10/2025, 08:19 PM : Application Created
10/03/2025, 11:32 AM : Status changed to Completed
05/13/2025, 04:00 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
05/09/2025, 04:54 PM : Status changed to Paid
05/09/2025, 04:52 PM : Status changed to Signed
04/25/2025, 09:45 PM : Application Created
5 years weaver granted
Got my waiver today!
5 year waiver.
This is my third; previously had a one year and a 5-year.
A bit of a different case, as my charges happened within the USA (Virginia)
Charged with possession of a controlled substance in 2014. Spent 4 days in county jail.
Charges were dismissed after completing "drug awareness", community service and counselling.
Denied entry in 2015 after entering 10 times after the charges with no issues. Even though the charges were dismissed and my US record expunged.
2025-10-02: Approval Received.
2025-04-30: Biometrics Done at Rainbow Bridge
2025-04-18: Paid/Signed
2025-04-10: Application Created
So 5 months and 2 days between submission and approval.
5 year waiver
Re-application. He had 2 waivers before.
09/30/2025, 11:32 AM : Status changed to Completed
04/12/2025, 05:04 AM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
02/25/2025, 04:05 PM : Status changed to Paid
02/24/2025, 08:33 PM : Status changed to Signed
02/24/2025, 07:32 PM : Application Created
5 year waiver (he had a 5 before)
He missed the first email
ARO Decision
You are being notified that you will no longer be able to view this document once your response has been uploaded. It is suggested that you save a copy for your records before you upload a response.
Status History (5)
09/08/2025, 12:00 PM : Status changed to Completed
03/18/2025, 01:00 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
03/12/2025, 08:53 PM : Status changed to Paid
03/12/2025, 08:51 PM : Status changed to Signed
03/10/2025, 03:44 PM : Application Created
Finally God did it!
1 year waiver
09/26/2025, 08:02 AM : Status changed to Completed
10/30/2024, 05:30 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
10/26/2024, 12:21 AM : Status changed to Paid
10/25/2024, 09:53 PM : Status changed to Signed
09/25/2024, 11:26 PM : Application Created
1 Year waiver. Re-application. I did it myself. I am so happy it came out before the current waiver end. Glory to God!!!
Status changed to completed today Sept 25, 2025
Submitted to ARO On April 21 2025, so it took 5 months
First application was for 1 year as well it was going to end Oct 3rd 2025. I had a lawyer. it took 10 months.
My offense was an overstay so I had a 10year bar. Tt ends in August 2026.
@J Rogers, thanks for all your posts it really did help me. Technically once the bar ends, you do not need another waiver after that, correct? Thank you for your answer.
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.
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