The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Canadian Border Services Agency are adjusting the hours of operation for 38 border crossing ports of entry along the U.S. northern border, beginning at midnight, Jan. 6, 2025.

Some of the border crossings listed below are already operating at these hours and this announcement just makes these hours permanent. Others are getting entry expanded hours and a small number of ports will see reduced hours. Many of these changes bring the U.S. and Canadian port hours of operation into alignment.

Washington Ports / British Columbia with New Hours of Operation

• Metaline Falls / Nelway. Both the U.S. and Canadian ports will operate to 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 7 days a week.
• Laurier / Cascade Both the U.S. and Canadian ports will operate 8 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week.

Montana Ports with New Hours of Operation

• Scobey will expand its operating hours: 8 a.m.-9 p.m., June 1 to Sept. 15 and 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sept. 16 to May 31
• Opheim and West Poplar River
  • The U.S. port at Opheim will expand its operating hours to 9 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days a week.
  • The Canadian Port at West Poplar River
    • Travellers (7 days a week)
    • 9 am to 5 pm, second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November
    • 10 am to 6 pm, remainder of the year
    • Commercial (Monday to Friday, except holidays)
    • 9 am to 5 pm, second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November
    • 10 am to 5 pm, remainder of the year
• Del Bonita Both the U.S. and Canadian ports will operate 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 7 days per week.
• Morgan and Monchy
  • The U.S. port will permanently maintain current hours of 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday
  • The Canadian Port will operate for travelers Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm,  second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November and 10 am to 6 pm, remainder of the year
  • Commercial services at the Canadian port will be available Monday to Friday, except holidays 9 am to 5pm, second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November and 10 am to 5 pm, remainder of the year

North Dakota Ports with New Hours of Operation

• Fortuna and Oungre
  • The U.S. port will expand its operating hours to 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • The Canadian port will operate 7 days a week 8 am to 6 pm, second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November and 9 am to 7 pm, remainder of the year
• Neche and Gretna will expand its operating hours to 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 7 days a week.
• Noonan and Estevan Highway
  • The U.S. port will expand its operating hours to 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • The Canadian port will operate 7 days a week 8 am to 6 pm,  second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November and 9 am to 7 pm,  remainder of the year
• Walhalla and Winkler will expand its operating hours to 8 a.m.-8 p.m., 7 days a week
• Carbury and Goodlands will permanently maintain current hours of 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week
• Maida / Windygates will permanently maintain current hours of 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 7 days a week.
• Northgate
  • The U.S. port will permanently maintain current hours of 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • The Canadian port will be open for travelers 7 days a week 8 am to 4 pm the second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November and 9 am to 5 pm, remainder of the year
  • Commercial Services will be available Monday to Friday, except holidays 8 am to 4 pm, second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November and 9 am to 5 pm, remainder of the year
• St. John and Lena will permanently maintain current hours of 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 7 days a week. Commercial hours  8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday (except holidays)
• Sherwood and Carievale 
  • The U.S. port will permanently maintain current hours of 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • The Canadian port will operate 7 days a week 8 am to  6 pm, second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November and from 9 am to 7 pm, remainder of the year
• Westhope and Coulter Both the U.S. and Canadian ports will operate from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 7 days a week. Commercial traffic at the Canadian port will operate 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday (except holidays).
• Hansboro / Cartwright Both the U.S. and Canadian ports will operate from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 7 days a week
• Hannah / Snowflake will continue to operate from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week
• Sarles / Crystal City will continue to operate from 9 a.m-5 p.m., 7 days a week
• Antler will expand its operating hours temporarily for 120 days to 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

Minnesota Ports with New Hours of Operation

• Lancaster / Tolstoi will permanently maintain current hours of 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 7 days a week.

New York State Ports with New Hours of Operation

• Chateauguay and Herman will reduce their operating hours from 24 hours to 6 a.m.-6 p.m., 7 days a week.
• Overton Corners Lacolle Route 221 will reduce their operating hours from 24 hours to 6 a.m.-10 p.m.7 days a week.
• Rouses Point and Lacolle Route 223 will reduce their operating hours from 24 hours to 8 a.m.-8 p.m., 7 days a week.
• Trout River will reduce its operating hours from 24 hours to 6 a.m.-6 p.m.      
• Pinecreek / Piney will permanently operate from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 7 days a week.
• Roseau / South Junction will continue to operate from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., 7 days a week. 

