ALW

And another question, how strict is ArriveCAN for details of land entries? I assume if it's a different day you need to submit a new plan, but what if you change from Lansdown (Ivy Lea) to Prescott (Ogdensburg), or Buffalo to Niagara Falls?

Website says if your travel plans change, submit a new plan, but it could be pretty short notice (e.g. Google Maps might say to change crossings at the last possible moment). And they're asking exact time even for a land crossing. Does anyone have experience being off by an hour (or 2), or changing entry point, and not updating the plan?

Thanks.

TheCanuckian

Others have said this has not been a problem. You shouldn’t need to submit a new plan.

sydneyracquelle

I have driven back and forth monthly since covid started often changing my travel plans to arrive at a different border crossing on a different day even with fewer people in the car than planned. To date no one has said anything. They are mainly checking your vaccine status regardless of where and when you cross.

ALW

Thank you both

cooleddie

I always do the ID NOW test. It is a NAAT test and it gives you 72 hours. And you usually get your results in 2-3 hours back by email. (they say 24 hours but its always been 2-3 hrs)

CRC99

We'll be in this exact situation next month. I plan on a Walgreens PCR test the afternoon before we leave and then an Antigen test on the way. Walgreens is preferable to CVS as they notify you by email. CVS is by text. Its my experience that the CVS texts to Canadian phones don't go thru.

ALW

I assume you mean Walgreens ID NOW, or is your most convenient Walgreens PCR only? I found a few of those when I was researching. My problem with recommending the PCR is the "up to 72 hours" for results", which could also become more. But maybe in practise it's not. If my friends get a negative result on the ID NOW, I don't see any benefit to trying to source an antigen test on the road, both effort and time. But maybe there's a reason to do it with a negative molecular test?

Davvidd

Just came in thru YYZ.. Very quick. After filling in the form in the kiosk and took the receipt to the Border services, they had a look and asked what I have got and when I gave the answer, just said thank you and on my way.
On AC, they did ask for passengers with connecting flights to disembark first and they did check the onward boarding card on board as you deplane.

ALW

Did a tentative arrival doc for them (since it's easy to re-submit) and was surprised by 2 things.

1. No way to upload the test result. I was expecting an option to upload, like for the proof of vaccination. Obviously they can print (if they get result in time) or show on phone, just surprised.

2. It said to make sure they had copies of test result and proof of vaccination, and keep for 14 days after arrival. In this case, surprised about the vaccination proof, since it's embedded in their traveller profile with ArriveCAN.

Also confused (but not seriously concerned) about one question in the quarantine part, it asks if anyone at risk will be there, including 65+, immunocompromised, etc. Does that officially include the person travelling, or just others (travellers are >65)? I could rationalize either yes or no, the absolute answer is "yes someone 65+ will be there" (the other traveller), but logically they're asking if "grandma" lives with them (in which case no).

bambinomartino

Similar experience at YVR yesterday. Two CBSA agents at what looked like makeshift desks, where are you coming from, why did you go, how much did you bring. A family of 4 (American or Canadian) in front of us was being grilled about their arrivecan. The dad had done it online and didn't have the code. No one asked about ours. I had completed ours upon landing - completely forgot lol - a minute before we scanned our passports at the kiosk.

There were three ladies in lab garb, I asked them if there is still testing. Apparently they are there for unvaccinated travelers only. I wish I had also asked how many people they test.

I kept my mask underneath my chin the entire time while at airports (YEG, YVR and SNA), except when interacting with people in official or airline capacity. No one said a thing. At security they asked my 8-year old to put his on. Whatever. Down it went once we cleared.

This patchwork of federal, provincial and municipal masking requirements is ridiculous.

Btw, some of the things arrivecan told us (quarantine related, esp with regard to kids) was clearly no longer in line with the rules. Not sure if I had an old version of the app, or just government competence on display. Or me making a wrong selection at some point.

Showing our month-old positive results was quick and easy, I suspect with Omicron check-in agents see it a lot more often than last year.

Davvidd

You are right. They did not ask for my arrivecan receipt on arrival though at the departure end they did ask me to show it. Just my passport and did a scan on it and on my way to baggage.

seawolf

FYI ArriveCAN comes up automatically to CBSA if traveler documents used to register in ArriveCAN is same document used for travel.

casey89

Just to be sure. The 72 hours for PCR/NaaT test are calculated from the arrival in Canada? Or from the departure time of the flight to Canada?
I am about to fly to Toronto in April and just found out that the logic is different than the test requirements for USA.

also how often are CBP select somebody for the arrival test?

TheCanuckian

Within 72 hours of your scheduled time of departure.

No one really knows how often people are randomly selected, but it appears to be quite infrequent.

Davvidd

Isn't it the last direct flight to Canada and if so someone is transiting thru another airport that does not count?