Planning to drive to Canada (from United States) - to write Citizenship test - any experiences?

[mandhaata]

We are September 2019 applicants and received our Test Invites today.


We are in US right now on work VISA and we plan to drive to Canada to write the citizenship test.

Does someone know if we can plan to stay in Canada for only 1 night (just to write the tests from Hotel) and drive back to US?
Is that even possible with the COVID restrictions in place?

Will Canada allow us to leave after 1 day of hotel stay (without completing the 10/13 day quarantine)?
Is US allowing re-entry for VISA workers?

Any guidance or experience that someone can share?

 

[Mexontario]

I personally have not experienced and dont know who did. But I can tell that you need a negative pcr covid test to enter canada (even by road) and have a plan to quarantine for 14 days. You will be tested at the port of entry again and will be given a test kit to test yourselves on the 10th day of quarantine. It will be picked up by the local health unit and they will be in contact daily to monitor your quarantine. Without a 14 day quarantine plan, you may have tough time with CBSA officer. There are fines for not complying with theses rules. Being a PR, they cannot deny you entry, however, you may be forced to stay for the duration of quarantine. Best is to call CBSA and find out more details.

Is US allowing re-entry for VISA workers?

Yes, no issues going back. It has to be a work visa, not a visitor/business visa.

 

[canuck78]

We are September 2019 applicants and received our Test Invites today.


We are in US right now on work VISA and we plan to drive to Canada to write the citizenship test.

Does someone know if we can plan to stay in Canada for only 1 night (just to write the tests from Hotel) and drive back to US?
Is that even possible with the COVID restrictions in place?

Will Canada allow us to leave after 1 day of hotel stay (without completing the 10/13 day quarantine)?
Is US allowing re-entry for VISA workers?

Any guidance or experience that someone can share?

You are only supposed to enter Canada if you are staying over 15 days.

 

[Scott_Chegg1]

We are September 2019 applicants and received our Test Invites today.


We are in US right now on work VISA and we plan to drive to Canada to write the citizenship test.

Does someone know if we can plan to stay in Canada for only 1 night (just to write the tests from Hotel) and drive back to US?
Is that even possible with the COVID restrictions in place?

Will Canada allow us to leave after 1 day of hotel stay (without completing the 10/13 day quarantine)?
Is US allowing re-entry for VISA workers?

Any guidance or experience that someone can share?

I just had a friend (Canadian citizen) return from the States over a land border. They had a negative covid test done within 72 hours of returning. The test they had done in the states at a registered clinic wasn't accepted by the Border Agents.

They were told to take a new Covid test on the spot and had to report to a quarantine hotel immediately and be tested over the next three days and that they had to remain there. Afterwards, they had to self isolate for 14 days. This applies to all non-essential workers.

They refused the test and to go to the hotel as directed. There were no if's and's or but's - you either go to the hotel and self isolate for 14 days or get fined. There was no option to return to the states and she had to remain in Canada until their isolation was complete.

As a result, she was fined $5,335.00 and is now being monitored by the Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments.

Do a lot of research before you show up at the border or it could be a very expensive proposition as well as affecting your application as any fine will be on your record and may be detrimental to your application.

 

[harirajmohan]

We are September 2019 applicants and received our Test Invites today.


We are in US right now on work VISA and we plan to drive to Canada to write the citizenship test.

Does someone know if we can plan to stay in Canada for only 1 night (just to write the tests from Hotel) and drive back to US?
Is that even possible with the COVID restrictions in place?

Will Canada allow us to leave after 1 day of hotel stay (without completing the 10/13 day quarantine)?
Is US allowing re-entry for VISA workers?

Any guidance or experience that someone can share?

Any personal travel, its mandatory negative covid test and quarantine. No exemption even for residents of Canada hence plan for the covid test result before you come and plan for the quarantine with hotel booking or friend's address.

Even residents are being returned to US(literally making U turn at cbsa customs office) to get the test in US, if traveler arrived without covid test results.

You can only break quarantine for work related but you can ask the officer if you can return next/same day after the test to continue your work in US but plan for worse case 14 days stay.

 

[canuck78]

I just had a friend (Canadian citizen) return from the States over a land border. They had a negative covid test done within 72 hours of returning. The test they had done in the states at a registered clinic wasn't accepted by the Border Agents.

