Bit of a story here, and I'm not sure if I'm in the right forum (mods, please move to a more appropriate one at will), but here goes:
April of 1998, I entered Washington State from B.C. to pick up some aircraft parts for my employer. My vehicle was inspected, and the CBP officer discovered less than 1 gram of marijuana. I was completely shocked, as dope had not been a part of my life for quite a while (seems a visiting teammate had left it in my rig from a few nights before). Anyways, during the post-discovery interview, I was asked if the dope was mine, which I denied, and then asked if I had ever smoked marijuana in the past. Now I had been raised to belive that honesty was the best policy, so I answered that yes, indeed I had smoked some dope while at University (graduated with a double major, Environmental Sciences and Sociology, and I honestly don't know ANY of my fellow academics who didn't partake occasionally). Well, unbeknownst to me, this is a MAJOR no-no. I was informed that I was no longer admissable to the USA, and never would be, based on this admission.
As my career necessitates the ability to travel to and from the States on a regular basis, I immediately applied for, and was granted an I192 waiver- Advance Permission To Enter As A Non-Immigrant. The posession charge was dismissed prior to the application for this waiver. The only thing barring my entry is the admission to having used marijuana in the past. I continue to be eligible for entry through the I192, and this year have applied to have the waiver extended for 5 years.
Now, I am 37 years old, a father and husband, Director of our Chamber of Commerce, and in every way a respectable citizen of my community, and I'd like to think, the world. I own my own business, and employ several others in an industry that sees us protecting the resources of my own country, and also those of the USA. Still, I've got this dark cloud over my head which is really putting me in a difficult spot. I have not been involved with marijuana for almost a decade now. My question is this: Is there any possibility for a 'pardon' in this situation, or am I destined to submit to a waiver ad infinitum? I realise that I screwed up, but in the grand scheme of things, it was a pretty minor screw up. The punishment in this case seems to be far harsher than the crime. I'd really like to move beyond this, and am willing to hire an attorney to make it happen, I just don't know what the potential for a positive outcome is.
Thanks for your help.
April of 1998, I entered Washington State from B.C. to pick up some aircraft parts for my employer. My vehicle was inspected, and the CBP officer discovered less than 1 gram of marijuana. I was completely shocked, as dope had not been a part of my life for quite a while (seems a visiting teammate had left it in my rig from a few nights before). Anyways, during the post-discovery interview, I was asked if the dope was mine, which I denied, and then asked if I had ever smoked marijuana in the past. Now I had been raised to belive that honesty was the best policy, so I answered that yes, indeed I had smoked some dope while at University (graduated with a double major, Environmental Sciences and Sociology, and I honestly don't know ANY of my fellow academics who didn't partake occasionally). Well, unbeknownst to me, this is a MAJOR no-no. I was informed that I was no longer admissable to the USA, and never would be, based on this admission.
As my career necessitates the ability to travel to and from the States on a regular basis, I immediately applied for, and was granted an I192 waiver- Advance Permission To Enter As A Non-Immigrant. The posession charge was dismissed prior to the application for this waiver. The only thing barring my entry is the admission to having used marijuana in the past. I continue to be eligible for entry through the I192, and this year have applied to have the waiver extended for 5 years.
Now, I am 37 years old, a father and husband, Director of our Chamber of Commerce, and in every way a respectable citizen of my community, and I'd like to think, the world. I own my own business, and employ several others in an industry that sees us protecting the resources of my own country, and also those of the USA. Still, I've got this dark cloud over my head which is really putting me in a difficult spot. I have not been involved with marijuana for almost a decade now. My question is this: Is there any possibility for a 'pardon' in this situation, or am I destined to submit to a waiver ad infinitum? I realise that I screwed up, but in the grand scheme of things, it was a pretty minor screw up. The punishment in this case seems to be far harsher than the crime. I'd really like to move beyond this, and am willing to hire an attorney to make it happen, I just don't know what the potential for a positive outcome is.
Thanks for your help.