Several Canadian snowbirds reported being fingerprinted and photographed at the U.S. border this month while registering.They are preparing for the winter, which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told CBC News is now standard procedure.
Jackie and Steve Rea of Ladysmith, BC arrived at the Peace Arch border crossing between Surrey, BC and Blaine, WA on October 9th.
The snowbirds knew they would have to comply with new registration requirements for travelers staying in the United States for more than 29 days. So when a CBP officer said they could complete the process at the border, the couple agreed, not knowing what lay ahead.
Jacqui Rea said they were sent to a second inspection where their caravan was searched.
“I watch them open all our hatches and we think, 'Oh my God!' – she said. “They looked through our entire van.”
Ree says she and her husband stood in line for 1.5 hours just to seeold from second CBP officer they were unable to register at the border. But when they were as he was about to leave, the third officer saidOnce he was satisfied that he was able to register the couple, he photographed them and took their fingerprints to collect data.
“I was like, 'God, I hope there's nothing on my record that they can find,'” Rhee said, adding that there wasn't.
The couple was fined $60 US for only thousand.they have completed registration.
Rhee said she felt the fee was “sort of a money grab” and found the process frustrating because CBP officers had conflicting ideas about whether they could register travelers.
“They really didn't know what they were doing,” she said. “I felt sorry for them.”
Continued confusion
Confusion over registration rules has been growing since US President Donald Trump issued an executive order decree earlier this year againrequiring many foreign guests to stay 30 days or longer to register with the US government.
Those who fail to comply face fines of up to $5,000 or jail time.
Requirement valid from April. However, as the new snowbird season begins, many Canadian snowbirds are faced with regulations for the first time, leading to some uncertainty and frustration.
Air travelers are generally exempt from registration requirements because they are issued an Electronic Arrival Record (I-94) upon entry into the United States.. However, overland travelers usually do not receive it.
The snowbirds say they are offended that the Trump administration will begin enforcing an existing law for Canadians that requires anyone who crosses a land border and stays in the country for more than 30 days to register with U.S. immigration authorities.
CBP Internet Postupdated Oct. 2, offers land travelers two options for obtaining Form I-94: They can pre-apply through I-94 site or CBP One App within seven days before entering the United States, or they can register at the border.
CBP RepresentativeJessica Turner's son told CBC News that whichever method they choose, travelers will be charged $30 each and will be photographed and fingerprinted by officers at the border – all part of the I-94 application process.
“These measures are required under US immigration law to enhance border security, verify the identity of travelers and ensure compliance with US entry and exit requirements,” Turner said in an email to CBC News.
But immigration lawyers And snowbird organizations they say there's another option for long-stay land travelers: If border officials allow them to enter the U.S. without I-94, they I can register online at your destination by filling out the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) form called G-325R.
The form asks travelers a long list of personal questions, such as their U.S. address, email and marital status. It must be completed within 30 days of arrival. There is no fee or fingerprinting fee for Ca.nadian
U.S. immigration attorney Jennifer Boehm says it will be up to individual CBP officers to decide whether they will insist travelers apply for Form I-94 at the border or give them the option of filing the alternative Form G-325R at their U.S. destination.
“It’s completely up to them,” she said.
Snowbird Rea said the border told her she could fill out Form G-325R online, but she chose to register at the border instead.
However, when snowbirds Brenda Page and her husband, Dan, of Calgary, arrived at the U.S. border in Sweet Grass, Montana, on Oct. 2, there was no mention of them. Form variant G-325R.
Instead, she said, they were automatically sent to secondary screening so that the CBP officer can help them complete the I-94 application process.
“He just said, 'OK, who's going to go first?' – Paige said. “It just seemed like he had a list of things that needed to be done.”
Paige said the couple was photographed, fingerprinted and charged a total of $60. She said no part of the process was presented as optional.
“We want to come back here every year, so we just did it.”
Another snowbird, Caroline Horne of Burlington, Ont., said she and her husband had a very different experience at the Peace Bridge border crossing in Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday.
She said the couple told the border agent they planned to stay in Florida for about 30 days, and he allowed them to enter without mention of registration requirements.
“Nothing came up other than what we do at work and whether we have alcohol or tobacco,” Horne said.
CBC News sent Horne a link to form G-325R, which she immediately filled out.
Separate departments cause confusion
CBC asked CBP's Turner about the G-325R uniform option. She declined this offer.
“It does not replace the I-94 requirement and is not relevant to the entry process for Canadian citizens,” Turner said.
Lawyer Bem explains the confusionabout registration options, to the fact that two separate immigration agenciesCBP and U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) are involved in this process.
“They're not always agile in how they act or how their actions or decisions affect each other,” said Boehm, a partner at Berardi Immigration Law in Buffalo, New York.
She says if snowbirds pre-register online or register at the border, they will likely be sent for secondary screening, which automatically means they will be fingerprinted and photographed to verify their identity.
“When you go through the secondary review office, it's part of their overall course of action,” she said.
Boehm says snowbirds who fill out USCIS Form G-325R instead while in the U.S. may find it a more convenient experience.
“If you're computer savvy… it's not a terribly overwhelming app.”
The Trump administration is being sued over a looming requirement for travelers to register with the government if they stay in the country for 30 days or longer. The rule, which goes into effect April 11, has alienated many Canadian snowbirds, who now say they plan to leave the U.S. because of the rule.
“There are so many questions coming in.”
Stephen Fine, president of Snowbird Advisor, which has a resource website, says he will be keeping an eye on how the registration process works this season so he can update information about the Snowbirds.
“There are so many questions coming in,” he said. “We receive dozens of emails every week about this issue.”
Fine says he's concerned that some snowbirds may be forced to apply for Form I-94 at the border and not offered the alternative of registering online once in the US.
“I feel like there may be some CBP officers who won't give you that opportunity or give you the impression that you don't have that opportunity. [another] option”, he said.
Snowbird Page, who was given no other choice at the border, said she had no objection to the process, including fingerprinting and photo scanning.
“It didn't bother me. I didn't do anything wrong.”
Canadians already in the US can check this CBP web page to see if they were automatically issued an I-94 upon entry.
