New booth at Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle to expedite traveller processing

MONTREAL, July 14 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has added an extra lane to process travellers at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing. The eighth lane, open since the start of the 2010 summer season, has been added to the six regular lanes and the lane reserved for NEXUS travellers. As the main port of entry between Quebec and New York State and the northeastern United States, the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing processes over two million travellers each year, with an average of 525,000 travellers in July and August alone.

A few tips for travellers planning to cross the border

The CBSA suggests that you avoid travelling during peak periods such as weekend afternoons and the last Sunday of the construction holidays. You can consult border wait times on the CBSA Web site at www.cbsa.gc.ca, or on your cell phone at wap.gc.ca or www.gc.ca. You can also follow border wait times for Canada bound traffic on Twitter for the:

    
    - Stanstead, Quebec / Derby Line, Vermont crossing at
      http://twitter.com/search?q=%23CBSA_STD;
    - St-Armand, Quebec / Highgate Springs, Vermont crossing at
      http://twitter.com/No.search?q=%23CBSA_SAP; and the
    - Lacolle, Quebec / Champlain, New York crossing at
      http://twitter.com/search?q=%23CBSA_SBL.
    

The CBSA would like to remind travellers of the importance of bringing the appropriate identity documents. Since June 1, 2009, Canadian citizens who want to enter the US by land or sea must present a valid passport, a NEXUS card or a Driver's Licence Plus. CBSA officers watch closely for missing children. Parents who share legal custody of their children must have copies of the relevant legal documents, such as those describing custody rights.

You must declare all merchandise you have bought and have all your receipts on hand. CBSA officers may ask you to show receipts for the goods you have purchased and your hotel receipts to verify the length of your stay outside Canada. To avoid unnecessary delays, keep all receipts together and ensure they are readily available.

For further information: media: Communications Division, Quebec Region, 514-350-6130