Despite Canada’s decision to open up to vaccinated Americans, today the United States extended the closure of its land borders with Canada and Mexico to non-essential travel through Sept. 21.
This means Canadians or Americans hoping to drive to the other country for a vacation will have to wait at least another month.
Land Border Closure Extended Until September 21
The United States has frequently prolonged the land border restrictions on Canada and Mexico on a month-to-month foundation since March 2020, once they have been initially imposed to handle the unfold of COVID-19.
Today, they prolonged the closure for an additional 30 days till September thirty first.
“To minimize the spread of COVID-19, including the Delta variant, the United States is extending restrictions on non-essential travel at our land and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico through September 21, while continuing to ensure the flow of essential trade and travel,” a spokesperson said to Global News.
How Is The Land Border Closure Impacting Travel?
If American travelers want to visit Canada, they will have to fly.
Despite The United States Department of State and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lowering their travel advisories for Canada to a “Level 2” this month, tourism is far from its regular numbers.
The Vancouver International Airport logged 1,958 passengers arriving from the U.S. on August. 8. On Aug. 9, that number bumped up to 2,172, then fell on Aug. 10 to 1,400, according to the Seattle Times.
But, more American travelers are expected to come.
“If current trends continue, come September, we’re estimating 15,000 passengers from the U.S. each week,” said Vancouver International Airport spokesperson Danielle Palfrey. Still, it’s a significant drop from the 123,000 U.S. visitors the airport was receiving each week in 2019.
Canadian border officers went on strike the identical week that the border opened, however regulation enforcement officers on each side of the U.S./Canada border say the wait instances to cross between the 2 international locations have been minimal, at the very least in Washington state.
In the primary few days after the border opened, Palfrey mentioned it took worldwide passengers an estimated 60-90 minutes to clear airport customs and immigration checkpoints.
Canadian border officials went on strike the same week that the border opened, but law enforcement officials on both sides of the U.S./Canada border say the wait times to cross between the two countries have been minimal, at least in Washington state.
In the first few days after the border opened, Palfrey said it took international passengers an estimated 60-90 minutes to clear airport customs and immigration checkpoints.
U.S. Has Not Lifted International Restrictions Yet Either
In addition to the extension of the land border closure, the U.S. has not but lifted restrictions on vacationers from the United Kingdom, the 26 Schengen international locations in Europe, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Iran, and Brazil.
Airline officers say it will likely be at the very least weeks and doubtlessly months earlier than any U.S. journey restrictions are lifted, citing the rising variety of instances pushed by the Delta variant, inflicting a fourth wave within the U.S.
“In coordination with public health and medical experts, DHS continues working closely with its partners across the United States and internationally to determine how to safely and sustainably resume normal travel.” the Department of Homeland Security tweeted today.
Earlier this month, the Biden Administration said they are drawing up plans to allow all foreign nationals to enter the United States if they can prove that they’ve received full vaccination.
