Reduced Travel Restrictions for Relatives of Canadians and PRs

Recently, the government announced that “immediate family members” of Canadians and Canadian permanent residents will be exempt from the prohibition on entry to Canada if they are coming to be with their Canadian or PR family member for at least 15 days. This will hopefully serve to reduce the uncertainty many have faced since measures under the Quarantine Act came into force at the end of March, prohibiting entry to Canada for optional and discretionary purposes.

Family members seeking to reunite with Canadian spouses, children and parents have up to now been often subject to an assessment by airlines and Canada Border Services Agency personnel about whether they were entering for an “essential purpose.” While ordinary rules regarding entry to Canada will still apply, this latest announcement should mean that those who can demonstrate they are coming to reunite for a period of at least 15 days may do so without having to demonstrate an “essential purpose.”

“This article is intended to inform. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon by readers as such. If you require legal assistance, please see a lawyer. Each case is unique and a lawyer with good training and sound judgment can provide you with advice tailored to your specific situation and needs.”

Posted onMarch 20, 2020June 16, 2020/ Maya Krishnaratne

CBSA Watchdog with No Teeth?

A report commissioned by Public Safety Canada came to light earlier this year, urging the government to put in place an independent body to review complaints against and make recommendations to the Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The new “Canada Law Enforcement Review Commission” would have the ability to initiate [...]

Posted onOctober 23, 2018June 16, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP

Update: “Taking the High Road” – Crossing the Canada/US Border following the Legalization of Cannabis

In our previous blog post, we discussed the serious implications of cannabis affiliation at the U.S. Border. With the very recent legalization of cannabis, this topic has also made headlines. Many Canadians are concerned that they will be banned for life from the U.S. if they admit to smoking cannabis, presently, or in years past. [...]

Posted onAugust 21, 2018June 16, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP

Taking the High Road: Canadians Crossing the US Border

Many of our readers may be pleased about the soon-to-be legalization of marijuana. These same readers may find themselves feeling slightly relieved, as gone are the days where smoking pot also meant breaking the law. Right? Wrong. Although cannabis is about to become legal in Canada, there are still many important legalities that must be [...]

Posted onSeptember 12, 2017June 18, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP

CBSA Arrests 2, Recovers 273kg of Cocaine in Sailboat at Nova Scotia Harbour

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers found approximately 273kg of cocaine on board a 29 foot boat, calling it “unusual” that such a small vessel had that much of a load. This is not the first seizure that the CBSA has seen in Nova Scotia, and it won’t be the last. The second most significant [...]

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