Waiver application processing times

#1279 yes it can be a combination of things as such. One thing is that you have to know where to find the relevant information and how to apply it. Each case is essentially different and other factors are involved. Rehabilitation is part of the process that they will look at. I find the big thing is if people are serious about the work to get their cases approved. This tends to be the people with the smaller offences.

Proof of reformation character is indeed important and they don't have a special list that will list what you have to do to achieve this part. We actually developed a character reformation program that we use to show that the person has indeed reformed their character. Again, it works and we have tentatively started applying it to PPT and sex crime cases.

@Bee I had posted in an earlier thread that i was seeing about 80% within 90-100 days. If it gets past 150 days then email right away. Unfortunately, if it goes into secondary security its taking a LONG time. Many are waiting over a year.

It is highly unlikely that anyone has an 80% response rate of hearing back on waivers in the 90-100 day range...esp under Trump.

#1284 We tell all of our clients that it could be anywhere in the 3-9 month mark. There are many factors that the adjudicating CBP officer will use to process a waiver. It will depend on a number of things to include the type of crime, recency of crime, type of rehabilitation included in your packet, who prepared it and etc. This is assuming that you even needed a waiver and did not have an immigration violation.

If you did a sworn statement, then that could also be a factor. It is difficult to give you a clear estimate without knowing more of the case history.

I am not seeing anyone getting it in between recently at all. Its either 90-110 days, or much much longer. I haven't had a 6-9 month waiver for months. Now I am not just referencing my clients. I get tons of people I met at the airport, that either did the waiver themselves or used other companies.

Don't forget Ken, I have a lot of re-applications. (waivers since 1996) Those people would be multiple waiver holders and would be on the shorter end of adjudication. Also, almost 1/3 of my applicants have no criminal record. So my sample could be much larger (not just my clients) and may also not be made up of the same "type" of clients as yourself. Can you quantify how many you are seeing that are coming back from 6-9 months?

Well, that is your experience and it is fine. I see the opposite and our cases tend to average around the 5-9 month mark.

Also, a reapplication does not mean anything since each waiver application is always considered a new application under CBP policy. Also, this has been stated in their email responce to people inquiring. So just because a person has had a prior waiver, does not necessarily mean that they will go through smooth sailing.

I would say about 75% of our people get their waivers back in the 5-9 month mark.

#1292, Chris D, you have brought up a good point, and worth mentioning to everyone. I advise my clients if you move, make sure you do a address change at the post office and renew it until you get your waiver. It is expensive I know, but rarely do the USA update their file and mail to the new address. And to replace your waiver may cost you a considerable amount of money. Good luck...

#1293 One thing that we do Michelle is have people update their address at inquiry.waivewr.aro@dhs.gov. The post office is good too but it is better if they can not change their address while the waiver is pending.

They will update an address this way and will save a headache down the road.

They do make a lot mistakes at the ARO though and not surprised that they mailed his decision to the old address.

There is a separate process to get a replacement copy of the approved waiver but it is better if you know if you are approved or not.

ChrisD if you got a 1 year waiver, it may be smarter to just reapply. Assuming it follows the guidelines you would be likely to get a 5 year next time and its $585.00 and another 5 years.

If its a one year waiver, to replace it is $465 USD....not worth it.

If its a 5 year, then bite the bullet and get the replacement.

#1297 This is a very good question.