Land border entry with cockatiel

[beccajayne93 17]

Do any Canadians have RECENT experience with bringing their little buddy cockatiel with them when they enter the U.S?

I've been researching but I think, due to bird flu etc., the border has become a tiny bit more complicated when it comes to bringing pet birds across into the USA.

So Sydney, my pet cockatiel bird, will be coming with me when I enter the US on a K-1 visa, likely in September.

I called Queenston Lewiston and they told me that I must apply for an import permit, aka VS form 17-129.

Also I must call a few days ahead to make sure a vet can be there (I already knew this part).

Anyone with experiences in crossing with a cockatiel? What fees did you have to pay? The APHIS website is confusing - I think it says I have to pay $100 + fee to get the import permit for my little guy. Cockatiels don't need permits from Fish & Wildlife, which is good.

I am only asking because I have seen a couple posts where all they needed was a vet at the border to look at their cockatiel and then they were on their way! I also saw a website where it says we don't need the permit if it's a Canadian crossing to the U.S. by land - but the official APHIS site doesn't stipulate this, I don't think. It's just confusing.

Any help/experiences would be appreciated, and thanks in advance! I will be calling APHIS tomorrow to clarify my specific situation, as I also want to explain that I will not be shipping Sydney, and that he will be in the car with me, but I just wanted to see if there were any real-time experiences.

[jklm2010 10]

I'm sorry to say I don't have the answers to your questions, but I just wanted to tell you that you are an awesome person for not selling your cockatiel away or abandoning it. Birds don't get the same attention and love as cats and dogs do and it's sad when they're considered as temporary pets. My cockatiel has been with me the past 3 years and he is my baby and very spoiled and is outside of his cage all day. Your bird is lucky to have an owner like you

[beccajayne93 17]

Thank you! That means a lot! I love him and I'm just glad he doesn't have to go through any quarantine. And temporary? TEMPORARY? Our cockatiels can live up to 25 - much longer than cats and dogs! Your bird sounds very lucky too

[Ontarkie 13,911]

It's not recent but 2008 we brought our cockatiel with us. We crossed at Sault Ste. Marie On, and Sault Ste. Marie Mi border with her.

All I had to do was call the border explain to them I was soon to be moving to the US with my bird. They asked what kind of bird.

Oh ya when I first called the girl thought I said cockatoo so she gave me the detroit borders number. I was on the phone trying to get through to them and she called me back because she realized I said tiel.

I had to make sure they knew she was a cockatiel not cockatoo. Parrots require much more paper work that needs to be started 6 months before the move.

So anyway the border we were going to cross at doesn't have a vet. I had to call a vet. (They gave me a number on who to call) to meet us there. I picked the earliest I could and it was $20 to have him take a 30 sec look at her. Then he filled out a form told us to hang on to it till we reached Arkansas. (just in case we got stopped).

That was it.

[beccajayne93 17]

Okay so I've figured out what needs to happen, for anyone looking for recent information. ALL pet birds must have an import permit to cross the border, even by land, and must be checked by a vet (who must be called 3 days in advance to make sure he will be there and will cost $40) who are only available at designated borders, M-F. I have to cross at Lewiston before 2pm. The import permit application must be faxed to APHIS, and the turn-around time is 7-10 days and costs $150. The permit will be returned by email. There are control zone areas in Ontario (mainly Oxford county) and if you live in one OR drive through one of them your bird MUST be put into 30 days of quarantine. For some bird species, you will need to contact Fish & Wildlife and get extra permission (not cockatiels though).

Most of the information is available here: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/sa_import_into_us/sa_entry_requirements/ct_import_live_animals/