Snowbirds must soon submit fingerprints for U.S. travel under new Homeland Security rules [Video]

Canadians and other foreign nationals who plan to stay in the U.S. for 30 days or longer will soon be required to apply for registration and fingerprinting with the Department of Homeland Security.

The draft rule, which stems from a Jan. 20 executive order, is expected to be put in force April 11, according to media reports. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) did not respond to a request from CBC News by publication time.

Although Canadians have long benefited from exceptions to some U.S. travel laws due to the countries’ close ties — citizenship alone won’t exempt travellers, including snowbirds, from these new regulations.

A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada says it is “closely monitoring this development.”

The changes come as President Donald Trump’s tariff threats continue to jeopardize both the U.S. and Canada’s economies.

Montreal-based immigration lawyer Patrice Brunet said the changes would mark “a very drastic policy shift,” where Canadians will be considered, for the …