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This happened yesterday at Portal, ND POE: I filed e-safe application for client in morning - received payment receipt, along with file print out showing created, signed, and paid. 4 hours later, client was at Portal, ND - where he was told there is no record of his file, and they were unable to access it - even with all the file number, transaction number, and receipt. I don't understand why this occurred, as I was able to access file, no problems.
No idea, why Customs could not access his file??? They told him to give it 4 days and come back. Previously to this, I had sent clients same day as filing the e-safe and there were no problems.
Lesson learned: I will no longer send people to Customs same day, as filing E-safe; Unfortunately, the trip to Portal was a waste of time and money for my client, to which they were rightfully upset.
Moving forward:
I will advise people to wait a minimum of 4 days between filing the e-safe and going to border.
I also suggest calling the border first to see if the e-safe file is available. Especially for the travel time required to go to Customs. North Portal is 4 hours from my office, and Sweet Grass in Alberta is 7 to 8 hours from Edmonton. So you will want to check it out first.
For those of you doing it on your own - this may save you time and money. This might also be why Sweet Grass is appointment only.
John, any experiences like this? Anyone else?
Thanks!
@Magnus, I have only dealt with 2 - Portal, ND and Sweet Grass, MT - Sweet Grass was very polite to my client, and they were there about 1 hour. They seem to have dedicated people to this. You have to call Sweet Grass to arrange an appointment time, so they are prepared when you show up. Portal, ND is no appointment and it has been both good and bad. I have sent approximately 25 to 30 people to Portal, so they are familiar with the process by now. LOL..
Yes, I had a client come from Montreal once. He came and finished the waiver, and wanted to go the next day. I then quickly finished his file before I left that day, and paid, just before 5 pm. He went for a 9am appointment, and the file was not there. He rescheduled for the next day, and it was there. The guys at the border told him it takes around 24 hours to be available. I always tell the clients, give it a full 24 hours, just to be sure. That being said, Niagara Falls is only 1.5 hours from Brampton, so not as bad as your drive.
I would simply tell the people to wait a full 24 hours from payment, and you will be fine.
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