Entry at Canadian border (Toronto)

[grgr]

Hello all,

My mom needs to travel to Canada (Toronto) soon. She has a visitor visa to Canada and is a Indian citizen. She is a widow and due to her current health issues needs to spend time with me in Canada to fully recuperate (she has a doctors letter regarding her health condition). Will this be considered as an essential reason for her travel at the Canada border? FYI I am a PR.

Thank you

G

 

[Buletruck]

A few things you might want to consider:

• Handing CBSA a letter saying she has a medical condition may actually result in her being refused entry.
• If she has a medical condition that requires medical attention in Canada, she will be paying for it herself
• Mandatory negative Covid test 72 hours prior to the flight, mandatory 3 days quarantine by herself on arrival and the remaining quarantine period in isolation.

As a parent she shouldn’t need an essential reason, but you might want to think about some of the other issues that may arise.

 

[grgr]

Thank you so much for your reply. My understanding is that she would need an essential reason to enter Canada as I believe everyone needs to travel for essential reasons even if she is my mom.
She will be purchasing health insurance prior to entry. Her health issues are complications post COVID-19. Rules regarding entry and quarantine are fully understood by me but what is haunting me is whether her travel would be considered as essential. Has anyone whose parents travelled recently been questioned if travel is for essential purpose or not?
G

 

[YVR123]

Thank you so much for your reply. My understanding is that she would need an essential reason to enter Canada as I believe everyone needs to travel for essential reasons even if she is my mom.
She will be purchasing health insurance prior to entry. Her health issues are complications post COVID-19. Rules regarding entry and quarantine are fully understood by me but what is haunting me is whether her travel would be considered as essential. Has anyone whose parents travelled recently been questioned if travel is for essential purpose or not?
G

Essential purpose will allow her to travel (I think she will be OK as family memeber of a PR)
But even "essential travel" that fly in via air needs to be quaratined (3 days in hotel then 11 or 14 days after depending on provience).
She will need a negative test result to enter as well.

Most health insurnace do not cover pre-existing condition. So if the insurnace is purchased after she had COVID-19, then any issue related will not be covered.

 

[YVR123]

I just saw this
"A person who has recovered from COVID-19 and provides proof of a positive result for a COVID-19 molecular test that was taken 14 to 90 days before entry into Canada is also exempt from the on-arrival testing and hotel quarantine requirements. However, that person must still quarantine for 14 days at a location that meets the general quarantine requirements. At this time, proof of being vaccinated for COVID-19 will not exempt individuals from the new requirements. "

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/flying/covid-19-testing-travellers-coming-into-canada

 

[grgr]

Can you please clarify where you found that the hotel quarantine will not be needed in this scenario. I could not find it in the link you sent. Thanks so much!

 

[humzaparvez8]

I live in India with my wife and father and I'm applying for Canada PR with my wife but I also want my father to come with me.
So what's the procedure for the same.

 

[Naturgrl]

I live in India with my wife and father and I'm applying for Canada PR with my wife but I also want my father to come with me.
So what's the procedure for the same.

Your father can’t come with you through PR. You need to immigrate without him. In a few years if you are lucky, you may apply for parental sponsorship. It is by lottery and some people are never selected. Plan to have him visit you.

 

[canuck78]

Can you please clarify where you found that the hotel quarantine will not be needed in this scenario. I could not find it in the link you sent. Thanks so much!

The government 3 day quarantine hotel is currently not required if you arrive via land border. Arranging a new covid test in the US and waiting for a result will likely result in her having to pay for around a 3 day hotel stay in the US. The test that was done in India will likely no longer be valid once she arrives in the US. As other have pointed out travel medical insurance usually only covers emergencies that aren't a result of preexisting conditions. You can only bring 3 months of medication. Agree that if CBSA has concerns that she is in poor health and has come to recuperate in Canada she could be denied for fear that she will be a drain on the healthcare system. If she does need medication after 90 days she'll need to pay to see a physician and pay for the medication. Getting into see a specialist related to covid may be impossible due to the huge backlog and the demand by other covid patients.

