On Monday, Canada opened its border to fully inoculated U.S. visitors, hoping that tourism hotspots and border towns that businesses affected severely by the coronavirus pandemic would get a helping hand from out-of-country travelers before summer’s end.

Several US people said that they intended to cross the border at their first opportunity to bring together with romantic partners they’ve not seen in over twelve months. Others alleged that they would move to vacation homes they own in the “land of maple leaf” or visit relatives and friends living on the other side of the borderline.

Again, this bridge scene—entering Canada from Niagara Falls, NY, is something unseen for more than 500 days. Also, I’ve covered border stories for 30+ years. Never had this view. Had to negotiate for permission, of course. pic.twitter.com/7zxGH1iB3R

— 𝚂𝚎á𝚗 𝙾’𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚊 (@ConsumerSOS) August 9, 2021

Canada lifted its bans on US people crossing the border after around sixteen months to vacation, shop, or visit while the U.S. maintains similar limitations for Canadian people, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from coronavirus-related travel restrictions.

American legal residents must be fully immunized and tested negative for coronavirus disease within 72 hours to get across one of the longest and busiest land crossings worldwide. Moreover, Canadian authorities cautioned they wouldn’t sacrifice safety and protection for shorter border waits. Visitors must use the “ArriveCAN” application to enter Canada.

On the very first morning that American citizens were permitted to reach Canada again, it was slow going in the tiny bordered incorporated village in the town of Derby, Orleans County, Vermont.

“it was so easy to go to Canada before”

In Washington D.C., at the Peace Arch Canada-US Border Crossing and Historical State Park, three lanes of Washington state-licensed plates vehicles waited to cross the border on early Monday. And wait times were nearly half an hour at 11:00 AM.

People said that friends crossed the border at 01:00 AM on Monday and waited about two hours and that border agents carefully inspected everyone’s COVID-19-test results, immunization certificates, and personal identification. Before the pandemic, to take a break from rural surroundings in Washington state, these people used to travel to Canada weekly to enjoy city life in British Columbia, Vancouver. Wendy Chen, a U.S. resident living near the park, said that it was too easy to go to Canada before.

Since March last year, the United States-Canada border crossing has been shut to non-essential trips to curb the coronavirus spread. America has stated that it would extend its closure to Canadian people making unnecessary travel until at least 21st August, which also applies to the U.S.-Mexican border crossing.

However, the Joe Biden government is starting to make plans for a staged re-opening. The primary requirement would be that about all foreign travelers to America would have to be immunized. But Canadian people are not awaiting equal rules.