Quick question that I can't seem to find an answer for. My husband applied for his 1st waiver in July at Edmonton Airport. After the 120 days emailed ARO for status - they responded within hours. A few weeks later sent another request for status (yes we are an impatient bunch lol) and again responded by the end of the day. Last week sent a request and never received a reply back. Has anyone had ARO respond very quickly sometimes and other times just not at all?
Waiver application processing times
This discussion is locked, so it can’t take new replies.
Page 6 of 105 · Back to the first post
@kristina well if you read my past comments on this thread you will see that this process is an absolute nightmare! I cannot believe the atrocity of all of this. I have NOT received a response in weeks from the ARO. I wish you very much luck in your process honestly. The ARO EMAILS are a complete waste of time.
@Moozee1 - Thanks for the response. I was just so confused since before they replied in hours, and now its been days :( ugh. I'm going to assume at this point getting back home to visit for Christmas will be a no go.
@kristina - I really wish you well in getting the Waiver by Christmas. I know miracles can happen ! I am hoping for one too! I just think that after all one does to apply for a Waiver and the fee etc. we should at least get some respect such as a response. With my first Waiver (which expired in September) it took just over 90 days PLUS when I sent the ARO a request for update I promptly received one within an hour stating that a decision had been made and was mailed to the address on record. Now it's over 8 months of wait time for me for a renewal! It's baffling. But please keep us posted on this blog. Have a good day!
I have one more question that I can't seem to find the answer to - to those of you that have received waivers - are they just mailed out regular mail or were they sent by some sort of express/certified mail?
Kristina, they send them by regular mail.
To answer your other question, I have been requesting an update and have not received a reply to my last 2 emails, one sent 2 weeks ago and again last week, so I guess the Christmas holidays must have started early for Homeland Security. ha ha.
Others are getting their waivers so, just hang in there, I'm sure in due course we will get our as well.
Kiwi.
@ kiwi and @ Kristina. I guess we still can be hopeful. And yes they Coke in the regular mail. Thanks Kiwi for the insight that people are getting their waivers now. Where did you hear that Kiwi. Cuz I was hearing that 3 months ago. Not trying to be negative. Good luck everyone and have a good evening. Maybe December will be the month for all of us who have been waiting. I am probably the most impatient person but 9 - 10 months is way to long ....
And I had a typo. Lol. I meant they come in regular mail. Omg. Note to self -- put glasses on.
Mooz, we have had a few responses on here of people receiving their waivers, that's what I was referring to, example below.
On Nov 18th Emran posted.
“This year On Jun 15, I applied for the renewal of my second waiver at (Queenston Lewiston bridge) and today I got my renewal which is valid for 5 years and it took almost 5 months to complete.”
Kiwi.
Another from Frankd, 27th Oct 2015
“Update.. got the waiver... valid for 5 years. First waiver was good for 1 year. Note never got a reply to my emails @ARO after the first email saying they already mailed it... I did mail a letter 3 weeks ago... to Herndan, Virginia... so that might have done it... or it just took them this long to re-send the mail. Total processing should have been 3 months but it took 5 months as never got the original waiver mail.”
Wonder if I should sent a letter rather than email as getting no response from email, or just cut and paste responses.
If I get motivated I knock out a letter and let you all know if anything comes from it.
@kiwi. Thank you yes I saw those and I am so happy for everyone who gets their waivers. I just thought you heard from other sources. I used a very reputable agency in Manitoba for both my waivers. And they kind of messed up on my application this year for my renewal so I am a tad upset as they told me so many things to appease me. Nevertheless, I am sure it will be here soon.
Thanks Kiwi. And wow - you'd think after shelling out almost $600 bucks the least they could do would be to send express mail and I don't know - maybe respond to a status request *sarcasm* :) Well hopefully something will show up soon :)
@Moozeee1 - as we previously discussed, probably the same one I used..... close to Ikea? They told me the same things they told you.
My last email to ARO went unanswered as well. It was about 2 weeks later I received my waiver.
I wonder if I should mention that we didn't use any sort of service for my husbands and we did it all ourselves.
@Kristina - as long as you followed all the instructions and filled out the forms etc and paid the fee at the port of entry as in the airport -- you should be fine. They would have had a small interview at US customs and took your husbands prints too. And they would have reviewed his forms and reference letters and of course as said the $585 US $ fee.
It's been over a year since I applied. In the past year, I've sent emails, about every 3 months, asking for an update, and I've gotten all the standard replies (security checks, pending further review, etc.)
However, as of the past month, they are definitely NOT responding to any update inquiries. I have sent a couple emails, asking for an update - with zero response.
My first email was sent on Nov. 17th - which is exactly ONE YEAR after I submitted my application. I got the standard auto-reply... but nothing after that.
I sent a second email on Nov. 24th (because I thought maybe my first one got missed), and other than the standard auto-reply that you get within 5 minutes, nobody has responded to my inquiry.
@Hopeful - my that's a very long time. Over a year. Is this your first waiver? Nevertheless you should have received something in the mail. Did you ever get an email saying processing your application as a response in all your responses before they stopped sending responses. It's like the ARO just shut down on answering anyone in the past 3 to 4 weeks. You should send a letter to
Their headquarters in Virginia. A year is very long time. But on the bright side it could be in the mail. I hope so. Did you prepare yourself or use a professional service if I might ask?
@Doug. Yes I used that one. When I recently called them to ask them for assistance they sent me a very stern and abrupt email back. Basically saying do not contact them until I receive a decision either way. As in a declination or approval. I was quite upset. As they are aware that this is a renewal. They made me feel very NOT hopeful. Plus the fact that if you remember ... They messed up on my application. Ugh. Anyhow I am still keeping the faith! Cheers!
Yes, this is my first waiver application. I applied on Nov 17, 2014. Still no answer...
They have responded to all my previous requests for update... but it has always been the generic responses (security checks, pending further review, etc...)
This is the fist time they have simply NOT responded at all.
@Hopeful - well then I think that several of us in the past month have not received ARO responses which is still unfair to us ... And Maybe the reason hopefully is because they have actually processed the waivers. I think in my case they ran out of responses but have still hopefully processed my renewal as well Lol. Actually or they simply just don't respond anymore. Perhaps also they are just that busy too! It's a terrible waiting process for all of who are trying to be patient! Still think that it wouldn't hurt to send via regular mail or Fedex or UPS a letter to their head offices in Herndan, Virgina. The address is on the ARO / US customs website. Good luck.