The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently released an updated notice regarding the Beyond the Border (BTB) Entry/Exit Program with Canada.
The BTB program was created to expand CBP’s mission of protecting the U.S. borders while facilitating legitimate travel and trade.   The BTB program is divided into three phases:

  1. Phase 1 was a 90-day pilot program that tested the ability of DHS/CBP to match existing entry data to data received by the Canada Border Service.  This phase is now completed and all the information received from the Canada Border Service has been destroyed.
  2. Phase 2 is the current phase.  Here, the U.S. and Canada will exchange border crossing information about 3rd-country nationals, Permanent Residents of Canada, and Lawful Permanent Residents of the U.S. at all automated land border ports of entry.  In this phase, CBP will not share information regarding U.S. or Canadian citizens, asylees, refugees, or individuals who are protected by the U.S. government victim protection program (such as T, U, or VAWA visas).
  3. Phase 3 is planned to allow the exchange of data between CBP and Canada Border Service for U.S. Citizens entering the U.S. and Canadian Citizens entering Canada at any land port of entry.  This shared border crossing information will assist both countries in creating one record for border entry and exit.  This means that that the record of an entry into one country will establish an exit record from the other.  This final phase will support both countries in their immigration missions and facilitate cross-border travel.

Berardi Immigration Law is experienced with border crossings and all the nuisances therein.  Please contact us today in order to cross the border with confidence.