Visitor: Well I don’t have a criminal record in Canada but I did get charged in Tampa back in 1978 on a one ounce bag of pot. I did pay a fine of $1200 with a one year probation. Ten years after many trips into the USA I was asked this at the border and was refused entry to the USA because of this.

I had my Lawyer get me a pardon from those offences, and everything was fine for the next 25 years with many trips to the states. In 2011 when I was travelling I was asked this question again at the Ottawa airport by USA officials, refused entry, fingerprinted & photographed. I did try to contact my lawyer for my pardon but unfortunately he had passed away.
So if you can help me please let me know the procedures to go ahead, the timing & all costs associated with me being able to clear this up.

Pardons Canada: Since you have been denied entry at the US border and fingerprinted you will require a US Waiver, I-192 or I-194 to re-enter the US. The waiver is valid for a maximum of five years and you will be able to travel as often as you wish during that time period without worry of being denied entry. It’s good that you don’t have a criminal record in Canada, but because you have this old pot offence in the USA, despite you getting it pardoned, the American border service has you flagged and that’s why you will need a US entry waiver for your lifetime unless they change the rules. To learn more about obtaining a US Entry Waiver, visit our website at https://pardons.org/us-entry-waivers/