The Blubber

The Trump administration is preparing a new travel regulation that could require Canadians staying in the U.S. for more than 30 days to register their information with the U.S. government and undergo fingerprinting.

Expanded Registration and Fingerprinting Requirements

Set to take effect April 11, the rule expands registration and fingerprinting mandates for foreign nationals crossing the U.S.-Canada land border and remaining in the country for over a month. Those affected would need to create an account with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and schedule an appointment for fingerprinting as part of a background check.

The policy shift could impact Canadian snowbirds—retirees who spend winters in warmer U.S. states—as they may now have to register with the U.S. government or risk penalties.

Exemptions and Context

• The I-94 travel document, commonly issued to non-immigrant visitors arriving by air or sea, will be accepted as an alternative to the new registration.
• The rule aligns with Trump’s broader crackdown on migration, coinciding with escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada.
• Trump recently doubled tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, part of a broader strategy to exert economic pressure on America’s northern neighbor.

Immigration Law Enforcement and Background

The rule enforces provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which has long required noncitizens over 14 years old to register and be fingerprinted within 30 days of entry and for registered noncitizens over 18 to carry proof of registration at all times.

• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has pledged to fully enforce the act as part of a campaign to track and compel illegal aliens to leave the U.S. voluntarily.
• Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office, directing DHS to ensure compliance with the law.

DHS and the White House have yet to comment on the Canadian registration policy.

Requirements Under the New Rule

Canadians entering the U.S. by land and staying over 30 days—without another form of federal registration—must submit a biographic information form, including:
✅ Phone number
✅ Date of birth
✅ Address
✅ Family details
✅ Criminal record
✅ Immigration history

The policy represents one of the most significant expansions of border enforcement between the U.S. and Canada in decades.