diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/process_instance_service.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/process_instance_service.py
index b2b3c0a45..94b9976c8 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/process_instance_service.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/process_instance_service.py
@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@
 import base64
 import hashlib
 import time
+from datetime import datetime
+from datetime import timezone
 from typing import Any
+from typing import Dict
 from typing import Generator
 from typing import List
 from typing import Optional
@@ -12,6 +15,7 @@ from urllib.parse import unquote
 import sentry_sdk
 from flask import current_app
 from flask import g
+from SpiffWorkflow.bpmn.specs.events.event_definitions import TimerEventDefinition  # type: ignore
 from SpiffWorkflow.bpmn.specs.events.IntermediateEvent import _BoundaryEventParent  # type: ignore
 from SpiffWorkflow.task import Task as SpiffTask  # type: ignore
 
@@ -86,6 +90,29 @@ class ProcessInstanceService:
         process_model = ProcessModelService.get_process_model(process_model_identifier)
         return cls.create_process_instance(process_model, user)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def waiting_event_can_be_skipped(cls, waiting_event: Dict[str, Any], now_in_utc: datetime) -> bool:
+        #
+        # over time this function can gain more knowledge of different event types,
+        # for now we are just handling Duration Timer events.
+        #
+        # example: {'event_type': 'Duration Timer', 'name': None, 'value': '2023-04-27T20:15:10.626656+00:00'}
+        #
+        event_type = waiting_event.get("event_type")
+        if event_type == "Duration Timer":
+            event_value = waiting_event.get("value")
+            if event_value is not None:
+                event_datetime = TimerEventDefinition.get_datetime(event_value)
+                return event_datetime > now_in_utc  # type: ignore
+        return False
+
+    @classmethod
+    def all_waiting_events_can_be_skipped(cls, waiting_events: List[Dict[str, Any]]) -> bool:
+        for waiting_event in waiting_events:
+            if not cls.waiting_event_can_be_skipped(waiting_event, datetime.now(timezone.utc)):
+                return False
+        return True
+
     @classmethod
     def ready_user_task_has_associated_timer(cls, processor: ProcessInstanceProcessor) -> bool:
         for ready_user_task in processor.bpmn_process_instance.get_ready_user_tasks():
@@ -101,7 +128,10 @@ class ProcessInstanceService:
         if processor.process_instance_model.status != status_value:
             return True
 
-        return status_value == "user_input_required" and not cls.ready_user_task_has_associated_timer(processor)
+        if status_value == "user_input_required" and cls.ready_user_task_has_associated_timer(processor):
+            return cls.all_waiting_events_can_be_skipped(processor.bpmn_process_instance.waiting_events())
+
+        return False
 
     @classmethod
     def do_waiting(cls, status_value: str = ProcessInstanceStatus.waiting.value) -> None:
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/unit/test_process_instance_service.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/unit/test_process_instance_service.py
index 0c27a5383..9d25adda1 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/unit/test_process_instance_service.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/unit/test_process_instance_service.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 """Test_process_instance_processor."""
+from datetime import datetime
+from datetime import timezone
 from typing import Optional
 
 from flask.app import Flask
@@ -213,3 +215,33 @@ class TestProcessInstanceService(BaseTest):
         assert len(models) == 2
         self._check_sample_file_data_model("File", 0, models[0])
         self._check_sample_file_data_model("File", 1, models[1])
+
+    def test_does_not_skip_events_it_does_not_know_about(self) -> None:
+        assert not (
+            ProcessInstanceService.waiting_event_can_be_skipped(
+                {"event_type": "Unknown", "name": None, "value": "2023-04-27T20:15:10.626656+00:00"},
+                datetime.now(timezone.utc),
+            )
+        )
+
+    def test_does_skip_duration_timer_events_for_the_future(self) -> None:
+        assert ProcessInstanceService.waiting_event_can_be_skipped(
+            {"event_type": "Duration Timer", "name": None, "value": "2023-04-27T20:15:10.626656+00:00"},
+            datetime.fromisoformat("2023-04-26T20:15:10.626656+00:00"),
+        )
+
+    def test_does_not_skip_duration_timer_events_for_the_past(self) -> None:
+        assert not (
+            ProcessInstanceService.waiting_event_can_be_skipped(
+                {"event_type": "Duration Timer", "name": None, "value": "2023-04-27T20:15:10.626656+00:00"},
+                datetime.fromisoformat("2023-04-28T20:15:10.626656+00:00"),
+            )
+        )
+
+    def test_does_not_skip_duration_timer_events_for_now(self) -> None:
+        assert not (
+            ProcessInstanceService.waiting_event_can_be_skipped(
+                {"event_type": "Duration Timer", "name": None, "value": "2023-04-27T20:15:10.626656+00:00"},
+                datetime.fromisoformat("2023-04-27T20:15:10.626656+00:00"),
+            )
+        )