I-192 US Entry Waiver Processing Time

If a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident has a criminal record, they will likely not be allowed to enter the United States unless they first file paperwork to show they are not a threat. A USA Entry Waiver can allow someone from Canada to travel to America despite having a criminal conviction in their past. This leads to the question: how long does it take to get a US Waiver?

Obtaining forgiveness of US inadmissibility is possible be filing form I-192 with the United States Customs & Border Protection (CBP). Approval of such an Entry Waiver can allow a citizen or PR of Canada to cross the American border as often as they wish for as long as the permit is valid. I-192 processing times can vary greatly depending on a variety of factors including the method used to apply and volume of pending applications.

I-192 Waiver Processing Time 2024

Unfortunately, US Waivers are currently taking longer to be processed than they have in the past. Part of the reason for this is an increased volume of submissions being received by the American Government. When the border re-opened after the pandemic, people were excited to travel internationally and ever since there has been a high number of Canadians applying for USA Waivers. In the past, the average I-192 Waiver processing time was less than 6 months. In 2024, I192 Waiver processing times can be as long as 12 months.

Expedited Processing of US Entry Waiver Applications

If a Canadian hires US immigration lawyer to prepare and submit a Waiver application on their behalf, it can be processed by the United States government substantially faster. This is because the lawyer can electronically submit their client's I192 application to the Department of Homeland Security's e-SAFE platform which has significantly lower processing times. The average e-SAFE Waiver processing time in 2024 is about 155 to 170 days, but some applicants can have their paperwork reviewed even faster.

As the post-Covid travel boom slows down, application volume may go back to normal which could speed up processing times. In 2022, I-192 Waiver processing times via eSAFE were as fast as 50 days. If you are looking for an accurate estimate of the current I-192 processing time please give us a call. Our US immigration lawyer is based in Canada and offers FREE consultations.

How Long Does a USA Waiver Application Take to Prepare?

In addition to the government processing time, when calculating how fast a United States Entry Waiver can be attained by a Canadian you should also factor in how long it will take to assemble all the necessary paperwork. If you want to apply for a United States Waiver, you need to do a lot more than just fill out the I192 form. In order to maximize your likelihood of success, a US Waiver application should contain many supporting documents including a copy of your passport, a fingerprint card (FD-258) or electronically captured fingerprints, a copy of all your court records, an explanation of each arrest or conviction, a declaration of why you believe you do not pose a risk of harm to America, and a fingerprint-based RCMP background check (form C216C).

Assembling a strong Waiver application can take several weeks, which should be added to the current processing time when calculating how long it will likely take to get a Waiver USA from Canada. Even when you work with an American Waiver lawyer to achieve expedited processing via e-SAFE, it can still take some time to prepare the application itself.

Urgent Waiver Processing

In the case of an emergency, it may be possible to enter USA with a criminal record in Canada sooner than the normal processing time for a Waiver application. This can be achievable via "humanitarian parole" but is only available for truly urgent situations and an experienced lawyer should always be consulted.

I-212 Waiver Processing Time 2024

Canadians reading this page are typically wondering: how long does it take to get a US Entry Waiver? For most, the I-192 US Waiver processing time is applicable. If someone has been removed or deported from USA, however, they will require additional paperwork to re-enter the United States and the I-212 US Waiver processing time will often apply to their situation. For up to date I-212 Waiver processing times please give us a call.

Applying for a Waiver at US Border

Years ago, it was possible for a Canadian citizen to apply for an I192 Entry Waiver at the United States border. In addition to applying at a designated Port of Entry, Waiver applications were even accepted at some CBP preclearance offices such as Toronto's Pearson Airport. Border authorities and preclearance offices no longer accept Entry Waiver applications. Consequently, the fastest way to have your I-192 Waiver form adjudicated by the USCIS Admissibility Review Office (ARO) in 2024 is to submit through the e-SAFE platform.

A designated Port of Entry can still facilitate the required biometrics (photo and fingerprints), but the I-192 form and supporting documentation should not be submitted directly to authorities at the border. If an applicant is not a Canadian citizen, submission via eSAFE platform may not be an available option. If a person plans to move to USA, as opposed to entering as a visitor, alternative options should be explored as an I192 Waiver is primarily designed for nonimmigrant applicants.

Questions about the 2024 I-192 Waiver processing time? Contact us today!