I have a few trips planned through US in next few months and wondering how people are getting along crossing through since the recent political changes.....I am on my 4th waiver ( current is 5 year expiring in 2027)....Is it better to go through land or airports,.....as I could go through land ones for one trip. I guess depends on the agent as in the past either kind can send you to secondary or pass you right through,,,...I did read where someone had problem with his waiver saying the wrong type of job.......my waiver says good for business or pleasure.......even though I told them I was retired on the last submission....
How are border crossings going with waivers
Has anyone crossed lately via airport and how did it go?
@Nsprings crossed at yyc for the second time is 2 months and once again sent to secondary .
seems to be the standard . didn't fingerprint me this time.
Went through YYZ pulled into secondary - customs agent indicated that secondary is required every time now and wanted us to be aware of this change
Just traveled through yyz and secondary is mandatory (as others have said) and they advised me to come up to 4 hours before a flight. We waited 50 mins.
@Nspringss you waited 50 minutes in Secondary?
For us it was only ten minutes in secondary but that could be because it was 430am , they did say that it’s required every time now so you should always factor it into your travel time
Do they go in detail (such as where do you work or where do you live?) or only purpose of travel, duration, funds etc during Secondary? Can it be red flag if someone is retired? Did any retired person go through Secondary? Is return flight ticket mandatory?
@cal123 in the airport I did secondary, wife and daughter were told they could go to the gate and they I’d meet them there , they did ask about a return ticket yes I had a copy of my flight itinerary, but they didn’t ask about employment. They did inform me that there is a new policy in effect that requires you to go to secondary every time and to be prepared for it
@Kris1988 Thanks. Which Airport?
@Kris1988 approx how long did you spend in secondary?
@cal123
went through yyc with spouse and I was directed to secondary and she was allowed to go through. Spent around 10 minutes and just said we were going on a cruise. There was only one other person in there.
I'm retired and had no questions about a return ticket or employment .
Possible they know all that on their computers.
Only about ten minutes only two people ahead of me however I have a friend who was in there almost an hour and said it was busy so give yourself lots of time
More curious to know about the (type and depth of) questions (and which airport) than the wait time. It will be appreciated if people (whatever possible) can share it.
I am going to consider at-least one hour wait time, just to be on safe side.
Curious how the crossing time has been? I am flying Halifax to Orlando with a layover in Toronto. Layover is only 2 hours and it is my understanding I will have to go to secondary with my waiver. I am familiar with the process as I drive a fair amount where secondary is required every 6 months but I am worried about missing my connection. Can anyone one give an idea as to how long things have been taking?
@Kg it is very tricky for connections. My experience in the last 6 months flying out of YYZ…is I am sent for secondary now every time. Apparently this is a change. I am on my 3rd - five year waiver. It is taking about 45 minutes to an hour to clear secondary based on staffing and they don’t hurry. Please don’t travel tight with connections at Pearson or travel at all. Got to give yourself 1-2 hours for secondary to be safe.
I am retired and went through secondary. Ask for the date of my return ticket at YYZ, reason for stay and address where I am staying, nothing else on April 15/25.
Went through secondary at YVR last week with 1 year waiver (approved in Oct 2024). No que at all. Wife was told to remain seated. He took around 10 minutes to review my file and then called me. Basic questions around purpose, duration and destination. No proof of any documents/phone search. He told me to ensure to follow SORNA guidelines (for SA case) and visa can be revoked if not adhered to. That's it. I was let go after 5 minutes.
I am glad many of you are NOT having problems. Many of my clients who have waivers are not crossing.
2 waivers have been revoked for no real reason and I can not reach the client with the September Letter. (He got it in 2022 so its possible its just the info is outdated)
The "reason" seems to be "unable to overcome presumption of an intending immigrant". In my opinion, based on the stories I am told, the only factor is the officer. Once an officer DECIDES he is going to deny you, he/she will find a reason.
Hopefully we get a "consistency" so that people don't have to worry about this.
In the case of one client, it was the first time she used it (it had just been granted). The other guy has had it and travelled without incident for 2 years. One was a 1 year, one was a 5 year.
Lets hope these are isolated incidents.
@J Rogers John if you’re going to Fear Monger every single day please provide statistics and facts. “Many of your clients are not able to cross” ??? Please tell us how many are many? You say you do hundreds to thousands of waivers a year. Are dozens to hundreds of people being denied entry to the states after paying thousands of dollars to get this waiver?
Isn’t the point of this thread to get hard stats and data? Every single message I see from you is a troubling, concerning post that makes me sick to my stomach. Please tell us how many of your Many clients are being turned away from the border.
@Manypeople yes John why are we just hearing now that Many of your clients are not able to cross the border???