U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released enforcement details of the border vaccination mandate coming into effect at 12:00 am EST on January 22, indicating all Canadian drivers must carry paper or digital proof of vaccination documents for verbal attestation at primary, and possible random checks at secondary inspection when required.
The full CBP release can be reviewed here.
CBP officials confirmed that carrying paper documents, whether provincial or pan Canadian, is acceptable. Digital documents stored electronically, such as on a personal phone, will also be accepted.
Further details including what the U.S. considers to be “fully vaccinated” accepted vaccines and other related questions can be referenced on CBP’s FAQ document for more information.
CBP also confirmed that if a driver arrives at the U.S. border and is not in compliance with the mandate, or cannot provide proof of vaccination when requested, they could be subject to the following actions:
- The withdrawal of admission or the refusal of entry into the U.S., including having their truck returned to Canada;
- An appearance before an immigration judge in court, leading to penalties, including deportation or being barred from entry into the U.S. permanently.
CBP also stated their intent is to ensure that ports of entry are not congested with traffic, and they will continue to facilitate the movement of trade, which is critical to the cross-border economy.
Members who have additional questions about the US requirements can reach out to operations_safety@cantruck.ca