Updated Canada/US Border Rules Announced 19 July 2021

[mshanson3121]

I’ve had Covid. I understand what you’ve said as do I believe most of us here as it’s been taught to us over and over for the past 16 months. We understand exposure, incubation period, etc.

Where you and I differ and probably many others too is the number of people you come in contact with in the US. If I’m crossing to the states for a day i’m going to be near a lot of people. For us to cross right now it would be go shopping. Just being honest. Some may cross to visit family or go to an appointment but that is not us. Other than Disney, which is not a day trip for Canadians, I’d like to cross for a day and go to the stores I enjoy to buy things that are challenging to purchase in Canada. Lol, I just want variety and I’d like to go to Target!

This is why I asked my question in the first place re: testing before we go and how that could possibly be an honest reflection of my health status when I cross back into Canada. I appreciate those who shared that it’s just a deterrent to decrease the number of people who cross for a day or two once the US border reopens. That was my thought too but I wanted to ask others in case I’d missed something.

We are over a lot, typically every week. Our orthodontist is there, we have a post office box there, we order a lot of our daughter's medical supplies stateside since they're so much cheaper. Then, our favorite golf course and ski hill are there. We are anxiously looking forward to getting back to all of that. But, we didn't really go "shopping" at a mall etc.... So for us, going on day trips exposes us to no more people than it would doing the same things here. Especially since most of our day trip activities are low-exposure anyways. It also helps that the town bordering us is also small population.

 

[suse66]

No, not driving but we were flying out of Buffalo. Looked at flying out of Toronto but it's another $1,200+ for the 2 of us which is a lot of money.

$1200 is a lot of money. I am so sorry you will have to delay your trip.

 

[scrappinginontario]

$1200 is a lot of money. I am so sorry you will have to delay your trip.

Thanks!

I will say last night a friend sent me a link to a company that is getting creative and doing it legally. They're flying people by helicopter from St Catharines to the Buffalo Airport and shipping the car across on a transport truck and taking the car to the Buffalo Airport. I considered it - for about 2 minutes until I learned the cost is $2,200 plus tax. LOL, made flying out of Toronto look more affordable.

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

I just read an article that the Committee that advised the government on the recent border changes had advised for them to scrap the return test requirement as well as the other changes but they chose not to at this point and keep it. That indicates to me that this will hopefully be the next thing to go. The timing and requirement to get a test in the States is a stressor for me, I really hope that it does go.

 

[Starwind]

This is why I asked my question in the first place re: testing before we go and how that could possibly be an honest reflection of my health status when I cross back into Canada. I appreciate those who shared that it’s just a deterrent to decrease the number of people who cross for a day or two once the US border reopens. That was my thought too but I wanted to ask others in case I’d missed something.

You are correct that a test taken in Canada before you go for a day trip is not a reflection of any change your health status may have had due to the day trip. However, neither would a test in the US taken the same day as the day trip. You would need to be tested a number of days after you return to Canada from your day trip for that purpose, which they are not requiring.

The government hasn't said why they have kept the test requirement for day trippers. Perhaps it is because they don't want to do away with a test requirement entirely at this point [even if just to reduce confusion of having two standards, one for day trippers and one for others], so they kept it and then added the privisio that day trippers can use a test within the last 72 hrs done in Canada [which some will have if they are flying] ? We'll probably never know the actual rationale. A deterrent effect may well be part of it.

SW

 

[Sue M]

I just read an article that the Committee that advised the government on the recent border changes had advised for them to scrap the return test requirement as well as the other changes but they chose not to at this point and keep it. That indicates to me that this will hopefully be the next thing to go. The timing and requirement to get a test in the States is a stressor for me, I really hope that it does go.

that test to return to Canada and timing is stressing me out too. At least the US test is based on 3 days before. But Canadian test is 72 hrs! So what if flight is delayed? I’ve had instances where plane was broke and they couldn’t find a replacement. So they were finding other flights to put people on. I was delayed hours. This happened twice on 2 different airlines. I have to say Alaska handled it much better than AC.
I think I’m going to time my test at 48 hrs to give me wiggle room incase of delay.

