Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Quetico Forum :: Your experience with RABC application
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BonzSF |
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BonzSF |
Thanks |
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thegildedgopher |
jwmiller39: "I submitted my RABC permit application online on March 15th at 8:30 AM and got my permit emailed back to me by 1:30 that same afternoon. There are no COVID requirements anymore. Argo, I get that but no one in our party has ever been arrested and we’ve had RABCs before. It’s not like they don’t have a file on us. And handling applications in the order in which they are received seems to make a good deal of sense eh? |
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jwmiller39 |
good to know they dropped the COVID requirement. Even tho none of you have been arrested, hopefully you answered the "have you ever committed a crime in any country, including a misdemeanor" correctly. Some traffic offenses are considered a petty misdemeanor and by how I read the law, needs to be declared on the RABC application. If you check "no" and they run your background check and see something, even if its a petty misdemeanor from a traffic offense, they can refuse your application since it is technically wrong. |
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SummerSkin |
Argo: "SummerSkin: "I emailed mine as a password-protected PDF which they recommend on their site, although it’s kinda lame to offload the security burden onto the customer. You make a good point, although I disagree that I'm not a "customer" of theirs, but this might just be mincing words. I was more remarking how puzzling it is that the system they've implemented for RABC seems to be so rudimentary and unreliable. Perhaps this is such a low volume program that they feel it doesn't warrant any extra resourcing or development. |
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thegildedgopher |
jwmiller39: " Clean as a whistle baby. Speeding tickets years ago is all any of us have had. These are called "infractions" or at worst "petty misdemeanors" and are not considered criminal offenses (or "offences" as the Canadians might say). I have answered that question "no" every time and have never had an issue. |
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Graybeard |
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thegildedgopher |
bobbernumber3: " I’m scratching my head at the inefficiency of this whole process. Sending sensitive info to a foreign government via email with no confirmation or receipt is wild. Kinda surprised they don’t have a secure online portal to handle all this. I know RABC is not the most important thing under their purview, but if you’re going to offer a program you should do it with some semblance of security and efficiency. |
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SummerSkin |
My friend received an automated confirmation reply when he sent his in early April, however I did not when I applied a few weeks later. I called them about a week after, and they sounded puzzled by the fact I hadn’t received a confirmation email but told me to keep waiting. A couple weeks later I checked my credit card statement and saw they’d charged my card, but I had nothing in my inbox. So I called AGAIN, and they said it had been approved but didn’t look like it was issued (?). He promised I’d receive it shortly after our call, and I did. I’m not sure what the deal is, but among 4 of us, each of us had different experiences and timelines with the process. It’s almost like Canada Border Services Agency is 20 years behind on email technology. But whatever, at the end of the day we all received it. |
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pcallies |
At only $30 CAD, it's pretty much worth it to pick one up if you happen to be crossing the border. -Peter |
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B1lee |
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thegildedgopher |
We are two weeks and two days since emailing the application right now. Not freaked out, but concerned enough to call. Called the CBSA general line, waited on hold for about 30 minutes, and was told they can't answer questions about RABC apps, and that they don't have a number for the office that's processing the apps. She confirmed that I had the correct email address and that's about it. Called the Pigeon River port of entry. They were much more helpful and gave me the direct number for the office processing the applications. Called that office. That wasn't pleasant. They refused to look up my application or even confirm receipt. Said the "published wait time is 4-6 weeks," even though their website absolutely does not list an estimated wait time. ("At this time, the CBSA cannot estimate the processing time.) No, I didn't argue about that. I was extremely deferential and polite. I did explain that I submitted on May 8th and that 6 weeks would be too late for our trip (enter June 15). All he would say is that I need to wait 4-6 weeks before calling back and asking for information. So I guess I will call back at 4 weeks. |
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Banksiana |
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Jackfish |
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MarshallPrime |
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Mocha |
