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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.
@J Rogers I’m in similar situation of 47 days I call and they say the same thing aswell
[ Howie Dawson appended this reply on March 25, 2026 @ 9:53 pm ]
Then giving 87 days when the stuff could take 121 is diabolical…
@J Rogers I have the say the same thing in processing nothing else
Call the RCMP. Remember, they have to be mailed directly to YOU.
613-998-6362
ccrtis-scictr@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
You will need your DCN# when you call.
@J Rogers I’ve waited 65 days no fingerprints …
[ Bindyy Johal appended this reply on March 25, 2026 @ 6:19 pm ]
I know will probably miss my 87 day RFE which is RIDICULOUS
5 year waiver
Had a 5 year before. Re-application
1983 BE AND THEFT
2001 (1) ASSAULT (2) FAIL TO STOP AT SCENE OF ACCIDENT (3)DRIVING WHILE ABILITY IMPAIRED
Status History (5)
03/25/2026, 09:35 AM : Status changed to Completed
12/18/2025, 02:00 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
12/04/2025, 04:22 PM : Status changed to Paid
12/04/2025, 04:14 PM : Status changed to Signed
12/04/2025, 10:29 AM : Application Created
Has anyone crossed border (with waiver) by land? Which one (land or air) is more safe w.r.t length/depth of secondary inspection?
I have crossed the border twice by air only and contemplating to cross by land as it is much cheaper.
[ cal123 appended this reply on March 25, 2026 @ 6:46 am ]
I have crossed the border twice by air only and contemplating to cross by land (Ambassador Bridge @Windsor) as it is much cheaper.
They only give you the ONE opportunity to upload the document. It has to be in one shot. That sucks. I am not sure how to fix that.
Canada has always had the opinion that "people change" which is why we have a unique system for getting rid of records. Whether it is sequestration, or discharges, or pardons. There are many ways you can remove a record, and that is unique from the US.
The problem is DUI's depend on the "legal limit". So if you had an offence that some States would not prosecute you, then that is why some DUI's did not need waivers.
If a person ONLY has a DUI, they should do a pardon and avoid the US. Once its granted, the US should not know it ever existed.
If they have been denied entry, you apply for the waiver, and see what they say. They will decide on a waiver or a September Letter.
There are people who get a DUI and are given a waiver.
My business is not about making people apply for things they do not need. Anyone who calls me asking about a waiver is ALWAYS consulted on possible alternatives. I NEVER "just do" a waiver without making sure the client has no other option, and knows the "probability of success".
If someone does not need a waiver, I will tell them so. Turning clients away because you are honest is ALWAYS good for business. When people see you are honest and transparent, they WANT to send others to you. Its the best confirmation that you can be trusted you can have.
That doesn't mean sometimes people want to try when their odds are not good. I still get applications where I am not optimistic, but the client is aware.
Hi guys,
I did some work on the data from April to September and here’s what I found. The data comes from the USCIS Immigration and Citizenship Data portal: https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/immigration-and-citizenship-data?ddt_mon=&ddt_yr=2025&query=&items_per_page=10
Key numbers:
Applications received dropped from 9,333 → 6,571 per month (~30% decrease)
Finalized cases rose slightly from 1,919 → 2,298 per month
Backlog growth slowed from ~7,400/month → ~4,300/month
What this tells us:
The backlog is still increasing, because finalized cases are fewer than incoming applications
The slowdown in backlog growth is mainly due to fewer applications, not just processing improvements
Slight improvements in processing help, but they are secondary
Interesting note: US government data doesn’t distinguish new applications from reapplications. Since reapplications take around 5 months versus 9–12 months for first-time waivers, part of the improvement in processing may reflect faster handling of reapplications
Bottom line:
The system is performing a bit better, but the main reason backlog growth has slowed is fewer applications, with faster processing of reapplications contributing as well.
Backlog won’t shrink unless first-time waivers are processed faster than re-applications are coming in.
Here are the timelines I am working with for a 1st time applicant:
03/24/2026, 08:21 AM : Status changed to Request for More Information Response
03/24/2026, 07:17 AM : Status changed to Request for More Information
04/22/2025, 07:00 PM : Status changed to Submitted to ARO
04/08/2025, 07:05 PM : Status changed to Paid
04/08/2025, 07:03 PM : Status changed to Signed
01/15/2025, 03:09 PM : Application Created
@J Rogers - HOWEVER - I made a mistake today. There were two questions on the request for more information. I thought I could upload each document separately, but it only took the one. It closed the response option but it is only 50% complete. Do I just wait or is there a way to reverse of contact them? Any advice is appreciated.
@John Rogers
My question pertains mostly to those waivers you do for clients with impaired driving charges....The US was or at least from what I read online quite lenient. What changed? A simple DUI or even 2 doesn't make you inadmissible for CBP, yet many waivers you post have DUI charges....So? Something doesn't add up. I heard the Canada being progressive narrative countless times, doesn't mean anything to be honest. These policies hurt tourism more than anything as law abiding citizens get caught in the system and victimized for life....They are not criminals, just happened to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time. As for drunk driving, I mean those who actually get caught know pretty well the consequences of their actions beforehand. However, lots of teenagers get tangled up in bar fights and arrest records out of it, with discharges as the outcome. Are they criminals?
Quite shameful that governments require tourists to wait months or years for costly documents, so they can give false illusions about safeguarding borders. All this talk about the 51st state, yet all we do is add more complexity. Open borders? Says who? We are all criminals...lol.
It will be interesting to know how many DUIs now require US waivers, because the current administration changed course it seems. Maybe payback for Canada excluding visitors with DUIs? But I also understand that you cannot provide a truthful answer, as it may compromise your business.
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.
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