One of the most asked things involving applying for a United States waiver, is does a previous denial at the border affect the application process. Another common question is which form on the US Customs and Border Protection website is the one that needs to be filled out when requesting special permission to cross the Canada-USA border. In addition to helping Canadians with a criminal record get into the US, a US Entry Waiver can overcome immigration violations such as an overstay during a past visit to the country.
The Department of Homeland Security, also called the DHS, is the government entity that officially grants US entry waivers to Canadian citizens who wish to enter the US with a criminal conviction. Since the Department of Homeland Security is a "superior governing body" compared to the US Customs and Border Protection agency, waivers issued by the department override the discretion of border guards ensuring successful entry into the country.
Depending on a number of circumstances including the seriousness of your crimes and how long has elapsed since your last conviction, a US entry waiver can be granted for up to five years.