U.S. plans to lift land border restrictions on Canada, Mexico for vaccinated visitors

Visitors from Canada and Mexico who are vaccinated will be able to drive into the United States for tourism and other nonessential travel again starting next month, when the rules for international air travel are also set to change.

The new rules for foreign nationals entering by land are expected to be implemented in early November and will go into effect in two phases. A vaccination requirement will go into effect for nonessential travelers next month, while truck drivers and other individuals who cross U.S. borders for work will have until January to be vaccinated.

“We understand how valuable the cross-border travel from Canada and Mexico is to the economic activity in border communities and to our broader economy,” a senior U.S. official said on a call with reporters. “And we also know how meaningful the ability to travel is to maintain the personal ties between people living on either side of the northern and southern U.S. borders, who are often effectively members of one community.”

The United States has restricted travel across its borders with Canada and Mexico for about 19 months. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic only travel that was deemed urgent or essential has been allowed.

Canada lifted similar restrictions on vaccinated Americans in early August, putting pressure on the United States to open its borders.

President Joe Biden’s administration announced new rules for international air travel last month. Foreign nationals traveling to the United States by air will be required to provide proof of vaccination and a negative coronavirus test before they leave, unless they have received an exemption.

Officials said they wanted to have a “consistent” policy for cross-border travel by land and air.

But unlike air travel, individuals coming to the United States through land ports of entry will not be required to present a negative COVID-19 test.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers will question individuals seeking to enter the country at the land port of entry about their vaccination status and it will be up to each agent’s discretion to send non-essential travelers to a secondary check where they will be asked to present proof of vaccination.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be “seeking attestations of vaccination status and spot checking travelers for verification of status, either via paper or digital means,” one official said.

“CBP does this every day for everything they check for, so we’re just keeping with their normal business rules,” the official added.

Current restrictions on the land border are set to expire on Oct. 21, but officials said they will be maintained until the exemption for fully vaccinated tourists and other nonessential visitors is in place.

Individuals who enter the country illegally will continue to be subject to expulsion, an official said, adding that “there’s a strong public health basis” for that policy.

WHICH VACCINES COUNT?

The Department of Homeland Security has not made a final determination on which vaccines it will accept, but it is likely to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s lead, the officials said.

The CDC told airlines last week that vaccines approved by the World Health Organization for use, including the AstraZeneca shot, can be used for air travel, even if they have not been authorized for use in the United States.

The agency is expected to make a decision about how individuals can provide proper proof of vaccination in the next couple of days, an official said.

WARREN STERLING The Bellingham Herald Cars line up while waiting to enter Canada from the United States in August at the Peace Arch Park border crossing in Blaine, Washington. The U.S. has restricted travel at the Canada and Mexico borders since the COVID-19 pandemic began.