Government Relations Report Johanne Blain First Vice-President As I reported in my last column, effective April 2025, the United States government began requiring all Canadian snowbirds entering the United States for 30 days or longer – who have not been issued a Form I-94 – to register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For snowbirds who fly into the United States, an electronic I-94 is automatically issued and, therefore, they are already deemed registered with the U.S. federal government and further registration with USCIS is not required. For snowbirds who drive, an I-94 may or may not be issued upon entry to the United States. The CSA head office has been fielding numerous calls and emails this spring asking about what the entry process will look like for this upcoming travel season with the new registration requirement now in effect, particularly for those snowbirds who travel to the United States by car. Those travelling to the U.S. by vehicle have options. Up to seven days prior to their arrival at a land port of entry, snowbirds can apply for a provisional I-94 for US$6 at i94.cbp.dhs.gov. When approved for entry, an electronic Form I-94 will be issued and can be accessed from the same website. Alternatively, snowbirds entering the United States can request an I-94 at the port of entry. It should be noted that obtaining a provisional I-94 or requesting one at a port of entry may result in further scrutiny at the border crossing, since Canadian tourists to the United States historically have not required an I-94. If questioned, advise the customs officer of the new requirement for a lawful record of admission. Once you have been admitted to the United States, check to ensure that you were issued an I-94 by visiting i94.cbp.dhs.gov and selecting “Get most recent I-94.” Print out a copy of the I-94 from your latest entry and carry it with you as you travel throughout the United States. This is proof of your legal admission to the United States and registration with the federal government. For travellers who did not receive an electronic I-94, to ensure that you are compliant with the new registration requirement, visit my.uscis.gov to set up a USCIS account and complete USCIS Form G-325R. After you file USCIS Form G325-R, you will receive a receipt from USCIS. You are required to print the receipt and carry it with you as proof of legal registration. At this time, there is no cost to file the form with USCIS and Canadian citizens continue to be exempt from the biometric requirement. Representatives from the Canadian Snowbird Association continue to lobby against this registration requirement and are working to have it rescinded. Updates regarding our efforts will be provided to members through our email advisories – just one of the many benefits of being a CSA member. Travel rules and regulations are not just changing for travel to the United States. In January of this year, it became a requirement for Canadian travellers visiting or transiting through the United Kingdom to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). The ETA is an online travel screening which currently costs £16 (about $30 CAD) and can be obtained through the UK government website www.gov.uk/eta. Once approved, the ETA is valid for two years, or until your passport expires, and lets you travel to the UK for tourism, visiting family or certain other reasons for up to six months. Similarly, Canadians visiting most countries in Europe will soon need to apply for a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before they depart. Like the UK ETA, this is not a visa but a pre-travel clearance which will apply to travel to 30 European nations including France, Italy, Spain and Germany. Once operational, the ETIAS will be completed online here, travel-europe.europa.eu/ etias_en, and will cost travellers €7 (about $10 CAD). An ETIAS will be valid for three years or until your passport expires and will allow Canadian travellers to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism purposes. You’ll need an ETIAS even if you’re just connecting through a European airport. With the official launch date currently expected in the last quarter of 2026, the CSA will keep members apprised of the latest developments regarding this upcoming requirement. Once it is in effect, you will not be able to board a flight to Europe without it. Gilles and I wish you a safe and happy summer. CSANews | SUMMER 2025 | 13
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