We have now have the waiver and have booked our trip. What happens now? We are flying in to Vancouver then Hawaii. Do we have to let customs know we have a waiver or wait for them to ask? Do we have to tell them ahead of flying there? Will we have to go to secondary and if so will it be a long process? The waiver was for possession over thirty years ago..any chance we will be denied entry? Thanks for the info
Once waiver is received
Just put the waiver in your passport when your entering NEVER EVER wait for the CBP officer to ask you ... I've seen power trippers freak out and flat out deny entry just cause you didn't show them the waiver, it must be shown at all times upon each entry ( it does state that on the waiver itself and it's the last sentence on your first sheet) 99% of the time they knows its a waiver and ask you simple questions that is written on the waiver such as your work etc, reason for visiting and so on.... and you will need a I-194 card stapled to your passport. Give yourself plenty of time for secondary as they have the discretions to keep you as long as they want....best to get there minimum 2 hours ahead of flight time is my personal opinion if your that worried about secondary. If you have all your travel plans in order, where your staying, when your coming back, who else is traveling with you ... it should be relatively easy and without hassle mostly 30-60 minutes tops depending on how busy CBP is ...or the officer you get, not everyone is bad some are pretty quick. You just pay $6 for the card to be stapled and stamped in your passport and you should be on your way. Just don't lie about your travel plans and be nervous and you should be fine.
Enjoy your flight!
That's great thank you for the info. Do I get the I-94 card when I go to secondary or is it something I should get before my flight?
You get the card in secondary. It's a easy process. I've had one at YVR. If you get the card before hand like crossing a land border it is easier but either way you should be just fine.
Hi, just curious about this I-194 card. I have received my second waiver (5 year), and am going to the US in May for a work conference. I went to the US once before when I had my first 1 year waiver, but didn't require or get an I-194 card stapled to my passport. Is this something new? I handed the customs office my passport and waiver, he just asked me what the waiver was for, then then asked me to line up with some other people. They sent us to a room and had the dogs sniff our bags. Would it make sense for me to visit the wicket at YYC and get the card stapled to my passport before I go on my trip?
Also, I am flying through YYZ on my way to Florida, and I assume I will be clearing customs there. I have an hour and 40 minutes between flights. Should I re-book with a later connecting flight to give myself more time in case?
So I've had a waiver for a few months and went into the U.S.A through Toronto Pearson Pre Clearance for the first time since having a waiver. Handed them my waiver and they asked what I had a waiver for. Told them it was for a criminal record. I was sent into secondary and waited about 30-45 minutes until they called me up. He just asked where I was going and the address I was staying at. Then let me go. No extra card/stamp in my passport.
So my question is for people who have traveled a few times through pre clearance in airports will this happen every time? I don't live in Toronto so they are connecting flights and I don't ever want to be in a situation where the connection is an hour and I get pulled into secondary.
Maybe I am wrong but this happened to me. I think reason is they don't staple I-194 because you seek entry one time at the airports so they simply stamp for six months. At border they issue I-194 card because CBP officer can easily check validity of I-194 card. If they check stamp at booth It will take forever.
So are you saying next time through preclearance I will go into secondary or I won't?
Every 6 months they will do a secondary.
I applied for my waiver renewal in April 3rd 2018 and have yet to receive it. This is my fourth one I have done now each for 5 years at a time usually I receive it within 3 months has anyone else experience delays
@valeria if nothing by September 3 (150 days) send an email. It means you are in secondary. Also what was your reason for inadmissibility?
Remember this is a Trump waiver, not an Obama waiver. I have seen 5 year waiver holders who were not renewed for certain offences. Trafficking is a big one right now as you must have read on the forum.
-did you do it yourself
-why are you inadmissible?
Also, remember Valerie that CBP feels that there is no such thing as a waiver renewal. Each application is always considered a new application. Plus now under Trump, they are taking as long as they see fit in adjudicating these waiver applications. Yes, the question is did you do it yourself and what was your conviction for?
I just received my first I-194. I'm good for 5 years. What should I expect when crossing a land border for the first time?
How soon can you re-apply?
