CBSA cracks down on foreigners crossing border to drive to Alaska

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The Canada Border Services Agency is taking a tougher stance on people who say they’re travelling to Alaska through Canada.

Some people have reportedly been telling border guards they’re headed to the northern U.S. state but have ended up staying in Canada’s provinces to vacation instead.

As of July 31, anyone travelling to Alaska from the U.S. will be restricted to five points of entry: the B.C. crossings at Abbotsford-Huntington, Kingsgate, and Osoyoos, the Alberta crossing at Coutts, and the Saskatchewan crossing at North Portal.

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In addition to a restriction on where to enter Canada, visitors will also have to take the most direct route from the point of entry to the point of exit, “while avoiding all national parks, leisure sites and tourism activities.”

Travellers will also be given a “reasonable period of stay” to get to Alaska, and will be required to report to a CBSA agent to confirm they’re leaving Canada before entering the U.S. again.

“In-transit travellers will be issued a vehicle ‘hang tag’ to be attached to their rear view mirror for the duration of their trip to or from Alaska to support compliance while they are in Canada,” the CBSA notes.

Part of the rules is travellers will be given a tag to attach to their rear view mirror for their trip so it's clear to others they can be in Can. One Washington-based immigration lawyer is concerned and thinks that will backfire and make those people more of a target. @NEWS1130

— Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) July 30, 2020

The tag, the agency explains, will “make it clear” the person or persons are transiting through Canada. It will include the date the travellers must be out of Canada by and will also remind them to “comply with all conditions imposed upon entry and the Quarantine and Emergencies Acts and a list of public health and safety measures to follow.”

There are no restrictions on which points of entry visitors must use when travelling from Alaska into Canada.

Entering Canada from the U.S.

To be allowed into Canada at one of the designated crossings for the purposes of travelling to Alaska, a foreign national will need to show the border officer that they meet all the requirements to enter the country.

Once in Canada, foreign nationals must:

• avoid contact with others while in transit;
• remain in the vehicle as much as possible;
•  not make any unnecessary stops;
• practice physical distancing at all times;
• pay at the pump if they need gas;
• use a drive through if they need food;
• wear a suitable mask or face covering while in transit; and,
• ensure good hygiene practices if they need to use a rest area.

Regardless of the reason for travel, anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 or have the coronavirus will be denied entry.

The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to all non-essential traffic since March 21. The border closure has been extended four times.