The U.S. land border is open. Here's what you need to know

It's a day many Canadians have been waiting for: When the clock struck midnight on Monday, the U.S. land border reopened to fully vaccinated Canadian travellers following a 19-month shutdown.

The United States has kept its shared land border with Canada closed to non-essential travel since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

But on Monday, the U.S. started welcoming back recreational travellers by land and passenger ferry — as long as those aged 18 and older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Younger travellers are exempt from the requirement.

Here's everything you need to know about travelling to the U.S. — and returning home.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says its border crossings will be staffed at pre-pandemic levels starting on Monday, but it warns there could be longer-than-normal wait times.

"For travellers making the trip to the United States, we ask for patience with our officers," said Matthew Davies, the executive director, admissibility and passenger programs, with CBP. "To help reduce wait times and long lines, we encourage travellers to have the correct documentation ready."

Travellers entering by land won't have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test, but they should be prepared to attest to their vaccination status and present their vaccination documentation upon request.

"We are going to ask you if you are fully vaccinated," said Jeffrey Toth, program manager with the CBP's Buffalo, N.Y., division. "You may be asked to provide proof."

U.S. immigration lawyer Len Saunders questions why the U.S. has chosen not to automatically check all travellers' vaccine documents.

"I think [it's] ripe for abuse," said Saunders, whose office sits close to the Canadian border in Blaine, Wash. "If they're requiring people to be vaccinated, how hard is it to require someone to show their vaccination card?"

CBC News asked CBP why vaccination checks would only be sporadic. The agency didn't directly respond to the question and instead said travellers' vaccine documents will be checked if they're pegged for further inspection.

If an officer discovers a traveller has no proof of vaccination, they will be denied entry to the U.S., the agency said. 

In March 2020, Canada and the U.S. agreed to close their shared land border to non-essential travel to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

It was widely assumed that when the time was right, the two countries would announce a joint reopening of the land border. But that didn't happen.