Bird Talk Dear Bird Talk, My wife and I have Nexus cards. How do the rules regarding crossing the border affect us with Nexus cards? We will be driving to Florida in the fall. Just want to make sure that we have our information right. Irving Ston Hare Bay, NL Ed.: The rules are the same for Canadian visitors who plan to stay in the United States for 30 days or longer, whether you have a Nexus card or not. When you cross the border by land, ask the Customs and Border Protection officer to issue an I-94 for you and your spouse. Then, during your first 30 days in the U.S., go online and verify that it has been issued. Print a copy of each I-94 record and keep it with your passports. Dear Bird Talk, I am aware that the CSA has been trying for years to have snowbirds’ stay extended to eight months. I have looked into it and it seems like it’s dead before it hits the U.S senate. Are you still actively working on this, or is it a pipe dream at this point? You would think they would love our income being spent for tourism. Even if most didn’t spend eight months there, the advantage is we don’t have to count every single day and worry we may be one day over, I hope it’s still a possibility and soon; who knows how many more years most have to travel. Karen Strickland Fort Erie, ON Ed.: The CSA is actively lobbying to have the Snowbird Visa passed by the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate. The proposed legislation has the support of representatives of Southern “snowbird” states, as well as support from representatives of Northern border states. It is indeed a long process, but it is a worthy cause. Dear Bird Talk, We are selling our Florida home. Can we bring back used items like clothes, open bottles of liquor, furniture, pictures, garden tools…basically anything we have owned in the years we have been snowbirds, or would we have to sell it off in the U.S.? Wendy Mannello Sault Ste Marie, ON Ed.: You should make a detailed list of the items you are bringing back to Canada with a depreciated Canadian-dollar value attributed to each item, so that you can present the list to the CBSA officer upon your return. The alcohol would fall under the permitted limits for Canadians who have been out of the country for 48 hours or longer. Two 750 ml bottles of wine, 1.14 litres of alcohol or 24 cans of beer. Otherwise, you will have to pay duty. It may be best to leave the liquor behind. Dear Bird Talk, Why are there only events in Ontario? Doesn’t CSA realize there are active members in other parts of Canada? Makes me want to reconsider renewing my membership. Graham Kinmond Airdrie, AB Ed.: In 2023, the CSA sponsored and appeared at events in Kelowna, B.C., Sherwood Park, AB and Calgary, AB. This year, we are visiting Moncton, N.B., Dartmouth, N.S. and Summerside, P.E.I. Canada is a big country, but we do our best to get around. Dear Bird Talk, I need information re: I-94 form for Canadians travelling via land border on a B2 visa. The U.S. CBP website says Canadian tourists crossing the border on a B1 or B2 visa – which includes virtually all snowbirds – do not need to apply for a provisional I-94. This suggests that either you can ask for an electronic I-94 at the time of crossing the border or that it is not even necessary to do so. All of the comments I have read so far are very unclear and ambiguous. Please clarify! Cliff Morham Kingsville, ON Ed.: You can apply for a provisional I-94 within seven days before your anticipated border crossing by land. The fee is $6.00 USD. It does not guarantee admittance into the United States and the fee is non-refundable. Or, when you cross the border by land and ask for permission to visit the United States for 30 days or longer, you can ask the Customs and Border Protection officer to issue an I-94 for you. This registration will most likely be electronic, so we recommend that you go to the Department of Homeland Security website afterwards, verify that your I-94 has been issued and print off a copy to keep with your passport. Dear Bird Talk, Has there been any clarity on Canadians returning to Canada from the U.S. with goods purchased in the U.S.? While we do have a duty-free limit, will we be charged the tariff imposed on goods brought in from the U.S.? Susan Parwicki Collingwood, ON Ed.: In response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian-made goods, Canada has imposed a 25% counter tariff on certain U.S. products brought into Canada. The CBSA is collecting the tariffs on behalf of the Government of Canada in the form of a surtax. This means that you may need to pay a surtax (as well as any applicable duties and taxes) on some of the goods which you have purchased and are bringing back with you from the U.S. The lists of these products can be found on the Department of Finance website. The surtax only applies on the value of the goods which exceeds your personal exemption. 8 | www.snowbirds.org
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