When you arrive at a land border crossing, an RFID scanner will be located at the stop sign as you approach the U.S. Customs booth. Remove your EDL or EIC from its protective sleeve and hold it up to the RFID scanner. You will then need to present your card to the U.S. border officer.
When the RFID chip in your EDL or EIC is scanned, the U.S. border software system will send your unique RFID Tag Value on the chip to the CBSA’s secure Canadian database where EDL or EIC cardholder information is stored. This is done via a secure, encrypted network connection. If the RFID Tag Value from the chip matches your EDL or EIC record in the CBSA database, the personal information about you that the border officer needs to verify your identity and citizenship, and to help determine whether or not you will be allowed to enter the U.S. will be sent back to the U.S. border information system. For a list of all the personal information that is shared with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when you use your EDL or EIC to enter the U.S., please refer to Appendix D of this Guide.
As noted above, if there are no RFID scanners at the border crossing where you are entering the U.S., the border officer will swipe the MRZ on the back of your card. The Encoded Document Number will be used in the same manner as the RFID Tag Value. An inquiry will be sent to the CBSA database and your EDL or EIC information will be sent to CBP.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will store all the information about you that is shared with them in the existing secure U.S. Border Crossing Information (BCI) system, along with the time and location of your entry into the U.S. It is important to note that CBP already collects and stores this type of information in the BCI system when you cross the U.S. border, from the documents that you currently present to prove your identity and citizenship.
The Canadian and U.S. governments have signed an agreement to establish security and privacy protocols for the transmission of EDL and EIC information, as well as its storage, use, access, disclosure, protection and disposal. A more detailed explanation of how the information being shared with U.S. authorities is being protected is included in the "Protecting your personal information and privacy" section of this Guide.
It is important to note that document requirements and procedures to enter Canada have not changed. The Manitoba EDL or EIC denotes citizenship and identity and can be used for re-entry into Canada. For further information, you may contact the Canada Border Services Agency at: 1–800–461–9999 or online at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.
With your consent, and as part of the application process, issuance or use of your Manitoba EDL or EIC, it will be necessary to share specific personal information about you with the following organizations and agencies:
In each case of information sharing noted above, only the minimum amount of information necessary will be shared. The Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Public Insurance and the Government of Canada have entered into written agreements with each of the organizations and agencies that receive EDL or EIC information. The Canadian and U.S. governments have signed an agreement to establish security and privacy protocols for the transmission of EDL or EIC information, as well as its storage, use, access, disclosure, protection and disposal.
During your interview (in Step 4), the EDL and EIC interviewer will carefully review the Consent to Information Sharing Form with you, which outlines:
Copies of the Consent to Information Sharing Form and the Consent to Manitoba Public Insurance and the Manitoba Vital Statistics Agency Sharing My Information Form are included as Appendices D and G to this Guide. It is suggested that you review the form carefully to ensure you are comfortable with the level of disclosure that is necessary for the Manitoba EDL and EIC Program.