'It will be a deterrent': Canadian snowbirds face new registration requirements going to the U.S.
By Sarah Grochowski
Published Mar 12, 2025
Last updated Mar 12, 2025
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“Canadian Snowbird Association representatives are currently working with Congressional representatives to amend this registration requirement and exempt Canadian travellers from having to register with (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services),” it said in a recent news release.
The association has advised those already in the U.S. to check a new online government portal to confirm if they were issued an electronic I-94 upon entry. Under the new provision, all visitors aged 14 or older who stay for 30 days or longer must register and be fingerprinted, with a maximum stay of 180 days.
“Failure to comply will result in criminal and civil penalties, up to and including misdemeanour prosecution and the payment of fines,” states the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, adding that a portal for submitting registration documents is not yet available but is being developed. The website stipulates that those who must register include “Canadian visitors who entered the United States at land ports of entry and were not issued evidence of registration.” It remains unclear whether being a Nexus cardholder will impact the requirement to register.
Immigration lawyers are advising Canadian travellers to request a print-out of their admission record when entering the U.S. to avoid serious issues, including trouble re-entering the country later. “Snowbirds should ask the customs and border protection officer at the land border or pre-clearance, ‘May I please be issued an I-94, as I will be staying for longer than 30 days?'” said Duncan Millar, a lawyer at Millar and Hayes.
While this step could save Canadian travellers time in the long run, Millar warns it may introduce new challenges. “The key difference now is that by asking for an I-94, you’ll need to talk to border agents about it,” he explained. “They’ll review your travel pattern, and if there are any minor issues, the border guard may flag you.” For instance, Millar says, “If someone has an old charge on their record from when they were a teenager and starts interacting more with border officers, they could face deportation or be deemed inadmissible for entry.”
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Apparently there have been some border crossings that automatically issued the I-94 document (electronically), probably after ascertaining the reported length of stay, and others that didn't.
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