Shomporko Desk:-After Karel Bennett was turned away at the U.S. Land border among B.C. And Washington state last month, she did not quit hope of coming into the U.S. to meet her newborn grandchild.
The Canada-U.S. Land border is closed to a non-vital tour to help stop the spread of COVID-19. However, Bennett had heard rumours she might also nevertheless be capable of fly to the U.S.
She said she was first tipped off by U.S. border officers at the crossing where she was denied entry.
“They said, ‘Have you thought about flying?’ And I said, ‘Well, no,’ and they said, ‘You might want to look at that.'”
Bennett was desperate to visit her daughter, who lives just outside Seattle because her daughter’s one-month-old son was sick with a respiratory problem. So, Bennett took a chance and booked a flight from Vancouver to Seattle on May 22. This time, she had no problems getting through U.S. customs and entering the country.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” said Bennett, who lives in Sooke, B.C. “I was so happy.”
Many Canadians are unaware that, even though they’re currently barred from driving to the U.S. for leisure travel, they can still fly to the country.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told CBC News that its travel restrictions apply only to Canadians trying to enter the U.S. at land border crossings, which includes travel by car, train, ferry and pleasure boats.
However, Canadian air passengers can still enter the country as long as they haven’t visited Brazil, China, Iran, Ireland, the U.K. or 26 European countries in the Schengen Area 14 days prior.
Canadian travellers also likely won’t have to self-isolate for 14 days upon the arrival. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that international travellers do so, but it’s not a requirement unless specified by a particular region or state. For example, Hawaii requires that air passengers self-isolate for 14 days.
When Canadians return home, they must self-isolate for 14 days — as per federal rules.
