Flying to the USA from Canada

[Zaraliaya 122]

So, Ive been hearing a lot of people saying Canadians can visit the US, so I looked it up and found that the border closed thing, is only LAND based.

 

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/24/2020-06217/notification-of-temporary-travel-restrictions-applicable-to-land-ports-of-entry-and-ferries-service   --3rd Paragraph from bottom

 

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1596?language=en_US   --scroll down to canadian restrictions

 

https://ca.usembassy.gov/travel-restrictions-fact-sheet/   --First question of Q&A

 

They all say we can fly there. What do you all think?

[DGF 730]

1 hour ago, Zaraliaya said:

They all say we can fly there. What do you all think?

It's up to the border officer. Some are allowing people to visit, some are sticking to the essential/non-essential thing even though it doesn't apply to air travel. If you can afford to lose the money for a flight if you are denied, I'd absolutely try it since it won't hurt your visa if you are denied entry. 

 

Personally, I'll be trying to fly as soon as I've been in Canada for long enough (that whole "as long out as in" thing is a real pain right now!)

[HRQX 4,145]

On 5/18/2020 at 4:44 PM, DGF said:

some are sticking to the essential/non-essential thing even though it doesn't apply to air travel.

Can you link some examples for air travel into the US? I could only find examples for air travel into Canada: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/05/03/canadians-with-foreign-national-spouses-face-obstacles-at-border.html "However, since April, a growing number of foreign spouses and children of Canadians have been refused admission into Canada because their travels are deemed “non-essential and optional” by Canadian border agents at airports and land border crossings, said lawyers."

[DGF 730]

2 hours ago, HRQX said:

Can you link some examples for air travel into the US? I could only find examples for air travel into Canada: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/05/03/canadians-with-foreign-national-spouses-face-obstacles-at-border.html "However, since April, a growing number of foreign spouses and children of Canadians have been refused admission into Canada because their travels are deemed “non-essential and optional” by Canadian border agents at airports and land border crossings, said lawyers."

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/apparent-loophole-in-travel-restrictions-allows-canadians-to-travel-to-u-s-1.4942108

Also a number of anecdotal stories are popping up around here and on social media of people being able to fly to the US. 

[Zaraliaya 122]

Well, I took a flight Wednesday, said I told them(airport customs) it was to visit fiance, no other reason, and I was only asked regular questions (where, why, how long, where do I work etc).

 

Nothing mentioned about essential/non-essential.

 

Guess it's up to the border guys.

I called my airport customs, and the border a day before and day of my trip, they all said it was fine. So I took the chance, and now I'm in the US until August.

 

@DGF @HRQX

[dlmb 5]

I flew from Ottawa to Pennsylvania on May 1st to visit my fiance and returned May 17. I flew American Airlines and told customs I was visiting my fiance, that I knew I had to self isolate for 14 days and that I had been working from home since Mar 24 (which I have been). On those conditions, he "granted me permission to enter the US" - his words.

 

Upon returning to Ontario last Sun, I've had one call from Public Health of Canada and 3 calls from the Ontario Ministry of Health (2 missed, 1 talked to), to ensure I was adhering to the mandatory 14 day isolation.

 

Btw, I'm in the process of K1.

Edited May 24, 2020 by dlmb
Add info

[Zaraliaya 122]

On 5/24/2020 at 9:46 AM, dlmb said:

I flew from Ottawa to Pennsylvania on May 1st to visit my fiance and returned May 17. I flew American Airlines and told customs I was visiting my fiance, that I knew I had to self isolate for 14 days and that I had been working from home since Mar 24 (which I have been). On those conditions, he "granted me permission to enter the US" - his words.

 

Upon returning to Ontario last Sun, I've had one call from Public Health of Canada and 3 calls from the Ontario Ministry of Health (2 missed, 1 talked to), to ensure I was adhering to the mandatory 14 day isolation.

 

Btw, I'm in the process of K1.

Weird, so they're only doing calls?! 

I only get back August (or earlier if embassy opens and lets me schedule my interview) but I was wondering how they actually check up on you, it's good to know.

[dlmb 5]

46 minutes ago, Zaraliaya said:

Weird, so they're only doing calls?! 

