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www.snowbirds.org
CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE
Generally, visitors traveling to the United States are required to be in possession of passports that are
valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the United States. However, citizens
of certain countries, including Canada and most (but not all) visa waiver countries, are exempt from
this requirement and need only have a passport valid for their intended period of stay. A list of all the
countries exempt from the six-month rule can be found on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
website at
www.cbp.gov
.
Clarification of Six Months Admissibility of Canadian Citizens under B-2 Visa (Tourist)
In November 2006, the association wrote to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to seek
clarification of the six (6) month – or 182 day – admissibility period for Canada citizens. A
copy of the two-page letter from the association to CBP can be read on the association website
www.snowbirds.org
. Below you will see a copy of the CBP reply to the association.
Please note that the reply letter does not stipulate that the calculation is based on a calendar year.
It has been clarified that the CBP officer who processes your admission at the port-of-entry has the
absolute discretion to calculate your past and current travel pattern (for the purpose of determining
the six months maximum visit time) to be any 12-month revolving period of his/her choosing. If your
past travel would suggest that you “normally” start each fall snowbird season on November 1
st
, the