Driving Across the Border from U.S. to Canada: Options & Experiences
Jan 6, 2022, 2:11 pm
#451
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: SEA
Programs: UA 1P 1MM, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 629
I'm thinking about a quick trip up to Whistler from Seattle, spending probably <48 hours in Canada.
I have a few questions as it relates to if I get selected for random arrival test.
1). Are all random arrival tests at land borders (eg, Peace Arch) take-home kit that you do within 24hours? In other words, it's possible to not have to quarantine the first ~20hours after arrival under any circumstances?
2). I understand that you use some type of app to schedule a video appointment within 24hours of arrival where they watch you do the self-test. Are these video appointments available abundantly, or is it pretty slim picking? Are appointments available as late as 6 or 7pm at night?
3). Is there an authorized sample drop off centre in Whistler? I see that there is a Fedex office in Whistler, but are all Fedex offices authorized drop off sites?
4). Just want to confirm that you're allowed to leave Canada before the results come back.
Thanks a lot!
I have a few questions as it relates to if I get selected for random arrival test.
1). Are all random arrival tests at land borders (eg, Peace Arch) take-home kit that you do within 24hours? In other words, it's possible to not have to quarantine the first ~20hours after arrival under any circumstances?
2). I understand that you use some type of app to schedule a video appointment within 24hours of arrival where they watch you do the self-test. Are these video appointments available abundantly, or is it pretty slim picking? Are appointments available as late as 6 or 7pm at night?
3). Is there an authorized sample drop off centre in Whistler? I see that there is a Fedex office in Whistler, but are all Fedex offices authorized drop off sites?
4). Just want to confirm that you're allowed to leave Canada before the results come back.
Thanks a lot!
2) I’ve only had to do it once and there were plenty of appointments available every 10 mins. I think they started at 7:30 and went to early evening, but don’t recall exact times.
3) You can arrange for FedEx to pick it up or drop it off at a FedEx drop box. iIRC Shoppers drug mart is another place you could drop it off (and even do the test if you can’t/don’t want to do it via video
4) Yes, no restrictions there. Left the next afternoon (probably around the time the lab was receiving the sample) and got the results via email a couple of days later at home in WA.
Jan 6, 2022, 6:02 pm
#452
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
1) I’ve read of people being asked to do a test at the border because their test results weren’t acceptable. Don’t recall the specifics though s seemed there were some odd circumstances. For the random tests, as far as I know, you aren’t required to quarantine, just complete the test within 24 hours of entry.
2) I’ve only had to do it once and there were plenty of appointments available every 10 mins. I think they started at 7:30 and went to early evening, but don’t recall exact times.
3) You can arrange for FedEx to pick it up or drop it off at a FedEx drop box. iIRC Shoppers drug mart is another place you could drop it off (and even do the test if you can’t/don’t want to do it via video
4) Yes, no restrictions there. Left the next afternoon (probably around the time the lab was receiving the sample) and got the results via email a couple of days later at home in WA.
2) I’ve only had to do it once and there were plenty of appointments available every 10 mins. I think they started at 7:30 and went to early evening, but don’t recall exact times.
3) You can arrange for FedEx to pick it up or drop it off at a FedEx drop box. iIRC Shoppers drug mart is another place you could drop it off (and even do the test if you can’t/don’t want to do it via video
4) Yes, no restrictions there. Left the next afternoon (probably around the time the lab was receiving the sample) and got the results via email a couple of days later at home in WA.
So even if you're selected and they give you the test kit, you can just ditch the kit and choose to go get swabbed at Shoppers Drug Mart the next day in Whistler?
Jan 6, 2022, 8:25 pm
#453
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: SEA
Programs: UA 1P 1MM, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 629
i think the kit given was from Lifelabs. I think there’s also kits by SwitchHealth. Don’t know which ones are being used these days but you may be able to Google their website & FAQs to get a better idea of procedures.
Last edited by samplat; Jan 6, 2022 at 8:25 pm Reason: Fix typo
Jan 6, 2022, 8:47 pm
#454
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
Jan 6, 2022, 9:32 pm
#455
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
i don’t think you can just ditch the kit. The instructions that came with it had guidance on what to do if you aren’t able to do the test online (e.g. no internet connection, etc.) and that had a blurb about being able to do it at Shopper drug mart. I don’t remember all the details but presuming you’d need to take the kit there and see if they could supervise the test for you etc.
i think the kit given was from Lifelabs. I think there’s also kits by SwitchHealth. Don’t know which ones are being used these days but you may be able to Google their website & FAQs to get a better idea of procedures.
i think the kit given was from Lifelabs. I think there’s also kits by SwitchHealth. Don’t know which ones are being used these days but you may be able to Google their website & FAQs to get a better idea of procedures.
Thanks again!
Jan 6, 2022, 10:19 pm
#456
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
Jan 8, 2022, 12:03 pm
#457
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Montreal
Posts: 586
Came back to Canada around New Year's Eve at the Thousand Islands crossing and I was given the Switch Health kit. Pretty simple to do that same night but shipping holidays meant that it wouldn't be picked up by Purolator until Jan 4. It arrived at the lab on Jan 5 but still no result 
At this rate, any result will be pointless. A rapid or NAAT test performed at the border would be a lot more efficient.
