Canada to Ease Border Restrictions Starting July 5th

Vaccinated Canadians will be able to travel across both borders more freely beginning in July.  Starting July 5th, 2021, fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and some foreign nationals already allowed to enter Canada will be allowed to enter Canada without quarantining or taking a Covid-19 test. To be considered fully vaccinated you must have received all required doses of a Covid-19 vaccine at least 14 days before arrival. You will have to provide proof of vaccination prior to traveling through the government’s ArriveCAN app, as well as show a digital or paper copy upon arrival, and be asymptomatic. If arriving by air you will no longer need to stay in a government authorized hotel for the first 3 days. Non-vaccinated children will also be exempt from this rule if traveling with a vaccinated parent, children will still have to abide by the 2-week quarantine rule but can do so at their own home. There have been no changes to border restrictions for non-vaccinated travelers or US citizens.

We will continue to provide updates, as new developments affecting immigration continue to occur frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you need assistance or advisement regarding an immigration matter, please contact us at (716) 854-7525 or www.srwborderlawyers.com/contact to schedule a consultation.

Canada to Loosen Quarantine Restrictions for Vaccinated Travelers

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has begun preparations to ease border restrictions for those travelers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including loosening the current 14-day quarantine period for fully vaccinated travelers. Travelers entering Canada would still be tested for the virus and may be required to quarantine for a shorter period.

It is expected that Trudeau will announce the new plan within days, but it remains unclear when exactly the changes would be implemented and whether or not the border would be opened to non-U.S. travelers at the same time. A pact that limits non-essential travel is due for renewal on June 21. However, pressure has been growing on the Canadian and U.S. governments to relax the travel restrictions that have been in place since the start of the pandemic, especially now since this may be the last opportunity to open the border in time for the summer season. Extending the travel restrictions for another month would be a huge blow for the tourism sector, as the July 1 national holiday in Canada and the July 4 weekend in the U.S. quickly approach.  

Officials have said that the loosening of travel restrictions for vaccinated individuals will be part of a gradual phased reopening that would be contingent on declining cases in both countries. Trudeau alluded to a step-by-step reopening Monday in a virtual appearance to a business audience in Newfoundland. Trudeau has mentioned a 75% vaccination rate as a key threshold when asked about potentially reopening the border. Active cases in both the U.S. and Canada have significantly decreased.

Serotte Reich will continue to provide updates, as new developments affecting immigration continue to occur frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you need assistance or advisement regarding an immigration matter, please contact us at (716) 854-7525 or www.srwborderlawyers.com/contact to schedule a consultation.

Re-Opening of the U.S. - Canadian Border

According to a report published in Washington State, the United States intends to unilaterally open the U.S.- Canadian land border without restrictions on June 22nd, 2021. There has been no official announcement to date regarding the June 22nd re-opening of the Canadian-U.S. border.

The U.S. – Canadian border has been closed to non-essential traffic since March 20th, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and national public safety concerns associated with it. Ontario currently remains under COVID-19 lockdown orders until June 2nd, 2021, with restricted inter-provincial travel.  The current U.S. border closure order was extended on May 20th, 2021, until June 21st, 2021. On May 25th, 2021, immigration attorneys were notified that biometric processing had resumed at U.S. ports of entry, effective immediately, showing signs of a return to normalcy at the U.S. border.

A unilateral opening of the border by the U.S. would place significant pressure on the Canadian government to consider relaxing border restrictions. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated recently that the Canadian border would not be open until 75% of Canadians have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. With Canadians eager to travel to the U.S., and vice versa, the Canadian government will be hard-pressed with returning residents who do not want to undergo the required testing and 14-day quarantine upon arrival.

Additionally, once in the U.S. Canadian residents will be able to take advantage of COVID-19 vaccinations through the various service providers.

Serotte Reich will continue to provide updates, as the status of the immigration systems continues to shift frequently. If you need assistance or advisement regarding an immigration matter, please contact us at 716-854-7525 or www.srwborderlawyers.com/contact to schedule a consultation.

Higgins announces details on ‘essential’ and ‘non-essential’ travel guidelines

The U.S.-Canadian border is subject to new restrictions starting at 11:59pm EDT on Monday, March 20, 2020, limiting crossing at Land Ports of Entry to essential travel only. In an effort to limit the continuing spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will temporarily impose these restrictions until 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 20, 2020. After the 30-day period, the restrictions will be reviewed by both parties.

Congressman Brian Higgins has now made the specifics of the directive available, with details provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) further defining “essential travel.” According to a press release from Congressman Higgins’ offices, “essential travel” includes, but is not limited to:

• U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States;

• Individuals traveling for medical purposes (e.g., to receive medical treatment in the United States);

• Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions;

• Individuals traveling to work in the United States (e.g., individuals working in the farming or agriculture industry who must travel between the United States and Canada in furtherance of such work);

• Individuals traveling for emergency response and public health purposes (e.g., government officials or emergency responders entering the United States to support Federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government efforts to respond to COVID-19 or other emergencies);

• Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade (e.g., truck drivers supporting the movement of cargo between the United States and Canada);

• Individuals engaged in official government travel or diplomatic travel;

• Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the spouses and children of members of the U.S. Armed Forces, returning to the United States; and

• Individuals engaged in military-related travel or operations. 

Traveling for tourism purposes (e.g., sightseeing, recreation, gambling, or attending cultural events) is considered to be non-essential.

According to the press release, the above-listed guidelines apply to passenger rail and ferry travel between the U.S. and Canada, but do not apply to air, freight rail, or sea travel.

If you need assistance or advisement regarding an immigration matter that will be impacted by the new restrictions listed above, please contact us at 716-854-7525 or www.srwborderlawyers.com/contact to schedule a consultation.