I only get back August (or earlier if embassy opens and lets me schedule my interview) but I was wondering how they actually check up on you, it's good to know.

I read a news article that stated if they can't reach you by phone, they will send the local police to your home to check on you. Don't know how many times you need to miss their call in order for them to do that though.

[HRQX 4,145]

1 hour ago, dlmb said:

I read a news article that stated if they can't reach you by phone, they will send the local police to your home to check on you. Don't know how many times you need to miss their call in order for them to do that though.

Wow. I think the only place that is stricter is Hawaii. Hawaii has enforced its quarantine with arrests:

• https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/
• https://www.khon2.com/coronavirus/arizona-woman-arrested-for-violating-quarantine-after-posting-pics-to-social-media/amp/
• https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/10948547-181/rogue-tourists-arrested-as-hawaii?view=AMP
• https://www.denverpost.com/2020/05/18/tara-trunfio-arrested-hawaii-quarantine-coronavirus/amp/
• https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/16/hawaii-tourist-new-york-arrested-coronavirus-covid19
• https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/17/breaking-news/california-man-arrested-after-sharing-hawaii-quarantine-order-violations-on-social-media/
• https://gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com/2020/05/04/honeymoon-couple-citrus-heights-arrest-hawaii/amp/

[Rachel F 25]

Has anyone tried to fly from Toronto?

 

[HRQX 4,145]

7 minutes ago, Rachel F said:

Has anyone tried to fly from Toronto?

Flying into the US is allowed:

 

[Rachel F 25]

2 minutes ago, HRQX said:

Flying into the US is allowed:

 

Sorry should have been clearer! I meant just for purposes of visiting. Not with K1 visa in hand. We’re still waiting for our NOA2 and I’ve read anecdotally of people being let through. But I just called Pearson and they said it would have to be considered essential travel to fly to the US. I am going to try calling CBP tomorrow also to see as I would like to try to fly through Toronto...

[bojek 15]

What!? I had no idea...!? 😳

 

@dlmb Is it allowed to quarantine at your fiance's home if they are okay with it and quarantine with you or are you expected to do it alone (in a hotel room or whatever)?

 

I've read on here before that crossing during the K1 process isn't that big of a deal (a while back I remember there was a lot of confusion about it but since then most people seem to say there's no problem as long as you have a return ticket and that the officer has no doubt you plan on overstaying or anything like that) 

 

I'm seriously going to look into this then...I got laid off and my fiance has been working from home for a few months.  

 

As for risking a plane ticket, you can get a voucher up to 2 hours from departure until June 30, at least with Air Canada. 

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/covid-19.html?icid=INT:INTR:covid-19:052220::banneracdotcom|caen#/ac-upcoming-booking 

 

(sorry meant to write under this but the text editor won't let me lol)

On 5/24/2020 at 10:46 AM, dlmb said:

I flew from Ottawa to Pennsylvania on May 1st to visit my fiance and returned May 17. I flew American Airlines and told customs I was visiting my fiance, that I knew I had to self isolate for 14 days and that I had been working from home since Mar 24 (which I have been). On those conditions, he "granted me permission to enter the US" - his words.

 

Upon returning to Ontario last Sun, I've had one call from Public Health of Canada and 3 calls from the Ontario Ministry of Health (2 missed, 1 talked to), to ensure I was adhering to the mandatory 14 day isolation.

 

Btw, I'm in the process of K1.

Edited May 26, 2020 by bojek

[dlmb 5]

In the US, I was able to self isolate at my fiance's. Coming back into Canada, they are much more strict. Are you flying into the US? or Canada?

 

I used American Airlines as that was the only option at the time, and it only cost me $220 US. My fiance actually lives in Catonsville, MD but flights into/out of BWI were nightmarish long.

 

Under normal circumstances, we would drive cross border to see each other. Since starting the K1 process, and before the covid, I've crossed into the US by land border 4 times. I just carry alot of documentation to prove residency in Canada should customs ask for it.

[Kimchi 190]

Do all of you traveling to the US right now have valid health insurance for the US? 
Due to the global travel advisory, basically no insurance would cover you that I have found.   So if something were to happen you would have to pay out of pocket. This is why I’m hesitant to go for now.