I-194 Waiver Forum

Waiver application processing times

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John Rogers Trusted

I just want to remind everyone that people come here for answers. Accurate answers.

Look at the things I post. About the Airport. About what i am seeing with regards to waivers for trafficking. My advice is always factual, and I never claim anything other than what i see.

Michelle does the same thing (although she doesn't have the time to post as much) and I have referred local clients to her, because I trust her judgement and I know she does good work for a reasonable price. I have even given her a good review on websites.

Ken is knowledgeable. When he gives good advice I leave it alone. Question asked, question answered.

When he makes "claims" I do not agree with, I explain why. People can decide who is more credible.

I have debunked MANY Of his claims. Read the forum. This last "dispute" started because he referenced the "September Letter" he has displayed. Its fake. My assertion is "you have knowledge, you sell waivers, why pretend you are MORE than that?"

If Ken claimed I posted something fake, I would want to prove it was real, because credibility is everything. He won't. His response is to simply to challenge him in a webcast. I think the fact he does a lot of things that are questionable add up to a lot doubt about his integrity.

I don't want to add drama to anything, but I cannot let someone make false claims without challenging it. People have a right to know the truth.

Notice nothing i just posted was personal. Just explaining the "root" of the problem.

Michelle Trusted

Sorry, I am not able to be on here much right now, as my busy season now starts until June, and as I have stated, I am on my own, except for a contract person who helps out when he can...I am also working on tenders for digital fingerprinting services, both for Provincial and Federal Government, which means I will be traveling through the province if I am successful at winning the bids. John and Ken have a great deal of experience and advise. As always, if anyone wants to contact me direct, you can email me at info@fingerprintpardon.com or text 306.531.8886 or call 306.205.2532. Thanks All...

K SCOTT

#1382 We usually have our Canadian slow season between Dec to end of January. I do not know how it will be over here though in terms of seasonal changes. Waiver application processing times for us seems to be 4.5 months for cases in our Less Complex Category and 9 months forward on our Serious Criminality/More Complex Case Category.

#1382 Also, what is a tender? We are seriously looking to do fingerprints late next year. I have to restructure a few things in order for that to happen. Do you know of a good company where we could obtain the equipment? I believe that once you mentioned a company called Morph.

We have an affiliation now with a fingerprint provider that we used for our cases. However, I am thinking that it is time to venture off into this area in the late future. Hence, I want to start doing the groundwork.

If anyone has any questions, they can contact us at 1 888 908-3841 or 604 332-9213. We do resolve all border crossing issues but lately seem to be getting cases in the More Complex category....however, we still do less complex ones too.

:: @K SCOTT added on 03 Oct ’18 · 17:29

I also wanted to add something about the I-824. An I-824 can be used to order a replacement copy of an approved decision on a relevant US Immigration petition that you have filed. In this case, I am talking about a waiver.

Specifically, he did not have a copy of his waiver and wanted to obtain one. I suggested that he wait since his waiver only had about 8 months remaining and he would have to pay the application fee of $465(I-824 fee) and then another $585(us waiver fee) in a few months. He wanted to do it anyway. Now we have to start his next waiver and he will not qualify for a September Letter.

Today, he told me that he received it and that it only took 2 weeks for him to obtain the replacement copy. He also has a Fraud offence and I will wait and see if CBP will ask about payment of restitution. They did not ask about it in the last 2 clients as one client had a conviction for running a credit card Fraud ring in BC.

So I cannot speak for others, but his case only took 2 weeks to get the replacement copy.

John Rogers Trusted

I-824's generally are pretty fast. We talked about this before, but of course usually only do it if you have significant time left on a 5 year waiver.

2 weeks is pretty fast, sometimes 30 days is typical.

Fingerprinting. There are three main companies.

Commisionaires, Morpho and Clearneed. Michelle is with Morpho, we are with Clearneed.

You get the same machine, different fee structure depending on the company. My colleague in Montreal is with Morpho and get a much different deal than we do with Clearneed. We were one of the first affiliates with Clearneed (they approached us) so got a great deal.

Its not a very quick process and you and Ben Archer will have to go through a rigorous RCMP screening, including a 4-5 hour interview. Your credit must also be good. Its a lot of overkill as far as I am concerned. BUT I can tell you that the RCMP is VERY thorough. So having a podcast where Ben Archer pretends to be an ex gang member is going to disqualify him.

This is why I am surprised when companies would not have fingerprinting capabilities in this business. When Clearneed opened Morpho and Clearneed were competing to sign up all the available pardon and waiver companies that seemed legitimate because they make money every time fingerprints are taken.

Rule of thumb is either they saw flags, or the persons credit or criminal history prohibited them from being a good candidate. Obviously there are exceptions. But if you have staff in the office, why would you NOT want to get more traffic for fingerprints? We had 17 people come for fingerprints the other day (that is the exception not the rule). Thats 17 people paying us to fingerprint them, and 17 more people who can refer people for Pardons and Waivers.

John Rogers Trusted

1-824 there is a whole thread from back in March called "Lost I-192" where details are given on replacing a lost Waiver, in case anyone needs the information.

