06/26/2024
by: Dan Mount
Posted: Jun 26, 2024 / 03:28 PM EDT
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is offering advice for anyone wanting to cross the United States and Canada border with two important holidays looming.
According to the CBSA, In 2023, we welcomed over 86 million travelers and intercepted more than 72,200 kg of prohibited drugs, cannabis, narcotics, and chemicals in 2023. That was an increase of close to 30-percent from the previous year.
Canadian border services give tips on holiday weekend travel
The agency monitors peak travel times and volumes, which occur on weekends and summer months.
Here are some tips for cross-border travel:
Check border wait times and expect delays. Early mornings are usually the best time while Mondays after long holiday weekends are the busiest.
Have travel documents ready. This helps speed up process. Have a consent letter from parent or guarding if traveling with children that aren’t related to you.
Advance Declaration can be used if flying into Canada.
Entering by boat. Travelers must report to the CBSA without delay. Review reporting requirements for private boaters before making travel plans.
Declare everything you have with you upon entry into Canada. If arriving by land, you are responsible for everything inside your vehicle. If you are the operator of a boat entering Canadian waters with the intent to disembark, you are responsible for reporting your goods on board.
Here is advice about bringing items into Canada if you cross:
Food, plant, or animal products: Consult the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) before bringing any food, plant, or animal products into Canada.
Poultry products: Be sure to review currentrestrictions on poultry and birds from the United States before bringing these products across the border. Homemade food or leftovers containing poultry cannot be brought into Canada.
Fireworks: Consult Importing, exporting and transporting fireworks to ensure that the fireworks you are bringing in are authorized.
Medication: Make sure you understand your responsibilities when travelling with medication.
Firewood: Firewood from outside of Canada is not permitted as it may contain diseases or invasive insects. Buy local and burn local.
Goods purchased abroad: If you are a Canadian resident, personal exemptions allow you to bring goods (up to a certain value), back to Canada without paying regular duty and taxes – including alcohol and to***co.
Make sure know how much you are bringing back in Canadian dollars and have your receipts readily available for the officer.
Use the CBSA duty and taxes estimator to help estimate the amounts owed on goods purchased abroad.
Here’s a list of items restricted or prohibited from entering the country of Canada:
Fi****ms: Leave them at home. Travelers are encouraged not to travel with fi****ms. If you choose to do so, be sure to check the rules on importing fi****ms.
Weapons: Other restricted and prohibited goods include pepper spray, switchblades, and butterfly knives.
Narcotics: Narcotics such as co***ne and he**in, are illegal in Canada. If you are found to be in possession of illegal drugs (on your person, in your vehicle, or in your luggage) you will be arrested and may be charged. The drugs will be seized.
Cannabis: Don’t bring it in. Don’t take it out. While cannabis is legal in Canada, bringing it across the border in any form, including oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence subject to arrest and prosecution. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.
If unsure, ask a border agent, visit the CBSA Website or call the CBSA at 1-800-461-9999.
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