Bird Talk Dear Bird Talk, We drove to the U.S. border in late October, where we were asked the usual questions ‒ where you are going, for how long, for what purpose. We, of course, answered honestly. We filled out the G-325R once we got to Phoenix and we received a certificate. We flew home for Christmas and flew back to Phoenix a couple of weeks later. The same basic questions were asked at U.S. customs at the airport. We drove back home in early April (well under the 182-day limit). In looking to see if we needed to fill out Form 8840 for this winter, we didn’t meet the criteria requiring us to submit, as our past two winters were shorter. Next year, we will have to fill out the form. The problem is that when we checked the U.S. site to see what their record is of our time spent in the U.S., it shows that we haven’t been there in the past five years, even though we have driven and flown down several times during that period. My question is, when we fill out Form 8840 next year, do I fill it out according to their records or what our actual travel was? Brian Rosney Cooks Creek, MB Ed.: Fill out the 8840 according to your travel records. The I-94 website does not always reflect an accurate report of everyone’s visits to the United States. Dear Bird Talk, Hello. I would like to know if we need to apply for the I-94 at least seven days before our planned departure in October 2026. In October 2025, we applied for the I-94 and, at the border, we requested it. We went inside, our fingerprints and photos were taken, and we subsequently printed the I-94. Since our fingerprints and photos were taken in 2025, do we simply need to apply for the I-94 before our departure, or will there be a different procedure since our fingerprints and photos are already in their system? Sylvie Mercier Gervais Mirabel, QC Ed.: Simply travel to the U.S. as you normally would. After entering, check the CBP I-94 website to see whether a new I-94 has been issued: i94.cbp.dhs.gov. If an I-94 has been issued, you’re all set. If it has not, you will need to complete the G-325R registration with USCIS. Dear Bird Talk, I am arriving in the U.S. from another country in order to transit to Canada. The flight arrives late at night and the connecting flight to Canada can only be made the next day, for a stay in the U.S. of fewer than 24 hours. One week later, I will be returning to the U.S. for a vacation. I was wondering if the authorities consider the one-week stay in Canada as being in the U.S. the entire time, because my connecting flight was not the same day as the arriving flight. Elayne Russell Penticton, BC Ed.: No! While you are in the U.S. waiting for your flight to Canada, you are considered to be “In Transit” and both that one day and the following days spent in Canada would not be counted as days spent in the U.S. Dear Bird Talk, We go to the U.S. for 5.5 months. Our I-94 expired in May. Are we going to be required to go through the whole renewal process again, including a border interview? Paul Cornies Kingsville, ON Ed.: Yes, you should generally expect the same process when requesting a new I-94. Whether you apply for a provisional I-94 before travelling or request one at the border, CBP will determine whether you need to go through an interview or any other processing. 8 | www.snowbirds.org
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