canadian snowbirds could stay longer in the United States without visa if a bill recently proposed to the House of Representatives of the United States becomes law.
The Bipartite bill put forward by the Elise Stefanik representatives of New York, Laurel Lee from Florida and Greg Stanton of Arizona offers to extend the time that Canadian citizens can stay in the United States without 180 days at 240.
The Canadian Snowbird Visa Act, introduced at the end of April, would provide the longer time for the 50 years and over who both have a house in Canada and had or rent an American residence.
Politicians who sponsored the bill said that the objective was to help stimulate the American economy and revive the flow of Canadian tourists coming to the country, which has strongly plunged in the middle of pressure in Canadian-American relations that have emerged since the re-election of President Donald Trump.
“We support employment growth, strengthening our bond with our closest neighbors and helps local communities to prosper,” Lee said in a statement.
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The proposal comes because many Canadians choose not to travel south due to the current trade war and threats during annexation, while a lower mood and an increase in insurance rates have also pushed Canadian snowbirds to sell their American homes.
Trump’s relationship with Prime Minister Mark Carney is notably warmer than his dynamics with the predecessor Justin Trudeau, especially after the two leaders met in the White House earlier this week, but Trump continues to push the idea that Canada should become the 51st state. Surveys have shown that Canadians are largely opposed to the concept, and the national concern triggered by the comments was credited as the motor of Carney’s victory in the federal elections of last month.
The bill comes in when the United States has also moved to demand that Canadians are in the country for more than 30 days to register with the government and to transport its registration at any time.
The United States Embassy said that Canadians arriving by plane, or those who have published a form I-94 on a land border should not register more.
The Canadian Snowbird Association has written to the US government expressing its strong opposition to change, saying that it poses an unnecessary burden and will lead to fewer travel Canadians in the United States
Statistics Canada noted a decrease of 32 per hundred among Canadian residents who date back to the United States in March compared to the same month of last year.
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press