Do you plan to cross the border during March Break? The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has tips to make it a smooth trip.
As hundreds of thousands of Ontario students are off this week, many people are planning getaways with families and friends, which means traffic at border crossings in Windsor and Sarnia may be busier than usual. The CBSA says, though, that there are a few things you can do to make the process less stressful.
The CBSA suggests checking ahead for wait times and looking at more than one point-of-entry for options. Travel during non-peak times, such as early morning or late at night, may also work. The weekends at the beginning and end of March Break tend to see the largest number of travelers.
Have all the proper travel documents with you and have them ready when you approach the inspection booth. If you're flying into Toronto's Pearson International Airport, you may also have the option of advance declaration, where you can make your declaration ahead of time on the ArriveCAN app.
As March Break means more children may be travelling, parents or guardians who are not travelling together should bring a letter authorizing the person to bring children over the border. CBSA agents are trained to watch for missing children.
Although recreational cannabis is legal in both Canada and the state of Michigan, don't bring it. This includes any oils or products with or without the ingredient THC. A valid permit or exemption issued by Health Canada is required, not a prescription from a doctor. Those caught smuggling cannabis over the border may face serious fines and criminal penalties, including a potential ban on crossing the border.
Be ready to declare any items you purchased outside of Canada and have any receipts ready. There are current restrictions on bringing fowl, poultry, or live birds over the border.
Complete information on what cross-border travellers must know can be found on the official CBSA website.