At this rate, any result will be pointless. A rapid or NAAT test performed at the border would be a lot more efficient.
Jan 9, 2022, 10:45 am
#458
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: SEA
Programs: UA 1P 1MM, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 629
Crossed over via Peace Arch this weekend and one person in the vehicle was selected for random testing. BC uses the Lifelabs kit. Here’s the box and instructional flyer for those curious.
Plenty of same day appointments available so took care of it as soon as we got to our destination and dropped it off at a nearby Shoppers Drug Mart. Lifelabs asks you to set up an account first and you need a kit ID in order to setup an appointment for video testing. For dropoff, had to fill out a form at Shoppers.
Lifelabs Kit box
Plenty of same day appointments available so took care of it as soon as we got to our destination and dropped it off at a nearby Shoppers Drug Mart. Lifelabs asks you to set up an account first and you need a kit ID in order to setup an appointment for video testing. For dropoff, had to fill out a form at Shoppers.
Lifelabs Kit box
Last edited by samplat; Jan 9, 2022 at 10:52 am Reason: Typo
Jan 10, 2022, 1:21 am
#459
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Thanks for posting the pictures!
If I do go, I’ll probably be crossing the border around 6pm but would like to be on the slopes at 8.30am the next day. Hopefully there’ll be appointments available either past 6pm or before 8.30am.
If I do go, I’ll probably be crossing the border around 6pm but would like to be on the slopes at 8.30am the next day. Hopefully there’ll be appointments available either past 6pm or before 8.30am.
Feb 4, 2022, 8:35 am
#460
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 382
Apologies if this has been covered upthread, but what happens at a land border point of entry if I show up with a negative PCR test dated three days prior that does not include a precise time that the test was taken? My state (Vermont) does few PCR testing but the results letter does not include a time the sample was taken or the time the results were generated.
Will Canada reject the letter on the basis that it only proves that I had a negative test three days prior to my arrival, rather than 72 hours prior to arrival? I'm a fully vaccinated and boosted Canadian citizen who resides in the US, if that matters.
Will Canada reject the letter on the basis that it only proves that I had a negative test three days prior to my arrival, rather than 72 hours prior to arrival? I'm a fully vaccinated and boosted Canadian citizen who resides in the US, if that matters.
Feb 4, 2022, 9:01 am
#461
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
Apologies if this has been covered upthread, but what happens at a land border point of entry if I show up with a negative PCR test dated three days prior that does not include a precise time that the test was taken? My state (Vermont) does few PCR testing but the results letter does not include a time the sample was taken or the time the results were generated.
Will Canada reject the letter on the basis that it only proves that I had a negative test three days prior to my arrival, rather than 72 hours prior to arrival? I'm a fully vaccinated and boosted Canadian citizen who resides in the US, if that matters.
Will Canada reject the letter on the basis that it only proves that I had a negative test three days prior to my arrival, rather than 72 hours prior to arrival? I'm a fully vaccinated and boosted Canadian citizen who resides in the US, if that matters.
Feb 5, 2022, 7:04 am
#462
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 382
My question was whether Canadian border officials will accept a PCR test that shows a date three days prior to arrival, but does not show a time that the test was taken.
Feb 5, 2022, 7:28 am
#463
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
Yes, I understand that's an option, and one I have used in the past, but it's not the question I was asking. There is only Walgreens within a reasonable distance from me and it offers very few appointments for ID Now, and those appointments go quickly.
My question was whether Canadian border officials will accept a PCR test that shows a date three days prior to arrival, but does not show a time that the test was taken.
My question was whether Canadian border officials will accept a PCR test that shows a date three days prior to arrival, but does not show a time that the test was taken.
Appointments readily available within 48 hours and some even next day for ID NOW at most Walgreens offering ID NOW in VT and bordering states. It was pretty difficult to get an appointment about 3 weeks ago but that doesn’t seem to be case anymore.
CBSA site and ArriveCAN are very clear on what the requirements are.
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/tr...try-vaccinated
Even if you find someone here stating there were able to get in with a test matching your question, it doesn’t mean the CBSA officer you encounter will allow for it.
I recommend getting a test that meet published requirements instead of trying to find out if someone was successful at skirting/negotiating around those requirements because chances are it would be useless at gaining entry unless you happen to encounter the same misinformed CBSA agent.
Feb 5, 2022, 7:40 am
#464
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 382
Have you checked Walgreens recently?
Appointments readily available within 48 hours and some even next day for ID NOW at most Walgreens offering ID NOW in VT and bordering states. It was pretty difficult to get an appointment about 3 weeks ago but that doesn’t seem to be case anymore.
Appointments readily available within 48 hours and some even next day for ID NOW at most Walgreens offering ID NOW in VT and bordering states. It was pretty difficult to get an appointment about 3 weeks ago but that doesn’t seem to be case anymore.
Feb 5, 2022, 8:29 am
#465
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
Yeah thanks, but this just isn't accurate. None of the Walgreens in the southern half of the state, where I am, offer ID Now. West Lebanon, NH is the closest Walgreens to me that does offer ID Now and it is currently showing no appointments available. If anyone has experience with the actual scenario I described, I'd be grateful for their insight.