Canadians entering and staying in the United States for more than 30 days are required to register. They will face fines or criminal charges if they do not.
This new policy was a result of President Donald Trump signing his Executive Order “Protecting the American People Against Invasion”. This order was intended to stop what it called an “unprecedented flow of illegal immigration to the United States.”
Canadian visitors entering the U.S. currently have visa-exempt admission and don’t typically file with the Department of Homeland Security when they enter the country by car at the northern border.
Beginning April 11, Canadians who have not previously registered as foreign nationals and have been fingerprinted as part of existing requirements will need to complete a new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services form to avoid punishment by U.S. immigration officials.
The Federal Register was revised with new guidelines on Wednesday. USCIS published the details of the new requirements on its website at the end of February.
More than one million Canadians, who flee to the warmer regions of the U.S. to avoid the colder winter temperatures during the year, could be affected by the new registration requirements.
Michael MacKenzie is the Executive Director of the Canadian Snowbird Association. In a Letter sent to Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, he said that the association was seeking clarification on Trump’s executive orders and the registration requirements for “aliens” who enter the United States.
MacKenzie reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that this new requirement did not apply to Canadians who had already registered themselves as foreigners.
According to the letter, the USCIS website indicates that Canadians who enter the U.S. through land ports are not registered if they have not been given proof of registration by Customs and Border Protection agents working at the border.
MacKenzie claims that the U.S. Government is confused about how Canadians view the U.S.
MacKenzie’s letter stated that “it is our opinion that this executive order relates only to individuals who are illegally in the United States and shouldn’t apply to Canadian tourists traveling to the U.S. on vacation.”
How often do Canadians visit the United States of America?
According to Statistics Canada, 4.1 million Canadians returned from overseas trips in December 2024. In December 2024, Statistics Canada estimates that 4.1 million Canadians will return from trips abroad. Of these, 2.1 million are expected to arrive by car. 68.3% were returning on the same day.
In southwestern Ontario, the busiest entry points back to Canada were found. MacKenzie stated in his letter to Noem that over 1 million snowbirds travel annually to the United States.
According to other snowbird groups, 50% of Canadians who move away own property in America and most often settle in Southern U.S. States.
Immigration attorneys are concerned about the confusion that may arise among Canadians in the U.S. who have stayed in the country after travelling here to avoid the harsh winters north of the U.S.-Canada border.
NewsNation reported that Rosanna Bernardi is an immigration lawyer in Buffalo, New York. Will they know about the changes, and will they be able to use a computer?
What are the current immigration laws?
The Immigration and Nationality Act already requires that all foreigners who enter the United States and are at least 14 years old register with the government for 30 days. Noncitizens staying in the U.S. for more than 30 days are already fingerprinted by the INA as part of the Alien Registration Act from 1960.
Canadians who visit the US will need to fill out a USCIS registration form to register themselves and to stay in the US for a longer period of time if they are not already registered as foreigners.
The agency stated that foreigners registered over 18 years old must carry their registration with them at all times.
These new requirements are a result of Trump’s dispute with Canada, who suggested that Canada be made the 51st state in the U.S. and has imposed 25% on steel and aluminum from Canada. Canadian officials responded to the Trump tariffs by saying they would impose 25% retaliatory duties on U.S. products.
Berandi claims that the increased registration is related to Trump’s “obsession”, with Canada, after claiming Canada contributed to illicit drug flows entering the U.S.
Global Affairs Canada said they are aware of the new DHS/USCIS requirements for Canadians. The statement said it regularly posts travel tips on its website to ensure travelers are informed of each country’s policies.
