Bird Talk Featuring the letters & concerns of our members SEND YOUR LETTERS TO Bird Talk, c/o CSANews 180 Lesmill Road Toronto, Ontario M3B 2T5 Online at www.snowbirds.org/bird-talk or by e-mail: csawriteus@snowbirds.org Bird Talk Dear Bird Talk, 4:00 a.m. – arrived at the U.S. Ambassador Bridge border crossing & advised the CBP officer that we had acquired provisional I-94s (can only be filed/paid for less than 7 days prior to entry) and were looking to secure the I-94s for our 4.5-month winter in Florida. He tagged our driver’s vehicle and advised us to head inside. At secondary inspection, they advised us to open the car and place the dog in the outside kennel, and they radioed officers inside that three people were entering. We entered and were advised to take a seat. (Fortunately, being early, no one else was there.) 4:10 – advised that my wife’s little dog was cold and, after asking if it was harmless, advised that she could retrieve it and bring it inside; radioed outside that she was coming out to get it (very thoughtful). 4:20 – the individual CBP I-94 officer came in the door and took his place at the counter. 4:26 – called us up. My wife went first; passport was reviewed with data entered; they fingerprinted and photographed her. (Advised them of her NEXUS card, however appeared irrelevant.) 4:30 – same process for me. Upon completion, handed us both of our passports which were stamped with B-2 visas for six months. Thanked all the officers and wished them a happy thanksgiving. Headed to the airport, arriving as planned at around 5:00 a.m. Two days later, checked on i94.cbp.dhs.gov and found that our electronic I-94s were now current and indicated that we were permitted to be in the U.S. for six months from entry. In summary, the overall experience went quite well; very pleased that we gave ourselves adequate time and, being that early in the a.m., there was no one ahead of us. Could be stressful if it were busy, causing delays. Marcel Asschert Kingsville, ON Ed.: Thank you for sharing that detailed experience with us. I think that we can all rest assured that the new rules and procedures are designed to keep the “bad guys” out and let the “good guys” in. I hope that you enjoyed your winter in the sun. Dear Bird Talk, I keep seeing ads about getting a NEXUS card now, because they are soon going to be mandatory to go to the U.S. Are they just trying to suck me into getting something I don’t need? Terry Petersen Olds, AB Ed.: There is no truth to the rumours that NEXUS cards will be mandatory for entry to the United States. Dear Bird Talk, Should we still submit an 8840 form for someone who passed away during that year? Scott MacDonald Bath, ON Ed.: A final Form 8840 should still be filed for the year of death if the individual met the substantial presence test prior to passing, as it helps confirm their closer connection to Canada and avoid unintended U.S. tax residency status for that year. Dear Bird Talk, Between Christmas and New Year, my partner and I were driving to Ft. Myers from Palm Beach on Hwy 81. A police car pulled us over and asked to see our driver’s licence. The policeman then proceeded to tell us our licence plate cover was illegal. He also stated it was a criminal offence and that this has come into effect in October 2025. We assured him that we would remove it when we got to Ft. Myers. He said that he would let us off with a warning, since the law was new and many out-of-state visitors may not know about this recent ruling. Just thought it was worth passing along to other snowbirds who may have licence plate covers. Carolyn Kinsman Burlington, ON Ed.: There is a new law that took effect on October 1, 2025 in the state of Florida that bans all items which block any part of a licence plate, including clear or tinted covers, stickers, sprays and decorative frames. Apparently, the Florida Highway Patrol is currently educating the public about this new law for now, but it could eventually lead to a $500 fine. Dear Bird Talk, We filled out Form G-325R in April 2025 while we were in Florida because we didn’t have an I-94 at the time. Does Form G-325R need to be updated for each stay? Is this form sufficient, or do we absolutely need to obtain an I-94 as well? I admit, all of this is very confusing... Gilles Banville Sherbrooke, QC Ed.: Yes, a new Form G-325R must be submitted for each stay of 30 days or longer if a formal I-94 was not issued upon entry to the U.S. Upon submission of a new G-325R, you may receive a courtesy notice indicating that you are already registered, and we recommend printing this and carrying it with you during your stay. CSANews | SPRING 2026 | 9
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