 

[YVR123]

The government 3 day quarantine hotel is currently not required if you arrive via land border. Arranging a new covid test in the US and waiting for a result will likely result in her having to pay for around a 3 day hotel stay in the US. The test that was done in India will likely no longer be valid once she arrives in the US. As other have pointed out travel medical insurance usually only covers emergencies that aren't a result of preexisting conditions. You can only bring 3 months of medication. Agree that if CBSA has concerns that she is in poor health and has come to recuperate in Canada she could be denied for fear that she will be a drain on the healthcare system. If she does need medication after 90 days she'll need to pay to see a physician and pay for the medication. Getting into see a specialist related to covid may be impossible due to the huge backlog and the demand by other covid patients.

Thanks for the clarifcation. I wasn't aware that OP means LAND border. I thought he/she is flying the mother and landing in the airport in Toronto.

 

[canuck78]

Thanks for the clarifcation. I wasn't aware that OP means LAND border. I thought he/she is flying the mother and landing in the airport in Toronto.

Sorry I might be wrong. For some reason I though OP was talking about land border because of the talk of essential reasons to enter.

OP can you specify whether you mean land border or flying into Toronto?

 

[grgr]

Thanks canuck78 and YVR123 for the input. This is my scenario and I still need help:

1) My mother will be flying into Toronto.
2) She has post COVID-19 complications and the doctor has written she needs time for recuperating.
3) She wants to spend time with me in Canada to rest and recover.
4) At the border when she is asked reason for travel she will mention the above. Will this be considered as a essential reason for travel as I believe the border officer would be seeking an essential reason for travel to decide to admit her or not. I understand that she could be a strain on the system but I do not understand how post COVID-19 complications are any different for example with a person travelling with pre-existing conditions.
5) Is essential reason for travel needed for any entry into Toronto or specific mode only?

G

 

[canuck78]

Thanks canuck78 and YVR123 for the input. This is my scenario and I still need help:

1) My mother will be flying into Toronto.
2) She has post COVID-19 complications and the doctor has written she needs time for recuperating.
3) She wants to spend time with me in Canada to rest and recover.
4) At the border when she is asked reason for travel she will mention the above. Will this be considered as a essential reason for travel as I believe the border officer would be seeking an essential reason for travel to decide to admit her or not. I understand that she could be a strain on the system but I do not understand how post COVID-19 complications are any different for example with a person travelling with pre-existing conditions.
5) Is essential reason for travel needed for any entry into Toronto or specific mode only?

G

People with pre-existing condition can also be denied entry or be asked to prove that the have the funds to cover any hospital costs or have purchased an expensive insurance policy that will cover preexisting conditions. Would not suggest describing that she is planning on recovering in Canada. Your mother is arriving as a visitor and not on visa for medical purposes. She will have to do a 3 day quarantine. If she does have ongoing health issues that will likely need medical care I would be prepared because costs can end up in the tens of thousands pretty quickly. There aren't enough services for the current patients with provincial healthcare so if she wants to seek medical care in Canada it may be impossible except in acute situations or at a GP level.

 

[YVR123]

I agree with canuck78. If she is still unwell from COVID, it's better if she can stay whereever she is and get her medical attention there.
There is still no solid proof that she will not contact another strain of COVID again. And travelling is a high risk activity.
Also if she has problem breathing or other COVID complication, flying won't be the best for her.
May be you can hire help for her there and try to setup friends or relative to care for her. You will likely need to pay for all the medical cost if she is in Canada anyway (pre-existing condition is not covered and most health insurnace only cover emergency).

 

[grgr]

My mom is fit to fly as per her GP and she has a quote from the insurance as well. What I am unable to still figure out is: Is the travelling for essential purposes reasoning limited to certain sectors of travel or anybody entering Canada has to show that are flying for an essential purpose? Thanks in advance to anyone with any insight on this.