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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.
Most clients have specific reasons to travel. Relatives, friends, wives who want to travel, kids who go to Disney etc. Work as well, football games, hockey.
The US has specific criteria. Canada has different criteria. To answer your question, Travel to the US was down 75%. So many are no longer going.
Impaired is more serious in Canada I think. But we are usually ahead of the US, more progressive. Canada is also very strict on guns where the US could not care less about gun crimes.
Privacy Act - less than 90 days for sure, usually around 30 days.
@John Rogers
How come so many waivers are necessary for impaired driving charges? Where these committed while under the influence of narcotics? Examples of waivers you post are not lengthy at all when it comes to charges laid (just 1 or 2 at most from the early 90s). Just regular people who were caught up in the system after something silly they did years ago (driving drunk, caught up in a fight, broke something, drugs for personal use, etc.). Criminalized for good, no second chances is the memo....An one out of context situation where they acted on impulse....Most of them are now in their later years, pensioners, grandparents, etc.
Yet, society decided to banish the younger offenders into poverty nowadays....They hand out discharges, yet they keep records of you for life, accessible at court houses in many provinces. Whatever happened to the right to be forgotten? A slap on the wrist they say, but professional orders no longer allow them in their ranks. Yet, we don't have enough doctors, engineers, nurses, lawyers, etc.?
I thought CBP was quite lenient on drunk driving....Same goes for simple assault, mischief under....Canada on the other hand....
I mean where do we draw the line? The current administration calls for a 51st state, yet makes it increasingly difficult to travel South. My fellow Canadians why would you shove thousands of dollars to visit a place that deems you a criminal...Meetings can be done on Teams, Zoom, etc. Some are truck drivers, I get it, but still, there is no need to visit NYC, Vegas, if you don't need to. The true criminals are roaming the streets, running governments, yet smoking a joint is punishable for life.
@J Rogers hey question about Privacy act Fingerprints how long do they take I’m in the midst of it now waiting couple weeks I know it’s done via mail aswell any info would help thanks
@J Rogers wait so if they mailed it to me Feb 13 date of there letter and stated 87 days to respond is that from the day I get the letter it the day they have it dated little confused on what you just said
5 year waiver
Re-application had a 5 before
1986- Possession of a Narcotic
1990-Impaired Driving
Twist on this was, he went to Detroit and Homeland Security had the closedown and although they took his fingerprints, they did not update his file until 45 days later, which we were worried mean that it had not been recorded. In that case they usually close the file.
It turned out ok, but he could not go back to Detroit because he was with his wife in the South, and could not leave her.
Status History (5)
03/18/2026, 08:20 AM : Status changed to Completed
12/01/2025, 01:00 AM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
10/16/2025, 04:16 PM : Status changed to Paid
10/16/2025, 04:13 PM : Status changed to Signed
09/29/2025, 10:32 AM : Application Created
I know how long fingerprints take because......we do fingerprints here. A lot of them. But there is also the fact that sometimes the RCMP does take longer for certain prints, and the other factor, is they come by regular mail. Which is not perfect. So although they SHOULD arrive, it can also through no fault of your own, not arrive in time as well. But I have been doing quite a few of them, and no one has taken over 90 days yet. So fingers crossed.
I corrected you about the days because people read this and I want to make sure we are being accurate. Remember DAY 1 is the day you get it, so its really like 86. But you have right up to the last day to submit it. Remember as well you only get ONE submission so you need to give them everything they want in ONE big document. Again, its not to rebuff you, I just want to make sure someone else doesn't procrastinate. Its ALWAYS 87 days, no exceptions.
@J Rogers this was my first one so my lawyer claimed they didn’t ask before now they do like you said so future now we know BUT As for the fingerprinting under privacy act I’ve been waiting 5 weeks already with no end in site and if you look all over a lot of em are taking 100+ days to get back so you saying it never takes that long your kind of wrong because lately they have been taking that long ps no need to be a dick over me saying 88 days or 87 calm down
[ Bobby Dhaliwal appended this reply on March 20, 2026 @ 11:29 am ]
If it don’t arrive within 87 days it’s automatic fail ans you have to start all over again ?
Privacy Act fingerprints SHOULD arrive before 87 days. (its 87, not 88)
This administration will NOT accept ANYTHING other than what they asked for.
Wait until the LAST day. If they have not arrived you can try sending them the receipt with the DCN number, but they don;t really seem to care.
I do these fingerprints all the time, and they RARELY take over 87 days.
As I tell clients, when you hire someone like me, you are hiring me to ANTICIPATE what they will ask for.
Anyone who has had a waiver before, and has a pardon, you MUST give them court and privacy act WITH the application or you too will get this request. Do not assume "oh, they don't care". They CARE now.
