Canadian Travelers Encounter Confusion Over New US I-94 Border Rules for Extended Stays

New Registration Requirements Take Effect

Canadian citizens planning to stay in the United States for 30 days or longer are now subject to new federal registration requirements, which officially came into effect on April 11, 2025. This policy primarily impacts travelers aged 14 and older who enter the U.S. via land border crossings or by ferry, as those arriving by air typically receive an electronic I-94 automatically. The core of the new requirement involves the Form I-94, or Arrival/Departure Record, an official document issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that tracks entry and exit dates and specifies the authorized duration of stay.

U.S. immigration law (INA § 262) mandates that all non-U.S. citizens staying for 30 days or more must register with the federal government. While the I-94 form itself is not new, its application to Canadian travelers for shorter extended stays has created significant changes in border procedures.

Navigating the I-94 Process and Associated Costs

For Canadian travelers, particularly snowbirds, understanding how to comply with the new I-94 requirements can be complex. There are several pathways to registration:

• Air Travel: Travelers entering by air are generally issued an electronic I-94 automatically. It is advisable to verify this record online after arrival.
• Land Border Entry – Pre-Application: Travelers can apply for a provisional I-94 online through the CBP I-94 website or the CBP One™ mobile app up to seven days before their arrival. This option carries a fee of $30 USD. However, some experts caution that pre-applying online for land crossings may not always expedite the process, as CBP officers retain discretion.
• Land Border Entry – At the Border: Travelers can request an I-94 directly from a border officer upon entry. This often leads to a secondary inspection, where individuals may be required to provide fingerprints and photos, and pay a $30 USD fee.
• Post-Entry Registration (Form G-325R): If an I-94 is not issued upon entry, especially common at land crossings, travelers planning a stay of 30 days or more must file the free online Form G-325R (Biographic Information) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within 30 days of arrival. This requires creating a USCIS online account.

The fee for the I-94 form increased from $6 to $30 USD on September 30, 2025. It is important to note that holding a NEXUS card does not exempt travelers from these I-94 requirements for extended stays.

Confusion and Inconsistent Enforcement

The implementation of these new rules has been met with considerable confusion among Canadian travelers. Reports indicate inconsistent application of the requirements by U.S. border officers across various land crossings. Some travelers have been waved through without being asked for an I-94 or biometrics, while others have undergone the full process of secondary inspection, fingerprinting, and photography.

U.S. immigration lawyer Len Saunders noted the complexity, stating, 'It's confusing, there's no common sense in how they're rolling this out.' Another Canadian immigration lawyer, Patrice Brunet, highlighted the potential consequences of non-compliance, warning that failure to register could lead to fines of up to $5,000 USD, imprisonment, or future entry restrictions. Travelers are advised to carry proof of their I-94 or G-325R registration at all times.

Upcoming Biometric Program

Further changes are anticipated with a new biometric entry-exit program, effective December 26, 2025. This program will authorize the collection of biometrics, primarily facial photographs and in some cases fingerprints, from all non-U.S. citizens upon both entry to and departure from the United States, across all modes of travel.