What is a US Entry Waiver?

Crossing the American border should be a simple matter of showing our passport and enjoying the rest of the journey.

Instead, agents at the border are tasked with filtering out what they see as high-risk entrants. If you currently have (or have ever had) a criminal record, it can make you stand out as a risk – and get you turned around without a single moment’s hesitation.

Does a Pardon Help?

The United States does not recognize the Canadian Pardon. If you have had a criminal record pardoned, you can still be turned back at the customs line regardless of your current status.

The easiest way to avoid this hassle is to get a US Entry Waiver from Express Pardons. A waiver pre-approves you for entry before you ever reach the border. A simple piece of paper acting like a Golden Ticket into the US.

An entry waiver can last for up to 5 years, and does not require you to have a finalized Canadian pardon before travelling. If you want to travel without all the border hassle, contact Express Pardons today for your free consultation.

US Waiver - Eligibility

Eligibility for a US Entry Waiver is based on 3 things:

1. The risk of harm to the United States if you are admitted
2. The seriousness of your criminal record.
3. Your purpose for entering the United States.

There is absolutely no waiting period necessary to meet the eligibility requirements for a US entry waiver. That being said, the length of time elapsed since a conviction will be taken into account when considering and evaluating a United States entry waiver application.

Persons currently under a criminal investigation will find it difficult to have their waiver approved until all matters are settled.

Speak to an Express Pardons agent if you require any more details, or click below to apply online today.

Apply Online

Entry Waiver Process

If you require a US Waiver, the process of attaining one is simple. Fill out the contact form at the top of the page for your own free information session with an Express Pardons agent. Their knowledge and experience will be invaluable to your application. There’s no commitment required.

During your information session, an Express Pardons agent will help to ascertain the best way of applying for the Travel Waiver. The experience is different for everyone, so having a guiding hand is extremely helpful.

Do You Need A Waiver?

You may need a Waiver if you

Have had a criminal record in Canada
Have had a criminal record in the USA
Were denied entry to, or were deported from the US
Were banned from entering the United States for any period of time
Were involved in a border crossing incident (such as a narcotics possession)

Exceptions:

There are criminal records that may not necessarily impede your travel.
These are –
DUI Offences
Single simple assault cases
Or a single breach, or failure to appear charge

Pardons

Also known as a Record Suspension since March 2012, the Canadian Pardon is necessary for anyone who wishes to remove their criminal record from the searchable database CPIC (Canadian Police Information Centre). All of the paperwork for a Pardon can be prepared simultaneously to a US Entry Waiver, saving you time and money.

Click here for more information.

What You Can Expect

It Takes Time To Do Things Right:

An application for the US Entry Waiver can take 6 months to a full year to complete. Express Pardons goes to great lengths to ensure that your application is taken seriously, and processed without complaint. This means we gather all the details of relevant convictions, to add weight to your application.

With this in mind, it is very important to plan your US Entry Waiver application as soon as possible. There is no necessary waiting period for a waiver application, so if you want to have your waiver for next years vacation, you need to apply now.

Expecting the Unexpected:

Express Pardons treats with the involved courts and police centres on your behalf.  If a third party requires an additional fee for filings, or access to information, you will be kept aware of these additional costs throughout the application process.

The Upside:

You don’t need a Pardon / Record Suspension before you get the US Entry Waiver. Express Pardons does offer a combination service to save you additional money, but you are never required to wait for a Pardon.

The Waiver can also last for 5 years, so by getting your Waiver early, you can travel across the border at your leisure while you wait for your Pardon application to be accepted.

US Waiver Privacy

Express Pardons understands the importance that you place on your right of privacy, and we appreciate your trust when it comes to protecting and respecting those rights.

The information collected on our site is used exclusively for the purpose of preparing and completing the US Entry Waiver forms. All physical paper records involved in this process are secured according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) accreditation standards.

How Safe is My Online Data?

All personal information collected on our site is secured and transmitted with full 128-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. Payment information is processed with 128-bit encryption using the same secured session keys required by today’s online banking standards.

Express Pardons will never sell your personal information, nor will we otherwise make personal information available to a third party under any circumstance, except as is explicitly required for the completion of services you specifically request.

Who Else Sees My Information?

Express Pardons will never contact or communicate with anyone other than you, or the relevant third parties involved in the application requested, as required.

Documents containing personal information are mailed in unmarked envelopes to protect your identity.

For How Long is My Information Kept?

Upon the completion of service, Express Pardons will retain non-payment related personal information for up to 60 days, after which time this information is physically destroyed. All payment related information is kept for up to 5 years, as is the legal requirement of the Canada Revenue Agency.

What Information Is Collected?

This notice applies to all information collected or submitted on the Express Pardons website or by email/telephone. Certain pages allow you to order products, make requests, or register to receive materials. The types of personal information that could be requested on these pages include:

Name
Address
Address History
Email address (optional)
Phone number(s) (optional)
Drivers License/Provincial ID #
Employment History*
Spousal/Family Information**
U.S. Entry Information
Criminal History
Credit / Debit Card Information

* Employers are never contacted under any circumstances, unless you explicitly request that we contact them to explain your application status, etc.
** Spouses and Family Members are never contacted under any circumstance, unless you explicitly add their names to your account as an accepted contact person to discuss the details of our case.

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