Updated October 8, 2021
The US is not accepting US waiver (I-192) applications at ports of entry due to the travel restrictions imposed by the US and Canadian governments. These travel restrictions are set to expire on October 21, 2021 and are likely to be extended. Click here for more information about travelling to the United States.
Though travel restrictions have hindered plans to travel to the US, now is the best time to get started on your US Entry Waiver application or renewal. It can take approximately 4 to 6 months to gather the documentation required for the application and DHS can take up to another six months or longer to complete a full review of your application. Once your application is compiled and ready to submit to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for adjudication, you have three options;
1. If you reside near an e-safe designated port of entry, you have the option of submitting your application online via e-SAFE. Once you submit your application, you can pay the current DHS filing fee* of $585 USD. Your application will however, be in a suspended state until the DHS resume processing/the border restrictions are lifted. Once this occurs, you will be notified via email to attend a designated port of entry to complete the biometrics appointment portion (fingerprints and photograph) of the waiver process. Once this is completed the DHS can take up to 6 months to review and grant your waiver. Your waiver will be mailed to the address on your application and can be granted for a maximum of 5 years;
2. If you do not reside near an e-safe designated port of entry and you would like to submit via e-SAFE, you may do so but will have to drive to the closest designated port of entry in order to complete the submission process. If you submit via e-safe and are unable to attend these locations your application will be invalid and you may be required to resubmit all documents again and pay a new filing fee to the DHS;
3. If you do not reside near an e-safe designated port of entry, or you cannot travel to one of the designated ports of entry to complete your biometrics, you will have to unfortunately wait until the DHS resume processing waiver applications, that is when the border restrictions are lifted, in order for you to submit your application. Once this occurs, you can submit your application at these locations.
Important to note: *Currently, the filing fee for the I-192 US waiver application is $585 USD. As of October 2nd 2020, the DHS has proposed to increase this fee to $1,400 USD. It is not in effect as of yet due to a temporary injunction. If this fee increase is implemented before you are able to submit the US waiver, you will be subject to the new filing fee. AllCleared will continue to monitor this closely and update our clients accordingly.
For more information about the e-safe process please visit the CBP website. For further updates on COVID-19, travel, quarantine and border advisories between Canada and the US, visit the Government of Canada help page.
If you have a criminal record and you would like to enter the United States you may need a US Entry Waiver. This application, if approved, waives your inadmissibility to the United States. Other reasons a person could be denied entry to the US are health conditions, security reasons or immigration violations. However, the most common reason a Canadian will be denied entry is due to a criminal record.
Find more information about a US Entry Waiver here or call 1-866-972-7366 to speak to an AllCleared representative.