IN PERSON: The completed application and supporting documentation can be presented to a border services officer at one of the following Canada Border Services Agency offices BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. A limited number of appointments are available. Pigeon River Port of Entry Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, between 08:00 - 20:00 hrs Clients are to call 807-964-300 to make an appointment. Sault Ste. Marie Port of Entry Tuesday and Wednesday, between 08:00 - 20:00 hrs Clients are to call 705-941-3044 to make an appointment. Fort Frances Port of Entry Monday through Sunday, 24 hours. Walk-ins are available, client a not required to make an appointment. I Guess i probably have to open one of the links for the email application option to see what supporting documents they require. Wait times at ports of entry may vary. During peak travel times and holidays, line-ups can result in significant delays. |
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Jackfish |
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sns |
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bobbernumber3 |
Thanks for letting me know after 10 days. Crunch-time now! |
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sns |
We added one to our Q trip pretty late in the game. He emailed them his RABC application on Sunday July 16. His credit card was charged on Wednesday 7/26. Got his permit today - Sunday July 30. Exactly two weeks. Which saves us a trip to International Falls tomorrow! |
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kenpark23 |
CC charged 6/7/2023 Received 6/9/2023 |
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nashkato |
nashkato: "I submitted by email on April 12 and as of May 18 have not received anything back. My trip is end of July. No auto confirmation and no CC charge either. I tried it again a week ago from my work email just in case - no response yet. Guess I will call them tomorrow to ask. I share the feelings on this thread. It's a bit concerning/frustrating when you're trying to plan a trip." Charge came through on June 6. No RABC yet. I will give them a week and call on June 13, and post my experiences back here. |
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Banksiana |
BonzSF: "We’re going for my first trip into Quetico and checking in at Prairie Portage. I don’t see that on application the list but I do see Moose Lake. Is that the right Moose Lake or do I check Other? If you're referring to the RABC the correct response to the query "What is the primary location where the permit will be used? " is: Border Waters Canoe Area (BWCA)/Quetico Provincial Park. If you're worried about a BWCA permit you're in the wrong thread, but the answer is to pick up a day-use permit (if you're paddling to PP) and another day use permit (entry point "from Canada") for your return paddle. |
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thegildedgopher |
From talking with them on the phone and talking with a few others here, my take is that this office is overwhelmed. They’re not at all happy to be on the phone, probably because it just slows them down with the actual professing. If you are short of their 4-6 week window (which is not published anywhere that I can see) they will tell you to be patient and it may come off as rude. But if you are up against your trip departure date I’ve seen evidence that they’re willing to help you out. So my best advice is to be patient and assume all is well if you’re within that 6 weeks from application and have time before you depart. Unless there is a problem with your application, there is no communication whatsoever until you actually receive the email with the RABC, so don’t interpret their silence as a problem. Be super polite if you do have to call them, and steel yourself for impatience from their side. |
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GraniteCliffs |
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thegildedgopher |
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bobbernumber3 |
Called the "super-secret" phone number in Thunder Bay. Permit was e-mailed in about an hour. |
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GraniteCliffs |
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thegildedgopher |
thegildedgopher: "Applied 5/8, accounts charged 5/30. No other communication but feeling much better now that they have my money." Called back today, 4 weeks from application. Credit cards charged 10 days ago. Trip is in 10 days. Spoke to just about the rudest woman I’ve ever been on the phone with, who angrily told me “it’s in processing” and refused to give me any additional information. Then we got the RABC in my email a few hours later. Which surprised me, because I figured i was being moved to the bottom of the stack or accidentally misplaced after this morning’s convo. And oh yeah— they got the address on my dad’s form wrong, off by one digit. It was correct on the app. I’ll give them a call to fix it just to be safe. All in all, this was a bit nerve-wracking, not at all transparent, and frustrating from a customer service perspective. I’ll definitely be applying months in advance next year to be safe. |
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mustangman86 |
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bobbernumber3 |
I opened the returned pdf and it looked fine. The instructions said to fill out the form, save it under a new name, reattach and re-apply. Now my second application has been returned stating that the pdf was again blank, with instructions to print out the pdf, scan and save it, reattach and re-apply. Again, the returned pdf looked fine. On my third attempt, I have the forms inserted as a picture. I can see the form... aww fucx... forgot to reattach the passport! I'm hosed for a Tuesday departure. |
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clambdin |
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bobbernumber3 |
GraniteCliffs: "Can you send me the super secret number asap?" Your email is not linked to your profile. Edit: Got your email and sent you the number. |
