Canadians planning to visit the United States for 30 days or more will soon need to register with U.S. authorities. This new requirement comes from existing immigration law, which mandates that foreign nationals aged 14 and older must register and be fingerprinted if they stay in the U.S. for an extended period. Although this rule has been on the books, it hasn’t been consistently enforced for Canadians crossing the border.
The change in enforcement was signaled by President Trump on his first day in office. He issued an executive order that emphasizes compliance with this law. The order also states that failing to register will be treated seriously, with both civil and criminal consequences.
Canadian officials have confirmed that they received notice about this new enforcement policy. The announcement was first reported by ABC News. It marks a significant shift in how border regulations will be applied to Canadian visitors, who have historically enjoyed more lenient entry rules.
As this policy takes effect, Canadians should be aware of the registration requirement to avoid any issues during their travels to the U.S.