tcook052

Sorry folks but we are wandering from the thread topic into far more general virus discussion so let's please focus only on matter which related to the handling of returning Canadians in the COVID era and take other issues to other forums or websites.

tcook052
Canada forum moderator

spartacus81

Does anyone know what happens if after you pass through US pre-clearance at a Canadian airport, you're forced to "cross" back into Canada at the airport? This has happened to me before, where my flight gets cancelled at the gate, and I had to go back through Canadian customs to re-enter Canada. But with the quarantine rules, would you be required to quarantine for 14 days and book a hotel for 3 days in this case? It's a hypothetical, but I didn't find any specific exemption for this in the rules.

sydneyracquelle

This has happened to me several times at YYZ with cancellations and VDB vouchers and even switching terminals (AA put me on AC or UA). Previously I could just walk back through security and US Customs backwards and end up at US departures. Now it is more strict and an airline employee must escort you out to US departures. Never have I had to reclear Cdn Customs. And since you never left Canada you are not reentering. At the beginning of covid some poor souls drove to USA and were denied entry for being nonessential and nasty Canada made them quarantine. Now they get right back into Canada as if they never left.

OSSYULYYZ

I saw this happening to a family a few days ago at YUL. Security opened the door to arrivals. Apparently, Delta was not able to transfer his bags to Air Canada. Airline Staff instructed him to go to CBSA and say that he did not travel. He would be given a slip of paper and be exempt from quarantine.

Was this more recent or at YYZ Terminal 3 or potentially Winnipeg, Edmonton or Halifax? I ask this question because those airports/terminals do not allow Airside Transit for Int'l -> USA flights. One has to clear CBSA from their int'l flight and then clear USCBP. There are exemptions to allow visa-free transit to some nationals who would otherwise require a visa to enter Canada. Therefore, YYZ T1 and YUL definitely require you to clear CBSA if you choose not to take the departing flight to the USA.

spartacus81

Thanks sydneyracquelle, OSSYULYYZ. It hasn't happened to me in 4-5 years, but I remember at least twice in the past when I had to clear Canadian customs in order to get back into Canada after my flight to the US got cancelled at the gate (this was YYZ T1). Technically, you're supposed to be in the US after going through pre-clearance, so it wouldn't have surprised me if they forced you to quarantine in this case (obviously not because of any exposure risk, but just as a technicality/punishment). Good to know it shouldn't be the case.

For the land border where someone is denied entry to the US and has to turn back to Canada, I see there's now an exemption in the latest rules to avoid quarantine.

Jasper2009

Upon returning to Canada via YVR, does anyone know what the opening hours are for the "testing upon arrival" procedure?

I must be blind since I can't seem to find that info on the website...

EmailKid

They know when flights are scheduled to arrive, so I would go out on a limb and guess that they would be open for scheduled flights that arrive on time. While I am sure they are also aware of flight tackers, I wonder if they would stay late for delayed flights.

Bartolo

Data point:

Completed quarantine at home because I did a land crossing. Did first Covid test at border — easy and quick. However, attention to sanitizing limited. Highly recommend this over doing the test at home. Much quicker.

At least one email a day (always 11:02 am ET). Sometimes more often. Phone calls on several days.sometimes two and one day three calls. All robo. No home visit during the 14 days. No person called.

There was a different call on a day 10 reminding me I had to do the test and that whatever the result I was required to quarantine until 11:59 on day 14. I think that “keep quarantine” message came more than once.

Day 10 test online with Switch. Based on what I read on FT, logged on at 6:30 am. Shocked to get the nurse with 10 min. She was too cheery for me at that hr. Very easy. She was very strict about disinfecting (even the Purolater bag), etc. She ws rigorous about verifying the serial # on the tube before we started. She watched me put it in the Purolator bag and checked it again before I did so. She told me she does about 40 tests per shift. Was quite aware that some people wait many hours. However, she did say they open at 6:00 am.

After nurse logged off, a screen for booking Purolater popped up. Offered same afternoon pick up or either of the next two days. Picked up exactly as promised (actually 10 min early). Results from day 1 and day 10 tests within 48 hrs, 24 of which seemed to be delivery to lab. It was possible to have two test #s on the Purolator pick up request (refer below to the Addendum).

Quarantine was not unpleasant because I was well prepared. Food available, work to do, FaceTime or similar with friends and colleagues, things to read or watch. Because I was able to get groceries before crossing the border, I needed very little and a neighbour dropped a couple of things off midway thru the 14 days.

Of course, I would have preferred no quarantine but these are challenging times. So very glad not to have to do mandatory hotel stay and not to pay $2000 which is a ridiculous price.

Addendum: Read back over some earlier posts. I am guessing Switch has made some changes. It is now possible to have more than one person (including another adult) on your Switch account. Makes things much faster. Second person is listed as a dependent. One can call Switch ahead of time and they will do the data input for you including registering the serial number of your Day 10 kit(s). This made my test experience really quick.

sydneyracquelle

One more data point to add. For home visit they call you from outside and ask you to bring govt ID to the front door window and talk on the phone. No live interaction. Not sure how this would work in apartment or condo.

rankourabu

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/do...iant-1.5400890

Doug Ford calls for ban on non-essential travel into Canada

is this, in theory, even possible legally?

Last time this loon shot off his mouth we ended up with hotel quarantine.....

Finkface

Day 10 test has now been changed to Day 8 test. Presumably because it was taking so long to return the results and people were stuck in quarantine for longer than 14 days. So the second test is now taken on Day 8.

Badenoch

Very possible unless the person is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. It is also possible in theory at least for the province to do it themselves if Ottawa won't.

YYZ1313

It's clearly just a distraction from the heat he's been getting lately. And people will lap it up. Always blame the foreigners. Anyway, non-essential travel into Canada HAS been banned since March 2020. Non-essential travel outside of Canada is a different thing since residents can leave and come back anytime and banning them would be unconstitutional.

rankourabu

Obviously I meant is it possible for Canadian citizens to be banned. Everyone else is already banned. If I show up on the bridge, can Ontario turn me away?

And yes as with NB, clearly its possible for a province to make your life miserable. I doubt Dougie has the resources to implement such as scheme for Ontario tho and even if, he'd fumble it beyond bad.

sydneyracquelle

And...if so... does the US have to then readmit you if you are nonessential and have no US status?? A US immigration lawyer once told me that people unknowingly self-deport themselves from the US all the time when they leave.