Dear Bird Talk, You have advised that “Beginning April 11, 2025, Canadian snowbirds staying in the U.S. for 30 days or longer must register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This new rule requires filing Form G-325R online, with potential for $30 fees, fingerprinting and photography at land borders, marking a shift toward stricter biometric tracking for Canadian visitors.” Must I file a Form G-325R annually, or is it one and done? D. Bremner Iroquois Falls, ON Ed.: The good news is that the G-325R does not have a fee associated with it. The not-so-great news is that you will need an I-94 or G-325R every time you intend to visit the United States for 30 days or longer. Dear Bird Talk, Interesting Bird Talk about obstructed licence plates in Florida. In your comment, you failed to note that it is illegal to obstruct licence plates in Ontario as well. Mind you, the fine and penalties are a lot less. In Ontario, the Highway Traffic Act requires that licence plates must be kept free from dirt and obstruction, ensuring that the entire number plate is plainly visible at all times. According to Section 13(2), any obstruction, such as a promotional licence plate cover or modifications, can lead to fines ranging from $75 to $110 for obstructed plates. If a police officer observes an obstructed plate, he or she may issue a ticket, which can be contested if the officer’s discretion is questioned. Are your licence plates legal?? Jim Hajas Huntsville, ON Ed.: Section 13(2)? Are you a retired police officer? Thanks for the input, Jim. It is probably a bad idea to have an obstructed licence plate in any jurisdiction in North America, including Ontario and Florida. We should also remember to remove the expired renewal tags from our Ontario licence plates to avoid confusion when we are driving outside of the province. Dear Bird Talk, We drive from Sydney Cape Breton to Florida every year. But we are thinking of flying down instead. Can you walk us through the requirements for a Canadian buying a car in Florida? Also, might it be more economically feasible to do a long-term, six-month, low-mileage car rental? Robert Baillie Sydney, NS Ed.: There are no special requirements for purchasing and registering a vehicle in the United States. You need a valid driver’s licence (a Canadian licence will do) to purchase insurance coverage, so we recommend that you look into this expense as well. A local Allstate Insurance agent will be able to assist you with getting your Canadian driving record recognized. Some of the larger national insurance companies which you see on television only insure persons licensed in the United States. 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 Bird Talk CSANews | FALL 2026 | 9
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