speculation on the us canada border

[RobertNYC]

So, anyone planning to go to Canada from the US tomorrow?

Most of the MERB crew, the regulars, are rather smart, savvy and certainly not impulsive. I’d be surprised if you hear of anyone taking the risk to hobby so early. In my opinion you’d have to have a screw loose to jump through hoops and tolerate the several restrictions around city.

 

[IamNY]

I have thought about going to Montreal for a few days. Even downloaded the ArriveCAN app to begin the proof of vaccination process. From what I’ve seen on social media it looks like bars and restaurants are open so it might be worth the trip. Especially since I can drive there and avoid the second COVID test to get back to the US. But I’ll probably wait until after Labor Day, summer in NY is like it was in the pre COVID days so I can have more fun here.

 

[transatlantic]

I did consider driving up this or next week but got a trip to Hawaii in two week so the last thing I need is to pickup Covid during a session. May come up in September/October depending on how this Quebec vaccine passport plays out with CDC cards.

 

[gll]

plan to drive up to montreal next week- hoping everything goes well.

 

[transatlantic]

plan to drive up to montreal next week- hoping everything goes well.

Please report how it goes. Seems like border crossing times are minimal. Aug 9 (Day 1) delays were limited to just that day.

 

[masterP]

plan to drive up to montreal next week- hoping everything goes well.

Curious to hear about your experience. Very interested to know more about the requirement for a quarantine plan and if it's an option to just drive back to the US if they decide you need to quarantine. I'm hoping to drive up there in mid-September.

 

[gll]

certainly will report back. assuming my pcr test is negative next week, i should be set to go. i have installed the arrivecan ap on my cell phone but havent filled it out yet. Yes, my only concern is that the instructions i have read online ask for a backup quarantine plan if you are not exempt. if i am not deemed exempt (don’t accept my vaccination and negative pcr test), i would not enter canada and would drive back to the us- that would be my "quarantine plan". However, talking to a border agent over the phone, the application will be rejected outright if you don’t fill out the quarantine plan section- she said it would not necessarily be evaluated. So I will put in some bs and see if it flies.

 

[gallantca]

certainly will report back. assuming my pcr test is negative next week, i should be set to go. i have installed the arrivecan ap on my cell phone but havent filled it out yet. Yes, my only concern is that the instructions i have read online ask for a backup quarantine plan if you are not exempt. if i am not deemed exempt (don’t accept my vaccination and negative pcr test), i would not enter canada and would drive back to the us- that would be my "quarantine plan". However, talking to a border agent over the phone, the application will be rejected outright if you don’t fill out the quarantine plan section- she said it would not necessarily be evaluated. So I will put in some bs and see if it flies.

I was speaking to a student from the US, studying at McGill. They had to provide a quarantine plan. I thought they had to provide a local contact that would do their groceries, etc while in quarantine. Is this still the same ? Is saying "room service is my meal plan" good enough ?

 

[IamNY]

Curious to know if the NEXUS lanes are open.

 

[transatlantic]

certainly will report back. assuming my pcr test is negative next week, i should be set to go. i have installed the arrivecan ap on my cell phone but havent filled it out yet. Yes, my only concern is that the instructions i have read online ask for a backup quarantine plan if you are not exempt. if i am not deemed exempt (don’t accept my vaccination and negative pcr test), i would not enter canada and would drive back to the us- that would be my "quarantine plan". However, talking to a border agent over the phone, the application will be rejected outright if you don’t fill out the quarantine plan section- she said it would not necessarily be evaluated. So I will put in some bs and see if it flies.

Book a “quarantine plan” 14 day stay at a hotel with a 6PM day of arrival cancellation. Plan on getting to the border by 4 or 5pm and then cancel this reservation once you are admitted or return to US.

Curious to know if the NEXUS lanes are open.

According to CBSA site, most NEXUS lanes are not open including Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle.

