US Entry Waiver Application

Unfortunately, getting into the United States with a criminal history is not as simple as showing up at the border with a valid Canadian passport. Canadians who have ever been convicted of a crime, regardless of how long ago the offence occurred, may be refused entry to the United States! In addition to being denied entry when attempting to travel to the USA, Canadians with a criminal record can also run into problems when transiting through US airports on their way to another country. Even if you have received a pardon from the Canadian Government, you still risk being turned away or even detained at the US border because the United States does not recognize Canadian pardons.

People make mistakes in their life, especially when they are young, and sometimes a poor decision can lead to a criminal conviction. If you are a resident of Canada and have made such a mistake in your past, you could very well be denied entry to the United States on your next trip even if the crime occurred more than ten years ago. Many older Canadians with a bygone criminal record have been travelling south of the border trouble free for decades, but all of sudden in the past few years have found themselves unexpectedly shut out of the USA. After 9/11 the US Department of Homeland Security began taking a number of different measures to increase security at the border. As of 2010, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) now has full access to the Canadian criminal databases including APIS and CPIC (maintained by the RCMP), and as a result Canadians with even a single criminal conviction dating as far back as the 1960s can find themselves inadmissible to the USA.

​

How Long Does It Take to Get a US Waiver?

If a Canadian applies for a USA Entry Waiver by themselves, or through a "consultant" or "pardon service" (not a law firm), it typically takes about six months for government processing. If a Canadian retains the services of a US immigration lawyer, however, the Waiver application can be submitted through the Department of Homeland Security's e-SAFE platform and can be processed in about 85 days. Only US lawyers have access to the e-SAFE platform, so when considering hiring a professional always ask if they are a licensed lawyer who can expedite the process.

Our US immigration lawyer has extensive experience helping Canadians overcome criminal inadmissibility issues so they can successfully travel to the USA with a criminal record as quickly as possible! Let our team take care of the hard work for you, we are based in Canada and accept clients from coast to coast. Contact us today for a free consultation!

Do I Actually Need a US Waiver?

The only way an individual that is inadmissible to the United States can legally enter the country is with a valid US Entry Waiver. If an ineligible person attempts to enter into the United States without a Travel Waiver they risk being detained, deported, and can even have their car confiscated. If the non-eligible person is flying into the US, they will not be allowed to board their flight and risk losing all the money they spent on airfare, hotels, and other travel-related expenses.

Even if an individual already has a nonimmigrant visa such as the popular H-1B visa that allows American companies to employ Canadians in specialty occupations, a US Waiver 2023 is still needed to overcome criminal inadmissibility (including for alien re-entry). There are many reasons that a person may be found inadmissible to enter the US from Canada, ranging from criminal inadmissibility to immigration violations to health reasons. There are also several different types of US Waivers available to help inadmissible people gain entry to the USA legally depending on their particular situation.