U.S., Canada Border Poised to Remain Open to All Work Visas
U.S., Canada Border Poised to Remain Open to All Work Visas
(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. and Canada are poised to allow all those with work visas to continue to cross the border, people familiar with the matter say, as the two countries hammer out details on new travel restrictions.
Both countries said Wednesday they would begin restricting non-essential travel in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. But work visas are set to be categorized as “essential,” sources familiar with the matter say.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged Thursday that measures are still being determined.
“We are working together to finalize details with our American counterparts and we expect these measures to go into effect in the night of Friday to Saturday, so in a day and a half,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.
There have been mixed messages. Trump said Wednesday that “non-essential crossings” were being suspended, and that trade will not be affected. But a State Department spokesperson, in a statement issued Thursday on condition of anonymity, said all U.S. citizens who aren’t showing any virus symptoms will continue to be able to travel to Canada. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said the countries would detail the measures soon.
The countries are set to interpret the exemption for business travel widely, two officials familiar with the talks said, and continue to allow crossings by those with work visas. The countries are focused on detailing what is banned, rather than itemizing all the categories that are allowed, one said. The intent is to ban vacations specifically, three officials said.
Trump has indicated the measure could be lifted in as few as 30 days, though public health officials are warning that various social distancing measures could remain in place for months. The office of Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading Trump’s coronavirus task force, has declined to comment since late Tuesday, when news of the restrictions broke.
Canada is the second-largest source of non-immigrant crossings into the U.S., behind Mexico.
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.