I just traveled to Montreal Monday through st-armand and a ton of rain. No Lexus lane open 6 AM when I arrived. Had to present the printed version of negative molecular covid 19 test and my CDC vaccine card and obviously passport. Was asked the standard entry questions with some standard covid questions. Got ripped off at the corner store when I exchanged USD I got charged $30! Trip was great. Masks are still worn like it's 2020. People are agitated up there with it. However I did notice the recent summer weather was pissing people off more then Covid. I came back to US next day with same questions about my trip like before covid plus standard covid questions. If you respect people they respect you back. Funny how that works right?

What did you put down as quarantine plan in ArriveCAN?

 

[IamNY]

From the website

2. Quarantine plan in case you don’t qualify for the exemption
You must be prepared to quarantine for 14 days, in case you:

• are symptomatic
• don’t meet the requirements

A suitable quarantine plan must be entered into ArriveCAN in case you don’t qualify for the exemption. You may be asked to explain your quarantine plan at the border

Could you give us an example of what you used as your quarantine plan?

 

[Like_It_Hot]

Book a “quarantine plan” 14 day stay at a hotel with a 6PM day of arrival cancellation. Plan on getting to the border by 4 or 5pm and then cancel this reservation once you are admitted or return to US.

Very bad advise, you may find the fines very hard if you are caught. Of course, if you COVID test is positive, you are cooked. If you don't want to play by the rules, stay home!

Consequences for failure to comply with the Emergency Order​

Failure to comply with this order is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to fines, imprisonment or both.

Visits from law enforcement officers
At any time, if the Government of Canada has reason to believe you are not complying with the Emergency Order, you may be referred to law enforcement for follow up. This includes if you:

• provide false information
• fail to respond to calls and emails
• do not answer relevant compliance questions when asked by a screening officer
• do not come to the door or are not home when visited by a screening officer

Law enforcement officers may visit and can issue:

• verbal warnings
• written warnings
• fines, tickets or penalties
• court summons

Penalties, fines and imprisonment​

Violating any instructions provided to you when you entered Canada is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to:

• 6 months in prison and/or
• $750,000 in fines

If you break your mandatory quarantine or isolation requirements and you cause the death or serious bodily harm to another person, you could face:

• a fine of up to $1,000,000 or
• imprisonment of up to 3 years or
• both

The Contraventions Act provides police (including RCMP, provincial and local police) the authority to enforce the Quarantine Act. Tickets with fines of up to $5,000 may be issued for non-compliance.

We couldn't find that Web page (Error 404) - Travel.gc.ca

Government of Canada's official one-stop-shop for comprehensive international travel information.

travel.gc.ca

 

[gll]

Yes in practice the quarantine plan makes no sense since if you are found to be exempt at the border you dont need it and if you are not exempt you wont enter. One has to wonder if it is ever enforced. Does it come into play if they choose you for the spot check covid test and you are positive and receive your results after driving into canada. would they let you drive back to the us or force you to quarantine in montreal. Anyway not going to worry about that since it is so unlikely especially since you tested negative a couple days earlier

 

[transatlantic]

Very bad advise, you may find the fines very hard if you are caught. Of course, if you COVID test is positive, you are cooked. If you don't want to play by the rules, stay home!​

I guess I’m not being clear.

If you follow the last several posts from me, you will find that the discussion is about crossing via land not air.

You MUST provide a suitable quarantine plan into ArriveCAN even if vaccinated. ArriveCAN declaration requires a Canadian address as a place of quarantine.

The intent of the cancellable 14 day booking is NOT to violate any quarantine order. It is only to meet ArriveCAN requirement instead of being immediate denied entry at the land border as a foreign national for failing to complete all required sections in ArriveCAN and not having an actual 14 day booking to back up the ArriveCAN declaration.

For example, If you put down the Ritz Carlton into ArriveCAN and CBSA decides to call just to see if you are being truthful, there’s some explaining to do (regardless of your vaccination status) if the hotel replies there is no actual 14 day booking.

If you were to test positive at the border then the next step is to U-turn to US. So in either case whether admitted with a vaccine exemption or U-turn to US, the booking is cancelled (or modified to reflect actual duration if you were planning to stay at that hotel to begin with). There is no violating of any quarantine order.

