Pearson Intl Airport - Not taking Waivers until October 7 2017

Update on Pearson Intl Airport on Tuesdays:

If your headed to the Airport to hand in your waiver, feel free to text me on Monday, and I will put your name on the list. This is free.

You can then show up at 8 instead of lining up early. 416-843-1371 with your name and "put my name on the list".

For those still using the Airport, they never open before 9. Last week was 9:30. Sometimes they take the list down, and sometimes they leave it up. If your going to arrive after 9 beware they may not take anyone else. ((Sometimes they do, sometimes they do not)

Last week a guy who was 12th on the list did not get in because by 2 pm something stopped working and they closed.

My suggestion? Go to Rainbow Bridge if you can. If not, let me put your name on the list early. I arrive around 5:30 am.

JULY 17 2018

Pearson Intl Airport is not taking waiver again for the summer. I was there this Tuesday and they have posted a sign that they were "closed for the summer".

Last year they re-opened over Thanksgiving. I would predict they will stay closed until at least September of October again.

I will monitor it and keep everyone posted.

You would think they would staff canada's largest airport enough so they could support the needs...

Under Trump there must be some funding cuts for places deemed "friendly borders" like Canada. I see the difference at the Airport, in the different staff, the stress, and the attempts to shut the office down in taking waivers.

They went from Saturdays, to closed summers, to closed down permanently, to re-opening on Tuesdays, literally the slowest day of the week for the Airport.

Its clear that Mexican borders have been bolstered, resources shifted, and Canadian borders have been given less attention.

You cannot hand in your waiver at the Airport. It is closed for the summer, and last year they re-opened on October 7th.

Waivers must be handed in in person. Got to Niagara falls (Rainbow Bridge) Its the best location locally, and they are open 2-9 Monday-Thursday. There is no waiting and they are very friendly. (For waivers)

If you want to go to the airport, check with the GTAA website to see when they are open. I will also post it when I see it.

Hi all, my client went to deliver his paperwork to US Customs and they asked him if he did it on his own or if he hired a company; he stated he hired FPS Fingerprint Pardon Services. He said that they went to the computer and after a few minutes said yes, we will accept that company's paperwork. My client asked them if there are companies that they don't accept, and they said yes, that they are not accepting "shady" applications. This is the first time I have heard of this, and am wondering if anyone has been asked which company you hired? and or had your application refused because of the company you hired?

I just got back from a week in Las Vegas. No interesting US Customs stories unfortunately (or fortunately)

I will ask some clients if this is happening at any other borders (likely most will be from Ontario) and see if they give a clue as to whom they are not accepting waivers from.

Interesting case today. We are going to the airport (Pearson in Toronto) to fingerprint a Pardon client who is going to deported at 10 pm. He is obviously not allowed to come to our office and we want to fingerprint him and get forms signed before he leaves.

We have a mobile machine we are taking, so it will be interesting to fingerprint someone being detained like this. Canadian customs have actually been pretty accommodating up to this point. I'll update everyone on how it goes tonight.

#50 John Rogers, interesting, how did it go? Also was this Canada Customs that deported someone? You mentioned a Pardon? Thanks!

The client has a criminal record in Canada but is not a citizen, so is being deported. He wanted to start a Pardon but is in detention. They consented to us fingerprinting him at the Airport before he got on the plane.

It was a stressful experience, as the facility is not really set up for such a request, but we got the fingerprints done, forms signed.

It took close to 2 hours in total, the security officers in charge (G4S Security) were not very helpful, but the request was unusual, and they did permit it, so we can't be too upset.

We can now do the Pardon HERE while the client resides back in his native country. His wife and children are here.

I assume we have the same equipment, so it just goes to show, if you get an opportunity to do this, it can be done successfully.

#52, oh that is great, that you were able to help him. I currently in the process of submitting a tender to Saskatchewan Government for mobile digital fingerprints. Fingers crossed.

@WaivemeIn

You missed this:

“The client has a criminal record in Canada but is not a citizen, so is being deported”

Basically to expand on this, when you do a pardon for someone in a foreign country, getting fingerprints and sending documents back and forth becomes frustrating and expensive. So we wanted to get that process underway before he was deported back to Georgia (the former soviet republic). A pardon is much easier for the client than a waiver, they really just sign forms and get fingerprinted. We do a lot more work than a Waiver on behalf of the client. I am sure Michelle will agree that Pardons take up much more of our time than waivers.

@55, John Rogers, Yes, I agree Pardons are time consuming, much more than waivers.

Yes I agree with both of you. They are very time consuming and the Canadian Government is extremely picky when it comes to granting pardons. We don't get as many pardons since our clients don't seem to want them as much. A lot of them are self-employed and feel they don't need it so we don't push it.

:: @K SCOTT added on 12 Sep ’18 · 14:47

We are the opposite in the sense that we do much more work on waiver/border cases than pardons.

According to the GTAA website, Pearson Airport is still not open, despite the fact they re-opened this time last year.

When you call the offices, is still says they are open Saturday, which has not been true since February 2018, they open on Tuesdays.

I would not be surprised if this changes soon so I will check daily and let you know when I know more.

In the meantime, Niagara Falls is now open Sundays 5 pm - 9 pm, and that is actually the best place to hand your waiver in, in southern Ontario.

@seadooxp30 they are closed for the "summer" right now.

They no longer do Saturdays at all (despite what the voicemail says) and are open Tuesdays.

But not right now. They SHOULD be opening either this Tuesday or next, but I have no confirmation yet. I will post it when they are.