I can't be 100% but I'm sure it was 6-9 months at my appointment in September. The website (https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/ineli...s-and-waivers/) states up to 9 months. Are people actually being told by the embassy now that it's 9-12 months or are you saying 9-12 months based on the figures on the spreadsheet? I only ask as if they are trying to respond to requests within 9 months, I feel that's better than them now saying we'll try and respond within 12 months.

Reposting the post I made a short while back, re the source of the 9-12 months....

The US CBP e_SAFE portal advises those who have to make I-192/I-212 waiver requests (primarily Canadian citizens) that the average wait time is 9-12 months... "Notice: Processing times vary by applicant, but on average applications are currently being processed within 9-12 months. These are average times. Unfortunately, we cannot anticipate a date of completion for your specific application at this time." https://e-safe.cbp.dhs.gov/

All waiver requests, whether submitted by the consular official following a visa rejection (all of us here), OR, under the I-192/I-212 process submitted directly to the CBP, are sent to the ARO and handled in the same queue. I.e. the processing time is the same - 9-12 months.

Hey,

I had my (second time around) interview the same day as you, the form they hand you at the interview to say they've recommended you has the timeline on it, it is however a mass produced form, but around 9 months was the indication on the day. My first waiver in 2023 was almost spot on time wise, I think it was about a month quicker than advised, had nothing changed over there i wouldn't really worry about it however the thing, and sorry to bang on about this again, that concerns me is that all the changes under the new management, todays news of a Gold card visa seems to show that Trump is very much interested in keeping the doors open for people that can afford it, but i can see them shutting down the visa waiver programme as it doesn't make them a tangible income, legal or not in the long run, i can some some form of impact on those of us going through this process. One of many times that i hope i'm wrong tbh.

As always, we've got a trip booked which will be 1 year exactly from my appointment. Will also be my second waiver so I'm hoping I get the email with enough time to send my passport off and not have to worry. I've seen some people get theirs back a few days before their travel date and that's honestly a nightmare, of course missing the trip entirely would be worst cast scenario. I had my first waiver approved in 2022 and it took 6 weeks so naively thought a year between appointment date and travel date would be more than enough time.

From the embassy web site
'If you were advised at the interview that a waiver of ineligibility is required before the visa can be issued, you can expect your application to take up to 9 months to process from the date of the interview. Incomplete applications will take longer.'

There is a reason why it could take longer than 9 months, i.e, as it says 'Incomplete applications will take longer.'

I am still going off the official timeline. If it were now taking longer for complete applications then you would think they would have updated the waiting time on the site.

Be aware that Belfast now shows the correct information. The London embassy does not update their website as promptly as Belfast.

DHS “waiver of ineligibility” processing at the Consulate General Belfast

Home / Embassy & Consulates / U.S. Consulate General Belfast / Nonimmigrant Visas in Belfast / DHS “waiver of ineligibility” processing at the Consulate General BelfastWaivers of Ineligibility are processed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Estimated current processing time: 9 – 12 months. Note that this is an estimate only and it can take longer. We have no control over DHS processing times.

I agree that the Consulate’s posting is not accurate. That said, where do you find CBP’s “Official Guideline?” Just curious.

fair enough, I would think that the processing time has lengthened for newer applications, but surely for those whose applications are already in the queue will still be on the advisory which was present at the time they applied, i.e 9 months.

Anyway, we will see soon enough .

I like your optimism. It will come when it comes... you have no control over it

It is actually stressing me out checking here daily, lol. There is only 1 entry timescale on the database that would see me miss my holiday, that is the 328 days for Jools. The rest are all fine. Yours is cutting it fine (308 days) but would be just about ok.

My luck is not good. Having a few days off looking now.

When is your holiday? Completely sympathise with the stress of checking daily. Even more so when we were advised 6 months - “or sooner as it’s your second one”. If they had advised 9-12 months you could plan accordingly or just accept that waiting time, but to advise a wait time that has now passed is infuriating. To also state to get in touch if you’ve waited over 180 days - but to then reply and say just wait seems ridiculous! .. sorry rant over lol. Hope you hear soon!

I was informed during the interview that the process would take around 4 to 5 months. However, after checking the London embassy website, I discovered that it could take up to 9 months. As of today, I have been waiting for 312 days, which is over 10 months. I've now learned that the wait could extend to 12 months or even longer, with no guarantee of receiving a decision within that timeframe. Until the end of January, most people in the group were regularly receiving their approvals within 9 months. However, it seems that the operations at the CBP changed during the first week of February.

Talking about stress, i have been managing a business I've purchased remotely for the last 10 months, and I've had many challenges and financial losses.

I do not see my waiver approval anytime soon,it could be even longer than 12 months.

I am sorry it’s been so stressful for you. I don’t know how the embassy are allowed to advise a wait time that is then extended significantly when there are individual people behind these applications! I know we are just a number to them but the impact on some people and their families is huge….
It would be nice to be able to speak to an actual human at the embassy that would be willing to help look into our applications 🙄… but I think I have more chance of winning the lottery…

I hope you get a decision soon.

Damn, I feel for you! hoping yours comes through soon. I am in a similar boat and the stress levels are high.

I left the US in may 2023 with 2 weeks worth of summer clothes to go to a wedding in the uk and renew my visa. There had been complications previously and I was assured by the lawyer processing my paperwork that there would be no issues this renewal. I am on a spouse visa so not even my own visa, my spouses visa was approved and I was recommended for a waiver. I have not been able to return since may 2023, I run business in the us, all my belongings are in my apartment, I have had serious financial loses, while still having around 2k in rent for my apartment and business premises to pay per month, This is my second waver and was told it would be approx 3 months, 9 months later I am still waiting. My partner has been back in the us since may 2023. I have been scrambling to find accommodation and enough work in the uk to help cover these costs.

Some folks are worried about a holiday 😅 I guess it's all relative.

Hope we get some updates soon and things start moving along again!

That is shocking!

I still don't understand why if you've been granted a visa previously, and you've had no further convictions, why it's the same process to wait for DHS. Surely if you've been granted a visa previously, the embassies should be able to grant them on site if that person has had no more run ins with the law?