Michelle Trusted

#1383 and 1384...I agree John, the fingerprint accreditation was strict when we applied. It is even more strict now..the location must have all types of security, including 24 hour cameras. Individuals and company are checked very through, including credit, and taxes, ect. Also, your company must be a Corporation, at least this was a requirement of Morpho at the time I signed on. I also understand that there is a year waiting list of companies waiting to be approved.

K SCOTT

Well, we would have no issues actually as well as Mr Ben Archer never said such things and is someone of impeccable character. Perhaps you have info confused as such. #1386 Sounds like we would have no other issues then. We already have the security cameras in place so that is not an issue. Also, the Surrey office has plenty of parking. I met the Clearneed owner before about 10 years ago and I believe that his name is Greg. I am unsure if he is still involved with Clear need or not.

Again, it is something that is on the back burner for late 2019 as we have more things to put into place before that time. It would be the very last thing on our list. Don't know if I see the relevancy of a thread being older in terms of I-824's since my comment was specifically about what was told to us on Oct 4, 2018, and is much more recent than a prior thread.

Fingerprinting is not as high on the passion list for us just yet.

However #1384 and 1386, the info is very much appreciated.

:: @K SCOTT added on 06 Oct ’18 · 21:24

We also have a special program where we occasionally need 1-2 people with certain criminal convictions that we rarely come across in BC. Specifically, these people would get their cases done pro bono and we will publish the request here and on our site. It is usually limited to a maximum of 2 people with specific convictions and we prefer that they are in BC or Alberta only.

An example is that we previously had a need for 1-2 people that had convictions for Car Theft but we found them already.

We already have 1 client for this offence but we would like another person that has a Manslaughter conviction or one where they have a conviction for selling stolen cars.

Please contact us privately if you want more info.

JM

Question...

I applied for a Waiver in June. I just received back a request for more information---details of my arrest and the circumstances leading up to it.

Does anyone have a sense of how long it takes to get a decision once I submit this?

sk123

@ JM. When exactly did you apply in June (date). What documents did you already submit with your waiver application, such as disposition documents. Are they certified?
Sometimes, they contact you by email. Response to these is easier and sooner. If they have contacted you by regular mail then it may take longer. Processing time depends on the kind of conviction you have. If it is your first time applying for a waiver, then it takes longer then 2nd or 3rd. Typically another 2 months.

John Rogers Trusted

@sk123 "sometimes they contact you by email"

I have never seen this with a regular waiver in recent memory. He received I am sure the standard letter they always send out. And its ALWAYS by regular mail. Only rejections come via registered mail, and that is actually fairly new.

The answer to your question depends on what they wanted and why. If you have a trafficking offence or something that they are targeting, it could take 6 months to a year. If its something simple, you might have it just after Christmas. Count on it being much slower now that they have asked for more information.

sk123 "If it is your first time applying for a waiver, then it takes longer then 2nd or 3rd. Typically another 2 months." This statement is not true in my experience at all.

First time waivers are taking 90-110 days right now as are reapplications. I see no difference in the processing times unless they go to secondary security screening.

How large is the sample size you are using for your answers? How many people do you know that are getting emails from Homeland Security?

jm

I applied around June 23rd...

I submitted all the required documents--Fingerprints, official court documents and a letter explaining my convictions. This further info request seems to be particularly focused on details relating to the circumstances related to my arrest and conviction as well as my motivations of my actions leading to the the charges.

Becca

3 months to receive approval

Applied July 11 rainbow bridge. Letter dated October 9

Theft under 5000$ from 2009, received a 5 year waiver !

John Rogers Trusted

3 months is actually the "standard" time, although it does climb to 110 days in certain times of the year.

If your waiver takes closer to a year, its in the minority and means you were put into "secondary security".

First time applications and second and third do not take longer of shorter BECAUSE they are initial waivers or not. It seems logical to conclude that, but that's not how Homeland Security works.

Becca

@sk123

Yes, first waiver. Travelled since 2009 before being stopped this year, unfortunately.

Wes

John I applied Sept 25th for a waiver renewal because I got a job offer in the US (my current waiver is still good but only for B1/B2 but not for the TN visa I'm trying to go down on). My question is will my job offer help in processing time at all from the 3 month benchmark? Is there anything I can do to expedite?

Wes

Thanks for your help John - will keep you posted! Cheers.

nonameplease

hi guys!
I would appreciate any help/info/guidance.
I was convicted for fraud OVER 5000$ back in 2012. My probation finished in 2015. right when my probation finished I applied for a waiver and was refused because I didnt wait long enough to apply.
I waited a year and then re-applied..it took almost 2 years before I got a response which was a NO! ....
Its very important for me as I have a child who lives in the US. I really want to go.
on my second refusal they told me I haven't waited long enough.....HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT????? and they also mentioned that my letter didnt show much remorse.
I am not so good at expressing my feelings on paper. its very hard for me. I want to re-apply but im so skeptical. Should I wait? 3 years have passed since my probation was finished.

I did not have any jail time. I was on house arrest? no ankle bracelet I just had to curfew. My probation officer always writes the best letters which I include in my file that I send to the ARO but they don't care. My prob officer indicated that it was my first offence ever and I am not likely to re-offend.
SUGGESTIONS WELCOME........