Many people who are involved in car accidents that seem minor walk away grateful for escaping injury, only to start experiencing pain days or even weeks later. Such delayed symptoms could present problems if the victim is a British Columbia resident who was injured during a trip across the border for a day of shopping in Seattle. Unanticipated medical expenses can adversely affect anyone's finances.
US immigration: Marijuana vs. border agents
According to Statistics Canada, over 42 million Canadians, including many from British Columbia, made overnight or same-day trips to destinations south of the border in 2017. However, with the imminent legalization of the retail marijuana market, authorities are speculating over the problems this will pose for Canadians crossing the U.S. border. Under U.S. immigration and drug laws, it is not only users of marijuana that might risk a lifetime ban on entry into the United States but also employees of that industry and investors in the marijuana sector, which is promising to be booming from the start.
A cross-border crash sent you to the hospital. How will you cope?
If you live in British Columbia, you will likely make frequent trips across the border to visit Seattle for shopping, a sporting event or some other activity as a visitor. Because Vancouver residents make these trips frequently, they sometimes forget or may take for granted that they are travelling across an international border into another country. If you suffer injuries as a victim in an auto accident on such a trip, you might have to deal with the intricacies of U.S. laws and insurance companies.
US immigration: Declared inadmissible -- what now?
There are various reasons why a Canadian citizen from British Columbia could be refused entry into the United States. However, anyone who does not require a visa under the U.S. immigration laws, and who is not approved for entry into the United States might be eligible to make an advance application for a temporary waiver of inadmissibility. However, this can be a lengthy process, and there is a substantial cost involved -- regardless of whether the application is approved.
Cross border personal injury: The intricacies of travel insurance
Many Vancouver residents take frequent trips to Seattle or other destinations south of the border. However, a significant number of those travellers neglect to take out travel insurance because such trips might be part of their frequent commutes and not seen as international travels. Cross-border personal injury or illness can have unanticipated financial consequences that might be worth considering.
