With recent changes to U.S. immigration rules, many Canadians—including winter travelers, or snowboarders—are facing confusion and anxiety when crossing the border.

Angela and Lee Fobert, who have spent their winters in the U.S. for years, had a different experience when crossing the border in Aldergrove, British Columbia. Lee says he was stopped and asked to enter a small building, have his fingerprints taken, show his passport, pay $30, and have his photo taken.

“The photo was acceptable,” he says, “but the fingerprinting seemed a bit excessive.”

In contrast, his wife, Angela, entered without a hitch, with a Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) card, which exempted her from the process.

New US Border Rules
The executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, titled Protecting the American People from Aggression, will impose further restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals.

The order states:

All non-Americans staying in the United States for more than 30 days must register.

Canadians who plan to stay for more than 30 days must complete Form I-94 upon arrival and register with the US immigration system.

A security screening, including fingerprints and a photo, will be mandatory starting December 26.

The changes have caused concern for some travelers. The Foberts say they were anxious as they approached the border due to the mixed news.

Canadian travelers confused
Two Winnipeg residents, Eva Schleikjar and Yvonne Fasty, who own property in Arizona and travel to the United States every winter, filled out Form I-94 before traveling, as recommended.
But upon arrival, the border officer was surprised to see the form, saying:
“Next time, just call the border itself. Everything is the same as before. You don’t need this form.”

Eva says she paid for her first time to enter the United States and believes the process was “a waste of time.” She added that the situation causes stress for travelers and sends the message that “everything is normal.”

Legal advice for crossing the border
Ksenia Chern McCallum, a Canadian-American immigration lawyer, says it’s important to be prepared before crossing the border.

Travelers should have complete information about their whereabouts, duration of travel, financial resources, health insurance and connections to Canada, she says.

She stresses that each border officer may have different questions or strictures, but “if you’re honest and have a clear plan, you won’t have a problem getting in.”

Some Canadians have given up on America
Eric Fagen and his family, who spent five months each year in a motorhome in Florida, have decided not to go to the United States this year.
He says the new political climate and “the attacks of the US government on Canada” were the main reasons for the decision.

While Fagen regrets not seeing his American and Canadian friends, he hopes to return to the park that has been their winter home for many years.

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