@joolsjools Good information, but it looks like these timelines are mainly for Landed Immigrants or people getting visas, not Canadian Citizens getting waivers (that I can tell, correct me if I am wrong)

One of our members in our BritishExpats.com forum just discovered this group. We have a Google Sheets tracker which started off for B1/B2 consular waiver applications, but now covers lots of Canadian and other waivers also. Happy for you guys to add to it as the more data, the more useful it becomes. Support for the sheet is mostly in our forum, but do leave your username and forum in your entry so we know where you're from.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qzFVrHBGVC-7yzqEhidmBz52KqQXYyX8yr3nAhdCSgM/edit?gid=0gid=0

All the best, joolsjools

waiver denied. 2015 Trafficking cocaine, a large amount 2 years less a day is the sentence. Borderline for sure.

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
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ARO Decision
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ARO Decision
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Status History (5)
3/10/2025, 12:30 PM EDT : Status changed to Completed
3/18/2024, 11:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/12/2024, 11:16 AM EDT : Status changed to Paid
3/12/2024, 11:14 AM EDT : Status changed to Signed
3/5/2024, 10:05 AM EST : Application Created

I applied for a first-time waiver on October 20, 2024.
No criminal record. Had a small joint in my car.
What are the approximate timelines right now for approval for first time applicants with no criminal record? Any chance I'll get it before June?

@J Rogers are there usually any court docs even remaining in the database for a theft that old?

5 year waiver
First application - Theft Under in 1994 and they asked for more court docs.

Worth it, he got 5 years.

Please review the documents
Status History (7)
3/11/2025, 10:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Completed
3/7/2025, 11:08 AM EST : Status changed to Request for More Information Response
3/5/2025, 12:00 PM EST : Status changed to Request for More Information
4/18/2024, 02:00 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
4/13/2024, 12:40 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
4/13/2024, 12:38 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
4/11/2024, 10:04 AM EDT : Application Created

@PumpedUpTravelled Hopefully you can improve the application and get a longer waiver. I RARELY ever get 2 waivers for 1 year back to back (it does happen but very rare) and you should also not settle. Improve the application and re-apply, but wait for a couple of months at least. They do not look at the date of your last waiver and you don;t want it cut short. Get the full year out of it.

@PumpedUpTravelled yes absolutely

Applied April 2024
Received mine just last week. March 2025

1 year waiver drug conviction in Canada.

Do you all think if I want another year waiver I should just apply now again?

@Alyssa the price hike was on April 01 2024
Everyone rushed to pay and file in March
And they went to border sometime in April
I assume once April is over then things should pick up

Is May 15th when the price went up? Hopefully after that we’ll see better movement

@May 31st The applications they are going through now are the problem. They are all the clients who beat the deadline, so there are a LOT of applications. Once they get past May 15th application I anticipate them speeding up a lot. An educated guess.

@J Rogers Appreciate all the updates you give
It’s been very encouraging the last 10 months while waiting my 31st May 2024 sent to ARO waiver.
Just a question. Do you still have a lot of May 31st and prior applications
Seems like this is where most of the clog is at at the moment where the prices was hiked

5 year waiver - first waiver

2008-impaired
2009-counterfeit

Please review the documents
Status History (5)
3/6/2025, 02:00 PM EST : Status changed to Completed
4/18/2024, 06:30 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/29/2024, 09:35 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
3/29/2024, 09:33 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
3/29/2024, 09:36 AM EDT : Application Created

FINALLY -

5 year approval, overstay 1993 - 1998

3/7/2025, 10:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
4/19/2024, 12:01 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
4/2/2024, 04:23 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
4/2/2024, 04:12 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
4/2/2024, 02:32 PM EDT : Application Created

@J Rogers thank you for the context. A denial and two 1-year waivers would normally worry me but the details you provided with it makes a Ton of sense

Waiver denied

Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
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ARO Decision
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ARO Decision
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Status History (5)
2/19/2025, 10:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
2/7/2024, 10:01 AM EST : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
1/16/2024, 03:52 PM EST : Status change

1 year waiver

3/4/2025, 07:00 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
4/17/2024, 09:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/31/2024, 12:14 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
3/31/2024, 12:12 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
3/30/2024, 11:24 AM EDT : Application Created

1 year waiver

ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
3/4/2025, 09:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
4/16/2024, 02:01 PM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
3/29/2024, 06:58 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
3/29/2024, 06:54 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
3/29/2024, 12:21 PM EDT : Application Created

The denial was importing drugs to Bermuda in 2017.

"You applied in February 2024, and instant application just 6 years and 4 months later....insufficient time has elapsed." It was marijuana.

The other applicants have multiple convictions, one has a 2018. The other has a manslaughter conviction from 2012 and another conviction for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle in 2015, so I was VERY pleased that he got a waiver at all.

5 year waiver

Just got off the phone with a different client, checked file, told him it was too early.
Then we get this waiver in from SEPTEMBER. Re-application. Completely at odds with all the April waivers being granted now.

Application Status
Completed
Documents Shared With You
ARO Decision
Please review the documents
Status History (5)
2/28/2025, 09:30 AM EST : Status changed to Completed
9/5/2024, 11:00 AM EDT : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
8/16/2024, 04:06 PM EDT : Status changed to Paid
8/8/2024, 04:43 PM EDT : Status changed to Signed
7/30/2024, 04:19 PM EDT : Application Created

@Help11027 Well, its not unusual for them to try to check out as many people as necessary. She should get a waiver or a September letter soon.

@J Rogers
Waiting on an answer from a waiver submitted April 18 for my mom. No criminal history, etc but an overstay 1993-1998. Father needed a waiver and when mom went with him for fingerprints, BPO said it would be good for her to obtain one too. Have you seen this before?