I have posed this question to the Pacific Highway Border in Surrey around June 24 since we have some truck drivers that need to cross the border to retrieve commercial goods. They told me that they will still not take any waiver applications whether the person is an essential worker or not. They said that the workers will still have to wait until the border is accepting applications again. Also, I might add that the border actually accepted a TN Visa application on a client literally a day or 2 before they switched over to the USMCA agreement.

[ K Scott appended this reply on July 4, 2020 @ 1:50 pm ]

I also wish to add that we have a client that did not listen and decided to drive to the border with his waiver packet in May and tried to file anyway. He said that they yelled at him and told him to go back to Canada. I think I had previously posted this before in another room before. So keep this in mind that they may still so no since unquestionably I cannot see how they would say yes in person if they say no over the phone.

Also, note that the trick about telling them that you are just there to ask a question will not necessarily always protect you. An example is that a first-time caller told us that he did this very thing at the Sumas border and tried to use this defence. Unfortunately, the guards tricked him by asking him if he would enter if they said yes and he affirmed that he would. They then asked him if he wanted to enter at that moment and he said yes. Then he ended up getting a 5-year ban for unlawfully trying to seek entry to the USA.

So just keep this in mind for anyone that tries to attend a land border and is not an essential worker. Obviously being an essential worker is different though. The safe way is always to call and see what they say since they can do very little to you over the phone.

@Terry

I assume you are in shipping here on the Great Lakes?

My advice would be to drive to Niagara Falls and ASK them in person if they will take your waiver. People who have called have been told "no", but no one has appeared in person and asked since June 21.

If you tell them you are here "Not to cross, but to see if you will accept my waiver", they will not penalize you.

Asked several borders not sure But you can try they don’t know if or when it may be processed Or if I may be turned around I don’t want to jeopardize my waiver

Terry, okay, sounds like an interesting job. Have you been able to contact US Customs and ask if they will accept your paperwork as an essential worker?

Yes I travel to USA by boat on the Great Lakes delivering dry goods no work permit is needed ship is in port 8 to 10 hrs

@Terry, I don't think there are any exceptions for essential workers to deliver their paperwork. Just curious, does your work require you to travel to the USA? If so, are you applying for a work permit also?