Hi all 
 I was hoping to travel to Canada and Alaska this June. 
I have a criminal conviction involving drugs from 2004. ( Long story, but I was a GP who got addicted to opiates and wrote prescriptions for myself to try and treat myself ( never a good idea)).
This was over a period of 18 months, I was caught and went into treatment directly. I had a criminal issue with possession and with supply to myself....
Been well since and been back working as a GP for the past 15 years. I also help other Dr's who have got into trouble in a similar fashion. 
I applied for a Canadian ESTA = had to wait a few weeks but this was granted, they had all my info.
I applied for an American Visa in 2011 and was granted a waiver of ineligibly after 20 weeks.  My Visa lasted a year.
I assumed ( perhaps naively) that the 2011 waiver was still relevant, but on applying for a B2 NIV US Visa recently I seem to be back in the same position of the Embassy not being able to grant me one and it all having to go back to  be approved to the Dept of Homeland Security....which takes a while as before. 
My question is does anyone have experience of being granted a waiver of ineligibility only to have to go through the whole process each time they apply for a subsequent visa...? and.. does this take less time?? as I (stupidly) have already made travel plans. 
Thanks