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Canoe42 |
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clambdin |
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clambdin |
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nashkato |
nashkato: "nashkato: "I submitted by email on April 12 and as of May 18 have not received anything back. My trip is end of July. No auto confirmation and no CC charge either. I tried it again a week ago from my work email just in case - no response yet. Guess I will call them tomorrow to ask. I share the feelings on this thread. It's a bit concerning/frustrating when you're trying to plan a trip." RABC received today! June 12. Notes: 1) I submitted application 1 from my Gmail on April 12. Included the full family of 4 on that. 2) I resubmitted (application 2) from my work email on May 12. I included only 2 of us, as our trip plans had evovled. 3) Credit card charge on June 6 4) Received RABC back on my Gmail today. It appears to be application #2 but back to email #1. Weird but works for me! 5) No other email updates were ever received. I was itching to call them but since our trip isn't until end of the month I tried to be patient. Thanks everyone for your helpful posts & encouragement. |
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Canoe42 |
clambdin: "My trip is end of next week it’s been a month since I applied via email. Anyone got a number to call and check?" I called 807-626-1609. First time no help. Second time the woman workeked with me. They sent it to wrong email. She corrected it and I had it in minutes. |
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MichiganMan |
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Jackfish |
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Frenchy19 |
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AceAceAce |
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Gaidin53 |
Mine is good from Right after they opened it through this year. Won’t use it since we’re crossing the border at a land point from a canoeing standpoint. I will use it onLake of the Woods this summer though! Ryan |
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BonzSF |
BonzSF: "Ahh I see now. it has it as "Lac la CroixBorder Waters Canoe Area (BWCA)/Quetico Provincial Park" Somebody forgot to put a space between Croix and Border. And why do they call “border waters ” when we say “boundary waters “? I guess they’re talking the waters on their side of the boundary….ur…. Border. I did mine online in mid March and got it back in about 10 days . I imagine things ate picking up. |
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sns |
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moosedoggie |
No problems. |
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bobbernumber3 |
Just sent mine via e-mail this morning. I copied myself but never got it in my in-box. So I sent it again with cc to myself... nothing received. Hope they got it??? I'll probably get 2 permits? Edit: Figured out that when you click on the RABC form link you get a faulty e-mail address. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f4\cf18\insrsid6561484\charrsid10175574 CBSA.RABCApplications-ApplicationsPRFE.ASFC@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f4\cf18\insrsid6561484 <}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f4\cf18\insrsid6561484\charrsid10175574 CBSA.RABCApplications-ApplicationsPRFE.ASFC@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f4\cf18\insrsid6561484>; The actual address is: CBSA.RABCApplications-ApplicationsPRFE.ASFC@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca |
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gopher2307 |
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nashkato |
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thegildedgopher |
nashkato: "I submitted by email on April 12 and as of May 18 have not received anything back. My trip is end of July. No auto confirmation and no CC charge either. I tried it again a week ago from my work email just in case - no response yet. Guess I will call them tomorrow to ask. I share the feelings on this thread. It's a bit concerning/frustrating when you're trying to plan a trip." I’d call. In another thread a bit further down, user goblu79 reported receiving his on may 10 after 2 weeks and a couple days. Sounds like you submitted yours before that. I’m getting nervous myself. Coming up on 2 weeks this Monday without a word and our trip is less than a month out. |
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B1lee |
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jwmiller39 |
Make sure you include with your permit all the required documentation which I believe is your passport or two other forms of ID and your COVID vaccination documentation. Without that supporting documentation, or if you filled out the form incorrectly, they won't process it. Make sure you thoroughly read thru the requirements on the application. |
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Argo |
SummerSkin: "I emailed mine as a password-protected PDF which they recommend on their site, although it’s kinda lame to offload the security burden onto the customer. You are not a customer. You are an applicant seeking approval to enter a foreign nation. Don't look at these people any differently than the border official in the kiosk at Fort Frances who's looking at you suspiciously and holding your fate in his hands. They have no incentive to please you. That is not their function; border security is. There should be no expectation that applications will be adjudicated at the same pace. Each applicant would be separately assessed and either approved or denied based on individual circumstances gleaned from information the US criminal justice system shares with Canada. |