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CBSA hoping to ease waits for cross-border shoppers

Nov 21, 2017 | 10:26 AM

LETHBRIDGE – The lure of the “Black Friday” deals may once again draw some Canadians south this week.

In recent years the day after American Thanksgiving has seen retailers pour on the bargains, hoping to attract people enjoying a four-day weekend south of the border. Canadian businesses have responded with special sales in an effort to keep those dollars at home.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said travellers should be aware of the possibility of a wait when re-entering the country.

“Long weekends, as well as other events such as Black Friday, tend to result in some of the largest volumes of crossers during the year,” Luke Reimer, a communications officer with CBSA, said in an interview. He said the Black Friday weekend saw approximately 2,200 vehicles processed at the Coutts port of entry in 2016.

Reimer encourages Albertans to use the port of entry at Coutts, which is open 24/7 and has the largest processing capacity.

“We also recommend crossing in the morning if you’re planning to stay overnight, because those are some of the lowest volume times, traditionally,” he added. Travellers should have their passports ready. When buying gifts, shoppers are encouraged to leave items unwrapped, or face the possibility of having them unwrapped by customs agents.

Canadians who stay in the U.S. for at least 48 hours can bring back up to $800 in merchandise duty-free, $200 after a 24-hour stay. Same day travellers do not get an exemption and must pay duty and taxes.

“One of the most common errors that we see at the border is travellers failing to declare or make an incomplete declaration of what they’re bringing in or what they’ve purchased abroad,” Reimer explained. He said all goods must be declared, as well as any vehicle repairs.

Travellers can check wait times for major ports of entry, including Coutts, on CBSA’s website or with the CanBorder app