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Longer Wait Times at Canada-U.S. Border in Quebec Due to Asylum Seekers
Travelers returning to Canada from the United States faced longer wait times at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing in Quebec on Sunday afternoons in June 2025. This was primarily due to a significant increase in asylum claimants at this border point.
Statistics Canada reported a decrease in road traffic between Canada and the United States, with 33% fewer Canadians crossing the border to return home by car compared to the same period last year. However, despite the overall lower traffic, delays were observed at various Quebec entry points.
On Sunday evening, wait times at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing reached up to 1 hour and 35 minutes, while delays of up to 40 minutes were also observed at other Quebec entry points, including the Lacolle side on Route 221. Earlier in the day, around 3 PM, wait times were already 50 minutes at Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, 30 minutes at Lacolle (221), and 20 minutes at Saint-Armand.
The surge in asylum seekers, many of whom are Haitians fleeing instability and seeking refuge in Canada, has strained the border processing infrastructure, causing congestion and longer processing times. In June 2025, Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle saw over 1,593 asylum applications, a sharp rise compared to previous years.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) offers a webpage dedicated to real-time Canada-US border wait times, covering 28 of the most frequently used land border crossings. This webpage can provide valuable information for travelers planning their trips.
It's important to note that while border services aim for efficient processing, the unexpected volume of claimants contributed significantly to the longer wait times on Sunday afternoons in June 2025 at Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle.
In comparison, last year on the last day of the construction holidays, there was a 20-minute wait at the Saint-Armand border services point and a 10-minute wait at Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle. The decline in road traffic between Canada and the United States, which has been ongoing for six consecutive months, seems to have affected other entry points as well, with delays of 20 to 40 minutes also observed in the evening at other entry points in Quebec.
Despite the challenges, 1.3 million Canadians made a return trip by road from the United States in June 2025, a figure lower than that of American entries (1.4 million). The Canada-U.S. border remains a key route for travel, and understanding wait times can help travelers plan their journeys more effectively.
- French Canadians traveling from the United States may anticipate longer wait times at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing during Sunday afternoons in June 2025, as the surge in asylum seekers, including many Haitians, has strained the border processing infrastructure.
- For those planning a French-inspired lifestyle travel, considering journeying outside of Sunday afternoons or opting for other Quebec entry points might be advisable, as the weather-independent increased asylum applications have caused longer processing times and delays at various Quebec borders in 2025.
