Canadian Snowbird Act
Canadian Snowbird Act
Plain Language Summary
# Canadian Snowbird Act Summary **What It Would Do:** This bill would create a new visa category allowing Canadian citizens aged 50 and older to stay in the United States for extended periods—up to 240 days per year. The program is designed specifically for "snowbirds," Canadians who spend winters in the U.S. To qualify, applicants must own or rent a U.S. residence, maintain a home in Canada, pass security checks, and meet income/benefit requirements. Their spouses could join them under the same rules (though spouses wouldn't need their own U.S. property). **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily targets Canadian retirees and older adults who want to spend extended time in warm U.S. locations during winter months.
It would also benefit U.S. communities in warm-weather states (particularly Florida, where the sponsor is from) that rely on seasonal Canadian visitors for tourism and economic activity. U.S. employers are largely unaffected, as Canadians under this program couldn't work in the U.S. except for Canadian-based employers. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on or passed. It remains in the early legislative stage.
CRS Official Summary
Canadian Snowbird ActThis bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to admit into the United States qualifying Canadian citizens as long-term nonimmigrant visitors.A qualifying Canadian citizen is an individual who (1) is at least 50 years old, (2) maintains a Canadian residence, (3) owns a U.S. residence or has rented a U.S. accommodation for the duration of the individual's stay, (4) is not inadmissible or deportable, (5) will not engage in employment or labor for hire in the United States other than for a non-U.S.-based person or entity by whom the Canadian citizen was employed in Canada or for whom the Canadian citizen performed services in Canada, and (6) will not seek certain forms of assistance or benefits. A qualified individual may be admitted for up to 240 days during any single 365-day period.The spouse of such an individual may be admitted under the same terms, except that the spouse is not required to separately satisfy the requirement for owning or renting a residence in the United States.An individual admitted into the United States under this bill shall have nonresident alien tax status.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.