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

that test to return to Canada and timing is stressing me out too. At least the US test is based on 3 days before. But Canadian test is 72 hrs! So what if flight is delayed? I’ve had instances where plane was broke and they couldn’t find a replacement. So they were finding other flights to put people on. I was delayed hours. This happened twice on 2 different airlines. I have to say Alaska handled it much better than AC.
I think I’m going to time my test at 48 hrs to give me wiggle room incase of delay.

And then you have to worry of maybe not getting the test results in time! I really think that for vaccinated Canadians returning home that this needs to be eliminated.

 

[22Tink]

I just read an article that the Committee that advised the government on the recent border changes had advised for them to scrap the return test requirement as well as the other changes but they chose not to at this point and keep it. That indicates to me that this will hopefully be the next thing to go. The timing and requirement to get a test in the States is a stressor for me, I really hope that it does go.

Me too. The return test is the only thing that concerns me about our trip. First we have to find a place to do the test, then hope results comes back in time, then hope for no flight delays. So stressful.

 

[dvcdisney]

I just read an article that the Committee that advised the government on the recent border changes had advised for them to scrap the return test requirement as well as the other changes but they chose not to at this point and keep it. That indicates to me that this will hopefully be the next thing to go. The timing and requirement to get a test in the States is a stressor for me, I really hope that it does go.

I hope so!

 

[Pumpkin1172]

I just read an article that the Committee that advised the government on the recent border changes had advised for them to scrap the return test requirement as well as the other changes but they chose not to at this point and keep it. That indicates to me that this will hopefully be the next thing to go. The timing and requirement to get a test in the States is a stressor for me, I really hope that it does go.

that test to return to Canada and timing is stressing me out too. At least the US test is based on 3 days before. But Canadian test is 72 hrs! So what if flight is delayed? I’ve had instances where plane was broke and they couldn’t find a replacement. So they were finding other flights to put people on. I was delayed hours. This happened twice on 2 different airlines. I have to say Alaska handled it much better than AC

Me too. The return test is the only thing that concerns me about our trip. First we have to find a place to do the test, then hope results comes back in time, then hope for no flight delays. So stressful.

I was hoping that some of the test requirements would have been dropped too. It makes me too nervous yet to pull the trigger for a trip yet. The numbers are rising again in the US. And I really don't want to have to delay coming home along with the financial part that goes with the delay.

I am soooooooooooooo ready to pull the trigger for a trip into the US to go to a Nascar race as dh's birthday gift. They have until Oct 9 to get their together so I can buy the tickets and put them into DH's birthday card.

We are pulling the trigger for a winter trip to Punta Cana/Mexico. Most of the resorts are doing onsite testing at the resort for travelers. Knowing that they need these to go back home...so I am not worried. I'm also more worried about contracting covid in the US and have to stay in the US longer...than I am about contracting it in a different area. Where we want to go in the US is full of crowds, no social distancing etc etc etc. At least at the resort, I have a little more control over what parts we visit, social distancing at the resort etc etc etc. If that makes sense

 

[Sue M]

I found out about another company that does FREE testing in Orlando. And it’s not drive thru. Curative.com in search put in Lake Buena Vista. They use vans in parks. There’s a mini golf park looks like they use near WDW.
I phoned about my departure test at YVR, I had some questions. I mentioned I was stressing about my return test and he asked where I was going. Said Florida. Turns out his mom lives in Miami and he always uses this company for testing. He’s gone down to see his mom several times during Covid.
They don’t do the Rapid ID test so you’d have to be sure you did test 72 hrs. Web site says 1-2 days for results.