Vermont Ports with New Hours of Operation

• Alburg and Noyan (joint port) will reduce its operating hours to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 7 days a week.
• Canaan / Hereford Road will reduce their hours of operation to 8 a.m.-8 p.m., 7 days a week
• North Troy and Highwater ports will reduce their hours of operation to 8 a.m.-8 p.m., 7 days a week.
• West Berkshire and Frelighsburg will reduce their operating hours 8 a.m.-8 p.m., 7 days a week
• Alburg Springs and Clarenceville will permanently maintain current hours of 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 7 days a week
• Derby Line (Route 5) and Stanstead Stan will permanently maintain current hours of 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

New Hampshire Ports with New Hours of Operation

• Pittsburg / Chartierville will permanently maintain current hours of 8 a.m.-8 p.m., 7 days a week.

Maine Border Crossings Operating Hours aligning with Canadian Hours

• Limestone and Gillespie Portage will continue to operate from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. 7 days a week.
• Orient and Fosterville
  • The U.S. port will will continue to operate 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the remainder of the year.
  • The Canadian port at Fosterville will be open 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm, last Monday of May to first Monday of September, and 8 am to 6 pm, remainder of the year
  • Commercial services at the Canadian port will be available 7 days a week 8 am to 8 pm, last Monday of May to first Monday of September and 8 am to 6 pm, remainder of the year.
• Vanceboro and Saint Croix Border Crossing
  • The U.S. Port at Vanceboro will continue to operate 8 a.m.-8 p.m., 7 days a week
  • The Canadian Saint Croix Port Travellers: 9 am to 9 pm, 7 days a week. Canadian commercial services will be available 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday
• Monticello and Bloomfield will maintain their current operating hours, 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday. Closed Canadian and U.S. holidays. Commercial traffic:  9 am to 5 pm,  Monday to Friday. Closed Canadian and U.S. holidays.

Update 7/4/24: CBSA workers ratified a new agreement and any strike action has been avoided. The 4 year agreement expires in June of 2016.

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If Canadian Border Agents and the government of Canada cannot reach agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement by Tuesday June 12th traffic entering Canada could slow to a crawl.

This does not mean the border will close. Most front-line Border Services Officers are considered to be performing essential services and they must continue to provide uninterrupted border services to protect the safety and security of the public.

However, what they can do is something called “Work-to-rule”. This means that they can follow the exact letter of the law on all rules and regulations in order to slow down traffic. If border agents begin to apply all of the rules within their discretion — such as asking every possible question to each vehicle, impounding vehicles and checking luggage without a search warrant – border wait times will skyrocket. As part of this action, they will not answer questions from travelers about border regulations and will not collect duties or taxes that are owed. This action will have an immediate impact on travelers – especially trucks.

This strike action will impact airports, land borders, commercial shipping ports, postal facilities and headquarters locations. 

The last time this happened – in 2022 – the impact was severe.

CBSA Strike Impact on Land Ports of Entry

Peak period delays as long as 4 hours were common at major land border crossings between the U.S. and Canada because of the strike action. High volume ports saw backups lines as long as 5 miles. Be sure to check the real-time traffic reports for the port of entry you are going to use so you are prepared for the delays you may face.

In 2022, border officials asked travelers in personal vehicles the full list of questions from their manuals. This can easily take 5 minutes per vehicle rather than the normal 30 seconds. Be prepared for the border inspection! These questions will include things like whether you have been convicted of a crime, whether you have alcohol, tobacco, food, plants, or animals in the vehicle. You will be asked about the amount of currency you’re carrying. Review our border crossing checklist so you are fully prepared when you arrive at the border.

If you shopped across the border you should expect to have all of your receipts checked closely to ensure you comply with personal exemption limits. If you are travelling with pets, you will most likely be sent for a secondary inspection to examine the animal and all of their health records.

Commercial truckers should be prepared for much longer than normal processing times as Customs officials work through every detail of their checklists.

Airports – Strike Impact on Departing and Arriving Passengers Wait Times

Screening protocols at airports significantly lengthened processing time. If this occurs you should leave for the airport earlier than usual so you arrive with enough time to deal with the longer lines you will face. You should be prepared to answer many more questions than you normally would at security and Customs.

If you are arriving from an international flight you should be prepared for waits as long as 3 hours at Customs and Passport Control as all passengers will be asked the full list of available questions. You may be moved to a holding area if the Customs area is full.

We will update this post with new information as the effects on the border become clear. 

 The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will temporarily suspend operations at the Alburg, Vermont border crossing while they perform site renovation and upgrades. The port will be closed for 45 days beginning on September 15. The project will include renovations of facilities, installation of port hardening equipment and the resurfacing of the primary passenger and truck lanes.

The two closest ports that you can use as an alternative are:

• Highgate Springs Port of Entry – approximately 25 miles away and operates 24/7.
• Champlain, NY Port of Entry – approximately 15 miles away and operates 24/7.