@J Rogers I Had a RFE from Feb 13 they gave me 88 days to respond with Privacy Act fingerprints I applied for the fingerprints the next day still waiting question once I reach 14 days before deadline and let’s say I still didn’t get my fingerprints but have the recipet that I submitted and waiting which is out of my control I’ll send them back what I have at that time if that happens but will they just close my case out at that point or would they understand that RCMP is taking however long they want apparently they can take 121 days tryna cover my bases
[ Bobby Dhaliwal appended this reply on March 19, 2026 @ 11:52 am ]
WHAT WOULD SOMEONE DO IN THE CASE OF THIS
1 year waiver
First waiver
2011 (1) POSS COUNTERFEIT MARK (2) FAIL TO ATTEND COURT
2011-ATT FRAUD UNDER $5000
345 days.
This is equal to 11 months and 11 days.
Status History (5)
03/19/2026, 10:07 AM : Status changed to Completed
04/08/2025, 10:00 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
04/02/2025, 08:00 PM : Status changed to Paid
04/02/2025, 07:55 PM : Status changed to Signed
04/02/2025, 06:27 PM : Application Created
5 YEAR WAIVER
RE-APPLICATION (HAD A 5 YEAR )
33 CONVICTIONS FROM 1995-2011
Frauds, firearms, impaired, thefts
He is only 46 years old lol
Application despite being a reapp (his third) took 162 days 5.3 months.
Status History (5)
03/13/2026, 08:22 AM : Status changed to Completed
10/02/2025, 07:02 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
09/15/2025, 08:25 PM : Status changed to Paid
09/15/2025, 08:23 PM : Status changed to Signed
09/11/2025, 07:32 PM : Application Created
3 year waiver
Had a 1 year waiver first.
DENIED ENTRY- June 2018 Suspicion of Prostitution
03/11/2026, 10:31 AM : Status changed to Completed
08/25/2025, 07:30 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
08/20/2025, 07:24 PM : Status changed to Paid
08/20/2025, 07:21 PM : Status changed to Signed
07/31/2025, 06:28 PM : Application Created
5 year waiver
Re-application He has had 5 year waivers before.
1988 Theft Over $1000
1996- Breach Of the Narcotics Act
Status History (5)
02/23/2026, 09:33 AM : Status changed to Completed
11/24/2025, 02:00 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/21/2025, 02:31 PM : Status changed to Paid
11/21/2025, 02:27 PM : Status changed to Signed
11/21/2025, 02:14 PM : Application Created
1 year waiver
Re-application. He had a 2 year waiver, now they dropped him to a 1 year waiver.
Overstayed 2000-2016 he got married, tried to get a Green Card, was denied.
He was born in Israel, but he is Palestinian. I do not know if that is a factor, but he got a 2 year under Biden, 1 year under Trump.
Status History (5)
02/20/2026, 09:33 AM : Status changed to Completed
11/20/2025, 12:03 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/12/2025, 05:37 PM : Status changed to Paid
11/12/2025, 02:28 PM : Status changed to Signed
10/30/2025, 04:15 PM : Application Created
5 year waiver
92 days but he JUST realized he had only 10 more days.
He had a 1 year first.
1996 TRAFFICKING IN A NARCOTIC
1997 MISCHIEF UNDER $5000
1999 POSS OF A SCHEDULE II SUBSTANCE
1999 ASSAULT
2002 (1) POSS OF A PROHIBITED WEAPON (2) POSS OF A SCHEDULE II SUBSTANCE
2017 DRIVING ABILITY IMPAIRED
Status History (5)
02/19/2026, 12:03 PM : Status changed to Completed
11/19/2025, 12:33 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
10/31/2025, 02:35 PM : Status changed to Paid
10/31/2025, 02:33 PM : Status changed to Signed
10/01/2025, 03:33 PM : Application Created
5 year waiver
reapplication Had a 1 year waiver first
81 days. This might be getting faster.
2001 DRIVING WHILE ABILITY IMPAIRED
2008 (1) FORCIBLE CONFINEMENT (2) ASSAULT CAUSING BODILY HARM
2011 DRIVING WHILE ABILITY IMPAIRED
2018 DRIVING WHILE ABILITY IMPAIRED
Status History (5)
03/06/2026, 06:33 AM : Status changed to Completed
12/15/2025, 03:33 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
11/19/2025, 04:37 PM : Status changed to Paid
11/19/2025, 04:33 PM : Status changed to Signed
11/18/2025, 10:05 AM : Application Created
5 YEAR WAIVER
Reapplication Had a 1 year first.
1994 TRAFFICKING
Status History (5)
03/05/2026, 02:03 PM : Status changed to Completed
12/16/2025, 02:33 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
12/05/2025, 02:50 PM : Status changed to Paid
12/05/2025, 02:48 PM : Status changed to Signed
12/03/2025, 04:05 PM : Application Created
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