CSA Online by Andrew Moore-Crispin Apps to ease your way at the border COVID-19 has had a massive impact on travel. Now, as things begin to open up, discretionary cross-border travel is again possible. The travel.gc.ca site still clearly states that non-essential travel should be avoided. It leaves the door open, saying, “it is up to you to decide what “non-essential travel” means, based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with a country, territory or region, and other factors.” If you’re travelling, take and expect extra precautions. Also, expect to be thoroughly screened and allow time for all of the extra paperwork at the border. Savvy travellers can use tech tools to ease the way. On a return or visit to Canada, travellers can pre-screen and share relevant paperwork in advance, saving time and trouble at the border by registering with ArriveCAN on a computer or using the ArriveCAN mobile app for Android and iPhone. Travel into the U.S. isn’t as streamlined, at least not as far as COVID-19 pre-screening online is concerned, but the Mobile Passport Control app can still help to ease the way. While we expect longer waits at border crossings as vaccination status is confirmed and COVID-19 screenings administered, we can at least ensure that we’re not the ones holding things up when it’s our turn to speak to the border bouncers. Always check travel.gc.ca before heading out to get the latest travel information from Canadian authorities. Check ca.usembassy. gov/covid-19-information-canada/ for the latest information from the U.S. side. Also, get helpful travel tips at travel.gc.ca/travelling/ health-safety/travel-toolkit How to use the MPC app You’ll start by adding a traveller. You’ll have to take a picture of your face and then scan your passport with your phone or tablet’s camera, or enter this information manually. Next, identify the airport/port and terminal information and answer the six standard border questions: Commercial merchandise, monetary instruments more than $10,000, goods and gifts over a certain dollar value, fruits, vegetables, plants and seeds. You likely know the drill. While the MPC app doesn’t ask any COVID19 screening questions, it can cut down your wait time a little...leaving more time for the obligatory COVID-19 in-person screening. According to the U.S. embassy, all airline passengers travelling to the United States must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three days of travel. You can also provide a letter from your doctor affirming that you have recovered from COVID-19 in 90 days prior to travel. Keep your vaccination receipts handy. If you were vaccinated in Canada, just search your e-mail for “Dose Administration Receipt.” Print the receipt or save it to your phone, so that you can easily call it up when needed. Mobile Passport Control Android | iOS cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/ mobile-passport-control The Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app allows you to answer many of the standard border check questions up to four hours before you arrive. TheMPC app starts out by asking the mode of travel. Only air and cruise ship travel are accounted for so, if you’re driving, you’ll have to do things the old-fashioned way. Travelling to the U.S. 46 | www.snowbirds.org
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