Planned U.S. travel regulations for Canadians would set an updated standard for cross-border visits, stirring questions about the broader implications amid ongoing diplomatic and trade tensions.
Key Takeaways
- The United States plans to implement a updated requirement for Canadians visiting for more than 30 days and arriving by car, effective from April 11.
- Affected Canadians would need to register with authorities within 30 days.
- Affected individuals would have to create an account with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services but would not have to be fingerprinted.
- The rule could impact Canadian snowbirds, retirees who spend winters in the U.S.
- An I-94 travel document can be used by Canadian visitors traveling by air.
New Regulations Overview
According to an interim final rule, the United States plans to require Canadians staying for more than 30 days to register with authorities if they arrive by car. This rule has an effective date of April 11, aligning with documentation in the federal register. The initiative would enforcement of existing laws and mandates biographic information including phone number, address, and criminal records. Visitors may use an I-94 document as an alternative if they arrive by air.
These updates signify a notable change in travel logistics between Canada and the U.S. Canadians planning extended visits must now establish an account with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This move has potential repercussions for Canadian retirees, commonly known as snowbirds, who annually spend winter months in the southern states.
The previous draft rule would have subjected affected Canadians to fingerprinting, but that requirement has been waived in the interim final rule.
#UPDATE The US will require Canadians visiting for more than 30 days to register with authorities, the federal register showed on Wednesday, toughening rules as trade tensions soar between the North American neighbors ➡️ https://t.co/W4wX4VQUcz pic.twitter.com/4Kt7aNufKh
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 12, 2025
Impacts on Canadian Visitors
The policy could mark a substantial shift for Canadian travelers. Some Canadian snowbirds may feel particularly affected, given their frequent longer stays. In the absence of an I-94 document, they would need to comply with these new requirements or risk penalties. The Department of Homeland Security has emphasized that they will fully implement the Immigration and Nationality Act, requiring affected noncitizens over 14 to register within 30 days of entry.
Additionally, all noncitizens over 18 would need to carry proof of registration at all times. The intention is increasing national security and ensuring proper documentation of foreign nationals residing temporarily in the U.S. Many regard the change as an extension of Trump’s agenda to tighten immigration control and enforce existing laws.
Context and Broader Implications
This development arrives in the midst of escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada. Historically, Canadian nationals were often exempt from stringent travel laws, but that seems to be changing as the U.S. looks to crack down on illegal immigration.
“The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws—we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce. We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said last month.
Sources
- US hardens visitor registration rules for Canadians: federal register
- US to Require Some Canadian Visitors to Register With DHS Agency
- Canadians could be forced to register to stay longer than 30 days in U.S.
