The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reminds travelers to plan ahead for their Thanksgiving weekend. The CBSA is expecting higher traffic volumes throughout the holiday weekend, particularly on Sunday, October 8 and Monday, October 9.
The Emerson port of entry is open 24/7 and has the greatest capacity to process large volumes of travelers; during peak hours all primary inspection lanes will be open and the port will be operating at maximum capacity.
Other border crossings in southern Manitoba are also expected to see higher traffic volumes on the long weekend, including: Boissevain, Winkler, Gretna, Sprague and Tolstoi.
Here are more smart crossing tips:
1. Consider crossing in the morning
Arriving at the border in the morning, rather than in the afternoon or evening, gives you the best chance of avoiding lineups. Visit the CBSA website or download the CanBorder App to monitor wait times.
2. Keep your ID handy
There’s nothing worse than the sinking feeling of not being able to find your passport. Here’s a tip: Have it out and ready well before you arrive at the border, and you’ll be well on your way to a smooth crossing. No passport? Check our website for a list of other valid travel documents.
3. Do your homework
Not sure whether an item is allowed into Canada? Save the hassle by checking before you buy it. Still not sure? Call our Border Information Service at 1-800-461-9999 (toll-free within Canada) and just ask. Keep your personal exemptions in mind, and remember to save and tally up all your receipts – an officer may ask to see them at the border.
4. Don’t sweat it
Making a full declaration is easy. When you declare any purchases or goods you’ve acquired while in the U.S. at the first opportunity, you eliminate the risk of penalties and charges.
5. Don’t take it personally
Being sent inside for further examination is no reason to panic. In fact, it’s a completely normal part of the border-crossing experience, and does not mean you have done anything wrong. You could be referred for further examination for any number of reasons, even for a random check.
