There are SEVERAL other cities along the border where refugees can be interviewed.                                 Complete list of Canada Border Service Agencies along the border: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/listing/indexpages/indextype38-e.html You must go to the border office CLOSEST to you.

To go from the U.S. to Canada as a refugee, you must be eligible under a law called the "Safe Third Country Agreement".

At your interview at the border, you must show 2 things:

That you are from one of the qualifying countries: (Afghanistan, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Iraq, Liberia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe) OR You have a qualifying relative already in Canada: (ONLY a Spouse, Child, Parent, Legal Guardian, Sibling, Grandparent, Grandchild, Aunt, Uncle, Niece or Nephew qualify) *COUSINS and FRIENDS do NOT qualify.

AND

That you have a VALID REFUGEE CLAIM. (usually this means you have suffered persecution or torture in your home country or would if you returned there.)

At the interview, a Canadian Officer will determine if you can enter Canada to ask for refugee protection.

IMPORTANT WARNING!! If the Canadian officer determines that you do NOT qualify to enter as a refugee, you will be turned back to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.). If you are undocumented you can be jailed and deported to your home country.

To read about the law and the interview process, go to:
http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/agency-agence/stca-etps-e.html

QUICK LINKS FOR FREEDOM HOUSE SITE