 

[22Tink]

I found out about another company that does FREE testing in Orlando. And it’s not drive thru. Curative.com in search put in Lake Buena Vista. They use vans in parks. There’s a mini golf park looks like they use near WDW.
I phoned about my departure test at YVR, I had some questions. I mentioned I was stressing about my return test and he asked where I was going. Said Florida. Turns out his mom lives in Miami and he always uses this company for testing. He’s gone down to see his mom several times during Covid.
They don’t do the Rapid ID test so you’d have to be sure you did test 72 hrs. Web site says 1-2 days for results.

You managed to get through to the YVR testing company? I’ve emailed twice and tried calling with no luck. When I tried to book my test it wanted me to prepay so I wanted to make sure we’d be refunded if we had to cancel.

 

[Sue M]

You managed to get through to the YVR testing company? I’ve emailed twice and tried calling with no luck. When I tried to book my test it wanted me to prepay so I wanted to make sure we’d be refunded if we had to cancel.

Yes I got thru on second try. Yes they refund.
But if you think there’s a chance you may cancel, you can wait and book a week ahead or so. We’re leaving next Saturday, 31st and there were plenty of spots open.

 

[22Tink]

Yes I got thru on second try. Yes they refund.
But if you think there’s a chance you may cancel, you can wait and book a week ahead or so. We’re leaving next Saturday, 31st and there were plenty of spots open.

Perfect thanks for the info, you saved me another phone call. I don’t think we’ll cancel unless something changes drastically but just wanted to be sure about the refunds. I also checked out that testing company you mentioned. They also have sites only about 20 min away form DLR do that gives me another option if the CVS doesn’t pan out. Now I’m starting to think travel insurance in case we test positive in California…
How exciting for you, just over a week to go!

 

[bcwife76]

that test to return to Canada and timing is stressing me out too. At least the US test is based on 3 days before. But Canadian test is 72 hrs! So what if flight is delayed? I’ve had instances where plane was broke and they couldn’t find a replacement. So they were finding other flights to put people on. I was delayed hours. This happened twice on 2 different airlines. I have to say Alaska handled it much better than AC.
I think I’m going to time my test at 48 hrs to give me wiggle room incase of delay.

I believe if your flight is delayed the test is still valid as it's based on your original 72 hour departure time. Let me see if I can find out where I read that.

 

[Sue M]

Perfect thanks for the info, you saved me another phone call. I don’t think we’ll cancel unless something changes drastically but just wanted to be sure about the refunds. I also checked out that testing company you mentioned. They also have sites only about 20 min away form DLR do that gives me another option if the CVS doesn’t pan out. Now I’m starting to think travel insurance in case we test positive in California…
How exciting for you, just over a week to go!

I never leave Canada without travel medical. I’ll never forget about the woman who drove down to Bellingham for a couple of hours to shop and got into a car accident. Bad accident which required substantial time in hospital and financially devestated her.

 

[DisDee1982]

As of Aug. 9, children under 12 — who aren't yet approved to receive a vaccine — will be exempt from the quarantine requirement after entering Canada and can move around with their parents if they follow public health measures.
Those children should avoid group settings such as school, camps and daycares.

This is only for American children though right? This does not apply to Canadian children.

 

[mshanson3121]

This is only for American children though right? This does not apply to Canadian children.

This applies to Canadian children.

 

[scrappinginontario]

This is only for American children though right? This does not apply to Canadian children.

Our trip was planned for the end of August. Even though my child is fully vaccinated (12yo) she could move about with me when we returned but in ON would not be allowed to go to school for 2 weeks after we returned to Canada. This played a part in us cancelling our Disney vacation yesterday.

 

[Kebby]

Our trip was planned for the end of August. Even though my child is fully vaccinated (12yo) she could move about with me when we returned but in ON would not be allowed to go to school for 2 weeks after we returned to Canada. This played a part in us cancelling our Disney vacation yesterday.

this is incorrect. If she is fully vaccinated she does not have to stay out of school. This is only for kids who are not fully vaccinated