Similar to Canadian Pardon Applications, there are several documents that can expire in your US Entry Waiver application. If you wait too long to submit your application, or attempt to use older documents for a US Waiver renewal, you run the risk of having Center for Border Protection (CBP) officers refuse your application.
What Can Expire in My U.S. Entry Waiver package?
One important difference between the Pardon Application and the US Entry Waiver Application is that the criminal record included with a US Waiver can expire. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires that this document be current within 15 months of being conducted, and it must be the original document certified by the RCMP. Your US Entry Waiver application will not be accepted by the CBP officers if your application does not meet these specifications.
Additionally, part of the US Entry Waiver process requires that the applicant write a letter about their offences and reasons for entering the United States, as well as obtaining two reference letters from reputable persons that can attest to the applicant’s character. These letters should be current within one year. In some cases, the applicant will also be required to obtain a letter from a doctor and/or a drug test to certify that they are not currently a user of narcotic drugs. These should be current within six months.
What About Renewing my Waiver?
Renewing a US Entry Waiver generally requires the same components as a new US Entry Waiver Application. Original court documents will be required (not simply copies of those submitted previously), and all letters will have to be current within one year as usual.
The criminal record will also have to be updated and certified by the RCMP, and so new fingerprints must be taken. This will confirm to the United States Department of Homeland Security that the applicant has not received any additional convictions since his or her previous waiver application.
The expiration of these documents should not be a concern however, providing that the application is completed efficiently, and to ensure that you should contact Pardon Services Canada. Take a moment to read through our information on federal pardon waiver services.
The original court documents is not correct. Once you have a copy of your original documents you can provide them copies and show them you have the original ones. Last time I was at Pearson in October 2012 they did not even ask to see my original documents.
Here is a situation where the process can vary between crossings and/or applications. Technically the US does require certified court documents for each application, and we have had clients attempt to use non-certified copies for renewals only to have their applications rejected for that reason. The border officials do have some freedom to accept applications that deviate slightly from the written rules though, and that seems to have worked in your favour here.
Our policy is to comply with U.S. policy to the letter, and so we ensure that we obtain certified documents each time. If you don’t require them for your application though, then that is certainly preferable.