If you're a Canadian looking to snowbird or head south for a few months, you may have seen the news that beginning April 11, 2025, foreign nationals preparing to travel to the US for an extended period should be prepared to comply with new registration requirements ordered by the Trump Administration.
Registration Requirement
The Alien Registration Act of 1940 technically requires all foreign nationals (non-US citizens/green card holders) who are in the US for 30 days or more to register their presence and provide their fingerprints. As part of an executive order signed by President Trump on January 20, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security has been directed to not only ensure that foreign nationals comply with this requirement but also ensure that failure to comply is treated as a "civil and criminal enforcement priority."
So, what exactly is the registration requirement? With exceptions outlined below, all foreign nationals 14 years of age and older, who remain in the US for 30 days or longer, must apply for registration and fingerprinting.
Who is Exempt?
There are key exemptions to this rule, including the following:
- Foreign nationals admitted to the US who were issued a Form
I-94 Admission Record, even if the period of admission has expired;
- The I-94 governs your period of lawful stay in the US and can be downloaded from the CBP website at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/home.
- Foreign nationals present in the US who were issued immigrant or nonimmigrant visas before their last date of arrival;
- Foreign nationals in the US for less than 30 days; and
- Foreign nationals issued an employment authorization document.
Are Canadian Visitors at Risk?
Fortunately, Canadians entering the US via air will have an I-94 admission record and will be exempt from the registration requirement. Canadians entering the US via land or ferry should confirm that they are being issued an I-94 record. There is a $6.00 USD fee when doing so. Regardless, it should be a priority for all visiting Canadians to monitor their I-94 records using the CBP website to avoid any issues.
How Do I Register?
US Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") has released a new form and online process by which unregistered foreign nationals can register and comply with the regulation, available on the USCIS website.
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