@Philly - Don't worry about emailing them for a status update, it wont slow it down. It says in the application that requesting an update within the first 4 months will slow you down but after 4 months I think you can inquire all you like. I have sent probably 6 requests in total and it didn't seem to slow it down. I sent a request for example on Feb 27th and it said pending. I sent another request a couple weeks later and it said on XX/XX/XXXX a decision was mailed

My application has been with ARO for 8 months now. Does anyone know whether or not inquiring ONCE a month via email to inquiry.aro would slow down the process at all? Thanks in advance!

Hi ChrisD,

Yes I did it took almost 6 months received Feb 16th good for 5 years. thank god. LV

:: @Lee Ving added on 29 Mar ’16 · 15:24

took almost 2 weeks from date it said it was mailed

@Africanjedi & @Philly - Yes it was my first waiver. I can only assume they gave me the 5 yr due too the length of time since the crime was committed (2000). I applied at the Lewiston Bridge. They were very nice and helpful. I am sure you will hear something soon.

@Toad - That is lucky!! Congrats! I applied in early August at the Peace Bridge and still waiting..

@Toad- I did mine at Pearson in November so i hope mine comes next month. I have no criminal background it was an overstay. Was this your first waiver?

I applied in October and got my approval letter and waiver in the mail today. Total time from application was 6 months. They granted me a 5 year waiver. I was lucky.

@LeeVing - did your waiver come approved? How long did mailing take?

I'm pretty sure you have a ten year ban!

Congrats @Peter. 18 months is a new record. That's the longest I've heard. If this is the new normal they should be updating the info on their website.

~one and half years

@peter - How long did it take to get a decline?

i just applied for US waiver at one port of entry on march 14. I was deported for mirepresentation in 2011. Applied for waiver in 2012, but get declined. Now is the 2nd try. Don't know how long will it take.

@Figman - Thanks :) That makes me feel much better.

Kristina... I have changed jobs while having an approved waiver and it is not an issue. They never ask where you work, they ask what you do and why you're coming to the states. And of course the correct answer is "I have meetings, or I'm on vacation."

Applied for my waiver on August 24 2015 at Blaine port of Entry and I received an email from ARO yesterday stating "On 03/05/2016, a decision was mailed to the address of record provided on your application."
Just figured its worth mentioning that it says it was sent on a Saturday based on this. Very odd. I don't get this office, I really don't. Its like your dealing with the Illuminati
Anyhow, fingers crossed it comes approved! That would make it just shy of 7 months waiting from the time I applied

I just noticed that on my husbands approved waiver it states his employment. He changed jobs a couple of months ago. Will this cause issues when crossing? Has anyone crossed while working at a different job then what it states on the waiver?

Yep..I have learned this lesson. We lost about 4000 on all this so going to cancel and not go until waiver is in hand. Thanks for all the help and info.
Expensive joint from thirty three years ago..lol

I have been getting waivers renewed for 20 years and I don't believe they even look at whether you need to travel or not. It is handled on "whenever they get to it" basis. Same with references. I've never had one of my references called.

Since Homeland Security was created after 9/11 the process of approving waivers includes FBI, CIA, ATF and of course CBP and US INS.

Still this year is the longest wait times I've ever seen. Used to take about 7 months. Now many people are waiting 1 year or more.

Moral of the story is never book a vacation until you have the waiver in your hands.

Does anyone know if for the DOS it is first come first serve for the waivers or do they actually look at each and evaluate.for instance do they take into consideration if you have a travel date. Also I have a character letter from a high ranking person in Canadian military. Would this help to increase my chances for getting the waiver faster or no? Thanks for advice. I am thinking of throwing in the towel for my Hawaii trip as doesn't look likely and we will lose all this money but this is too stressful. Better to have waiver in hand to rebook anything. Good Luck to you all who have been waiting so long. It really sucks and not fair