Canada also updates its US travel guidance, adds registration rule
- Canada updated its travel guidelines, adding a registration requirement for Canadians staying in the U.S. for more than 30 days.
- The rule, effective April 11, originates from a Trump-era executive order enforcing existing immigration law.
- The requirement, not consistently applied in the past, mandates registration and, in some cases, fingerprinting with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Canada updated its travel guidance to include a registration rule for visitors to the U.S.
Canadians who stay in America for more than 30 days have to register with the U.S. government according to the guidance, which was modified on Friday. The rule also applies to other foreign nationals.
“Failure to comply with the registration requirement could result in penalties, fines, and misdemeanor prosecution,” the web page reads. The guidance points Canadians to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website to find out whether or not they need to register.
The rule will take effect on April 11.
The requirement stems from an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on his first day in office, directing the Department of Homeland Security to ensure non-citizens comply with portions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The law requires “all aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a U.S. visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer” to do so, according to the USCIS website. Parents and legal guardians of children under 14 must make sure they are registered.
Most Canadian travelers do not have to provide fingerprints, Canada’s guidance said.
The existing rule has not been applied consistently for Canadians coming to America, The Guardian reported.
The updates come as tensions have risen between the U.S. and Canada in the wake of Trump’s on-and-off trade war with the country and his musing about making it the 51st state. Countries, including the United Kingdom and Germany, have also issued warnings for travel to the U.S. after several visitors were detained.
Make your journey safe and smart: Sign up for Paste BN's Travel newsletter.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for Paste BN based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.