 

[transatlantic]

Yes in practice the quarantine plan makes no sense since if you are found to be exempt at the border you dont need it and if you are not exempt you wont enter. One has to wonder if it is ever enforced. Does it come into play if they choose you for the spot check covid test and you are positive and receive your results after driving into canada. would they let you drive back to the us or force you to quarantine in montreal. Anyway not going to worry about that since it is so unlikely especially since you tested negative a couple days earlier

They will let you drive back because you are allow to leave Canada even under quarantine and “Foreign nationals with symptoms will not be allowed to enter Canada.”

Just want to specify that this applies to land port of entry by private vehicle.

I don’t think airlines will fly a passenger to US even if CBSA deny entry due to positive COVID.

We couldn't find that Web page (Error 404) - Travel.gc.ca

Government of Canada's official one-stop-shop for comprehensive international travel information.

travel.gc.ca

Could you give us an example of what you used as your quarantine plan?

I recommend just going thru the steps in ArriveCAN. You do not have to submit after answering all the questions.

Port of entry if going thru St-Bernard-de-Lacolle should be Lacolle 15.

The quarantine plan section is just a bunch of Yes/No questions followed by providing a Canadian address as intended place of quarantine.

The question is whether you run into a CBSA officer that will actually call the hotel to confirm a booking does exist just to see if you are truthful (regardless of vax status). I would imagine you want an actual booking to support the ArriveCAN declaration especially if NEXUS can be jeopardized if hotel replies no such reservation.

ArriveCAN should add a “return to US” option to the quarantine plan if declaration is for entry to Canada by land.

 

[gll]

They will let you drive back because you are allow to leave Canada even under quarantine and “Foreign nationals with symptoms will not be allowed to enter Canada.”

Just want to specify that this applies to land port of entry by private vehicle.

I don’t think airlines will fly a passenger to US even if CBSA deny entry due to positive COVID.

We couldn't find that Web page (Error 404) - Travel.gc.ca

Government of Canada's official one-stop-shop for comprehensive international travel information.

travel.gc.ca

I recommend just going thru the steps in ArriveCAN. You do not have to submit after answering all the questions.

Port of entry if going thru St-Bernard-de-Lacolle should be Lacolle 15.

The quarantine plan section is just a bunch of Yes/No questions followed by providing a Canadian address as intended place of quarantine.

The question is whether you run into a CBSA officer that will actually call the hotel to confirm a booking does exist just to see if you are truthful (regardless of vax status). I would imagine you want an actual booking to support the ArriveCAN declaration especially if NEXUS can be jeopardized if hotel replies no such reservation.

ArriveCAN should add a “return to US” option to the quarantine plan if declaration is for entry to Canada by land.

good information- thanks!

 

[IamNY]

I was never asked about ArriveCan at the border or my hotel reservation just the name of hotel and duration of my trip. You are paranoid.

I think that this board especially this thread can be a great source of information. It may sound as if we are paranoid or asking a lot of questions, but I think it's more about us just trying to get a straight answer out of you. Your in a unique position, you've done it, you've made it across the border! I can speak for myself when I say that I want to know as much as I can from someone who's done it. That way when I make the trip myself I'll be prepared and be able to anticipate what will happen. Your answers to some of the basic questions we have aren't really being answered. And that's ok, your under no obligation to do it. So please be patient with us and elaborate a little more with your answers if possible.

 

[gll]

yes, i agree we are all probably acting a little paranoid- just dont want to get caught off guard when we cross the border. so having as much information as possible is good. the wild card is that our experiences may differ since in general, border agents seem to have some discretion in how they handle things.

 

[IamNY]

I’m hoping to head north soon and will do my best to report back to everyone and answer questions.

 

[transatlantic]

I was never asked about ArriveCan at the border or my hotel reservation just the name of hotel and duration of my trip. You are paranoid.

Just to provide background why I’m “paranoid.” Some of us are enrolled in NEXUS which has a zero tolerance policy for violating CBP/CBSA rules especially if caught making a false declaration. I don’t mind being denied entry. I do mind being banned from NEXUS/Global Entry and possibly even Pre✓ for a couple of years.