Massive border lineups continue into a second day as BCers head south

For the second day in a row, there are major border delays as people from BC make their way into Washington State.

And there are good reasons for people heading stateside this weekend. Not only are the Toronto Blue Jays playing several games against the Seattle Mariners, but Taylor Swift is also playing a couple of shows at Lumen Field.

The lineup on Friday was hours long, but those with Nexus enjoyed a shorter journey. Daily Hive

Friday border lineups were expected, but many were still upset about the waits. Daily Hive.

As of Saturday morning travellers are looking at an average wait time of two hours or longer.

If you’re driving from Vancouver to Seattle for the @BlueJays game – you need to be at the border now. +2 hour wait

— Glenn UImer (@GUlmer_BeerNerd) July 22, 2023

Oof! I sure hope the Blue Jay’s and Taylor Swift in Seattle are worth this mess crossing the Border. At 9am

Peace Arch: 4 Hours (Nexus 5 minutes)

Pac Hwy: 4.5 Hours (Nexus 15 minutes)

Aldergrove: 3 Hours (No Nexus)

Sumas: 3 to 4 Hours (Nexus no wait) pic.twitter.com/5saT0Y7AHX

— Brad Atchison (@Brad604) July 22, 2023

On Friday, lineups exceeded two hours for drivers crossing into the US from the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway crossings.

Just over 3 hours to get across at Pacific Border Crossing Friday afternoon. Jays fans and Swifties here we go now @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/6tDGem9b75

— Jon Kennedy (@JfkJon) July 21, 2023

Looking at the Blue Jays fans in Seattle tells me that Vancouver needs and will support a MLB team. Somebody needs to start something. Border crossing waits today were 3 hours heading to Seattle. Global News said hotel rooms in downtown Seattle we’re going for $1k

— Doug Berry (@DougBer47942055) July 22, 2023

As the lineups grew on Friday, some people with Nexus were also concerned about the waits reaching that line.

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If you have to head into the US this weekend, you’re encouraged to plan your drive south so that you’re crossing the border during the slowest times, which tend to be early mornings.

Look online to see the current US Customs and Border Protection wait times. When returning home, check the Canada Border Services Agency wait times.

If these long lines make you want to apply for Nexus, keep in mind there is still a significant backlog in processing applications in Canada.

In an email to Daily Hive, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says that as of June 1, there is a backlog of 271,479 Nexus applicants waiting for an interview.

And it appears that some took the long waits for a business opportunity by letting people bet on the over-under for hours stuck trying to cross.

“In what is expected to be one of the busiest weekends for crossing the Peace Arch border – with a perfect storm of Taylor Swift and Toronto Blue Jays fans heading south for marquee events – PlayNow.com is offering the chance to bet on just how long the wait will be,” the betting company said Friday.

“British Columbians can bet on if the longest posted wait time to cross southbound at the Peace Arch border will be over or under 179.5 minutes (2 hours, 59.5 minutes) on Saturday, July 22,” it wrote. However, if you didn’t get your bet in by Friday night, you’re out of luck – as it has since closed.

With files from Daily Hive Staff