Do you have to do the whole process over again (I-192)?
Do you pay the same amount every time (5 yrs.)?
When you cross for the first time BY LAND you will have a secondary inspection, pay $6 for an I-94 Card.
Re-apply about 8 months ahead of time in terms of gathering your documents but hand it in about 120 days before. Remember this is in 2023 so we are guessing at this point.
Same application, I am sure different forms and I am sure the fee will be $930USD by then.
for a fee that big they should make them all 5 year waivers!
Ken Scott
I noticed you are no longer on Facebook....at all. I went to your companies site, and all mention of you has been removed (I spent 10 minutes looking for your name) but most of the "testimonials" are now to a guy named "Rick". All the bio info has been removed of everyone.
Ken, are you still involved? I don't want to alarm anyone who is considering using you. Can you clear up whats going on? Even the posts you made on Complaints against Federal Pardons" has been removed. You have no presence on Facebook at all now, and you used to be all over it.
Has anyone else heard from Ken other than the forum?
He's around, just not on the boards much. Talked to him about 6 days ago.
Just sent him a message and told him you miss him. LOL
@Jazzsax1 I know a couple of people who paid him up front and were promised refunds for cases that I know will not succeed. That's why I didn't take the case. So its a little worrisome that the company we thought he owned has removed all references to him, even the "testimonials" that were obviously fake reference a guy named "Rick" that magically appeared.
Its obvious he isn't coming back to Canada.
Maybe someone who worked with him would like to tell the board honestly what has happened.
Have those people applied and waited for an answer, or were they denied and waiting for refunds?
If he promised someone refunds if they weren't successful one would hope he would follow through. What stage of the process are they at?
Both are still working on documents and haven't submitted applications yet. One has been contacted by him to assure him everything is going to be ok. He has a difficult case, and unfortunately I am not hopeful that it will succeed. But for his sake, of course I hope he can eventually succeed.
My concern is the following. Ken obviously was a vigorous promoter of his business and sold people who use him on his expertise and ability to get September Letters. He also indicated that although he doesn't have a price list, that in some cases, he charges substantial fees.
He had indicated well over 6 months ago that he was going to the UK and that his company was expanding. Although I know it wasn't true, he also said he was expanding across Canada as well. He posted about it frequently.
His website touted HIM and to a smaller extent, his other staff. Testimonials about Ken. "Ken is wonderful etc"
Before Christmas his company is advertising on Facebook about Waivers, at cheap prices. I saw $475 at one point. This form a guy who calls everyone else "discount". More importantly, he is doing this while not even in Canada. I assume Ben Archer is running the Canadian side.
Suddenly he blocks me on Facebook. He disappears from the Forum. He disappears from his website, and the UK investment firm he is partnering with has no mention on him. Even the testimonials that used to have his name reference someone named "Rick". I have seen those testimonials before, and no Rick was ever mentioned.
I contacted his Canadian location and no response. I email a couple of people he was working on cases for, and one says they contacted him and he did respond. They were not sure if he was in Canada.
I will be honest and say my first thought was something medical, but he has contacted Jazzsax1 so obviously not that. I also thought simply a career change.
As I speculated privately to Michelle, when a person offers suddenly discounted services, leaves the country and cannot be easily "found", its a concern. Then this post from NO DUMMY, which is ridiculous.
Anyways, just my 2 cents. Hopefully there is a a simple explanation, and we aren't going to look at another Pardon/Waiver provider that takes fees up until they close their doors, and then disappears. It makes the industry look bad.
Seems to me you got Ken into trouble or something. It was amusing reading both of you going at each other. Then, you had a change of heart and started going after others. The industry of waivers and pardons was tainted a long time ago, there is no law protecting the business. Companies promise all kinds of things. Maybe you should tell MPs to start regulating the business.
It can be easier to get pardons hopefully soon, some MPs are suggesting to make them automatic for non serious offences after a certain time has passed. This will save a lot of money and trouble for many who happened to get involved with the justice system over trivial matters. People deserve second chances. Hopefully, the new laws pass before others take power believing that creating a society of criminals is the best way to fight crime. The next step would be expungement but that's another struggle.