They were told to take a new Covid test on the spot and had to report to a quarantine hotel immediately and be tested over the next three days and that they had to remain there. Afterwards, they had to self isolate for 14 days. This applies to all non-essential workers.

They refused the test and to go to the hotel as directed. There were no if's and's or but's - you either go to the hotel and self isolate for 14 days or get fined. There was no option to return to the states and she had to remain in Canada until their isolation was complete.

As a result, she was fined $5,335.00 and is now being monitored by the Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments.

Do a lot of research before you show up at the border or it could be a very expensive proposition as well as affecting your application as any fine will be on your record and may be detrimental to your application.

They likely took a rapid test in the US which isn't on the list of permitted tests. If there weren't expensive fines people wouldn't take quarantine seriously.

 

[canuck78]

Any personal travel, its mandatory negative covid test and quarantine. No exemption even for residents of Canada hence plan for the covid test result before you come and plan for the quarantine with hotel booking or friend's address.

Even residents are being returned to US(literally making U turn at cbsa customs office) to get the test in US, if traveler arrived without covid test results.

You can only break quarantine for work related but you can ask the officer if you can return next/same day after the test to continue your work in US but plan for worse case 14 days stay.

When travelling into Canada for a single visit I wouldn't count on being excused from quarantine for work. If you give your friend's address they also must have an appropriate quarantine location for you like a basement suite where you can remain isolated for 14 days.

 

[sr5095]

You can leave before 14 days

You may choose to leave Canada before the end of the 14-day quarantine period. However, you must:

continue to quarantine yourself until your departure date
wear a mask when you depart Canada
comply with all regulations for the country of destination
You must use a private vehicle to depart Canada. You will not be allowed to board a flight if you are currently under a quarantine order.

If you are in a federal designated quarantine facility, you must get authorization from a quarantine officer to leave

 

[sr5095]

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/isolation

 

[mandhaata]

You can leave before 14 days

You may choose to leave Canada before the end of the 14-day quarantine period. However, you must:

continue to quarantine yourself until your departure date
wear a mask when you depart Canada
comply with all regulations for the country of destination
You must use a private vehicle to depart Canada. You will not be allowed to board a flight if you are currently under a quarantine order.

If you are in a federal designated quarantine facility, you must get authorization from a quarantine officer to leave

Would you know if someone used this option? I am also leaning towards this option.
Just want to know if there is someone who has had a first hand experience to share.

 

[sr5095]

Would you know if someone used this option? I am also leaning towards this option.
Just want to know if there is someone who has had a first hand experience to share.

Not that I know of but I would recommend to book a Motel for as many days as you plan. Talk to the motel management that you will be self isolating so you dont need any room service. Ask them to arrange to have the food delivered outside your door. I dont see why CBSA would have a problem with it. Ask them to call the motel if they want. A motel would be a better option than a hotel for self isolating

 

[Copingwithlife]

We are September 2019 applicants and received our Test Invites today.


We are in US right now on work VISA and we plan to drive to Canada to write the citizenship test.

Does someone know if we can plan to stay in Canada for only 1 night (just to write the tests from Hotel) and drive back to US?
Is that even possible with the COVID restrictions in place?

Will Canada allow us to leave after 1 day of hotel stay (without completing the 10/13 day quarantine)?
Is US allowing re-entry for VISA workers?

Any guidance or experience that someone can share?

I don’t think if you’re carrying the virus it’ll care if you’re in the country to write the citizenship test or not , being whether you’re contagious or not . Maybe someone in the scientific community can chime in . Would the virus take into account , whether or not someone can transmit it too others , if they are in the country to take the citizenship test ?

 

[Scott_Chegg1]

They likely took a rapid test in the US which isn't on the list of permitted tests. If there weren't expensive fines people wouldn't take quarantine seriously.

I don't know if it was a rapid test, being a non-American and not using health insurance it was the only available option for them in the States. They tried several clinics and Dr. Surgeries.

The Border Agency is, quite rightly, taking this very seriously and are not accepting excuses of any kind.

Spouting out legal mumbo jumbo that you were told to use on social media just makes your situation worse as my friend is finding out.