New US Rule: Canadians Staying Longer Than 30 Days Must Register and Get Fingerprinted

The Trump administration is tightening migration rules. Canadians planning to stay in the US for more than 30 days will be required to register with US authorities and have their fingerprints taken. This new requirement is a stricter enforcement of an existing law. The law states that all foreign nationals 14 years old or older who plan to stay in the US for 30 days or more must register with the authorities. This rule has not been consistently applied to Canadians entering the US across the 5, 525-mile land border. The new requirement will likely affect the estimated 900, 000 Canadians who spend winters in warmer southern US states such as Florida, Texas and South Carolina. These Canadians are often referred to as “snowbirds. ”

The Department of Homeland Security estimates that between 2. 2 million and 3. 2 million people will be affected by the new visitor registration rules. The rule was published on the Federal Registrar on Wednesday. It came into effect on April 11, 2020. This move comes as fresh US tariffs of 25% came into effect on steel and aluminum. Canada, in turn, announced retaliatory tariffs on nearly C$30bn worth of American imports. The new rule marks a further deterioration in ties between the historical allies. The move is seen by some as an annexation threat. This is because Trump has repeatedly called for Canada to become the 51st US state. This is a taunt seen by some north of the border as an annexation threat. Canadians who are casual travelers visiting for tourism or shopping will not be affected. However, Canadian business professionals who regularly enter the US for extended assignments will now face these new registration requirements. This is a significant change for those who frequently travel to the US for work.

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