A new bipartisan bill introduced in U.S. Congress proposes extending the time that snowbirds can stay south of the border, amid blowback to a new registration regime for Canadians and dropping tourism dollars.
“Many of our members would like to see this legislation passed because it would give them greater flexibility in their travel plans,” said Evan Rachkovsky, director of research and communications for the Canadian Snowbird Association, which has been lobbying for the legislation.
“It’s a smart policy, it recognizes the significant economic impact of Canadian snowbirds,” he added. “It’s a win-win.”
The Canadian Snowbird Visa Act was introduced in late April in the U.S. House of Representatives by Republican Elise Stefanik, who represents an upstate New York district that borders Canada; Congresswoman Laurel Lee, another Republican from Florida; and Congressman Greg Stanton, a Democrat from Arizona.
Under the bill, Canadians who are at least 50 years old and own a U.S. residence or have signed a rental agreement there for the duration of their stay would be able to reside in the U.S. for 240 days a year without a visa, up from the current 182 days.
They cannot work for U.S. employers or access public assistance, and they would keep non-resident tax status, exempting them from filing U.S. taxes.
Rachkovsky said a version of the bill was passed in the Senate in 2013 but died in the House. Since then different iterations have been introduced but never passed.
He said they are waiting on a Senate companion bill, and then it would go to committee, and that the timeline for approval would be months at least. Still, Rachkovsky is hopeful it might gain traction.
“It’s an interesting time,” he said, “because you’re dealing with two different visions of tourism to the U.S.”
As of mid-April, Canadians aged 14 and up who are in the U.S. for longer than 30 days must register online with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), by completing an electronic form called a G-325R, with some exceptions.
Notably, if Canadians already filled out a form called a I-94 or I-94W upon crossing, they are considered registered, according to UCIS’s website.
The new registration requirements send the “wrong message,” Rachkovsky added, “creating another obstacle for Canadian travellers who choose to spend their time in the sunbelt. Then you have something like Congresswoman Stefanik’s bill which would permit retirees to spend more time in the U.S.”
In addition to the registration rules, Canadians have been warned to expect more scrutiny at the border, and many are choosing to stay home, given the ongoing trade war, the weak dollar, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about making Canada the 51st state.
Some snowbirds are even selling their sunbelt homes.
Trips made from Canada south of the border fell by nearly a million in March compared with the same time last year, according to according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a 17 per cent drop.
“This would make sense for them to pass to boost those numbers up,” Rachkovsky added.
Rudy Buttignol, president of CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons), calls the bill “a step in the right direction.”
But he said many seniors he speaks to are cancelling both long and short trips to the U.S.
“There’s a great sense of betrayal and people just on principle are making alternate arrangements,” he said. “They’re really worried about the unknown.”
Stefanik, who is in her sixth term as a member of Congress, was hailed as “a star” by Trump, according to her website. Her office did not return a request for comment.
“Our neighbours to the north provide more visits to the United States than any other country, and they are critically important to North Country tourism and industry,” she said in a press release.
“Providing Canadians who own homes and property in the United States with extra time to visit and boost our economy will help revive Canadian tourism to the United States.”
