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www.snowbirds.org
CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE
Equally important to note, travel days from the Canada-U.S. border to your final vacation destination
in one of the sun-belt states are not “free” days in terms of the calculation. Every day spent in the
United States throughout the year, including random shopping trips, sporting events, etc., and even
the two or three travelling days to and from your final destination count towards your time spent in
the United States.
Another common misassumption of many snowbirds is that by purchasing a vacation home in the
United States, they can come-and-go as they please without any time limit restriction. Owning
property – as opposed to renting a vacation home – does not increase your maximum number of
days allowed each year.
Lastly, it is important to remember that unless you are a dual U.S. citizen (besides being a Canadian
citizen or citizen of some other country) or you alternatively are a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident
(i.e. have your “green card”) you do not have the “right of abode” in the United States. You are a
foreign visitor without any entitlement or “rights”whatsoever. While most Canadian citizens are
welcome to visit the United States for up to six months (182 days) in a 12-month period, if the U.S.
Cusoms and Border protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry decides that you will be admitted for
a lesser period of time, there is no immediate appeal. The CBP officer has the absolute authority to
determine what period of time you are to be admitted up to the maximum prescribed for your class
of visa.
In general terms, there are four types of travellers to the United States:
1. U.S. citizens (or holder of U.S. dual citizenship with another country such as Canada) as
well as U.S. lawful permanent residents (green card holder).
These individuals have “the right of abode” in the United States and accordingly can enter the United
States whenever they want and for as long as they want.
2. Canadian citizens who travel with a Canadian passport.
If you are a Canadian citizen you are currently allowed to enter the U.S. as a tourist (under the B-2
class of visa) for a maximum of six (6) months. You do not need a paper entry visa in your passport
but must provide proof of Canadian citizenship (Canadian passport or other approved alternative
border-crossing document such as a NEXUS card).
For expediency in processing Canadian travellers at the Canada-U.S. border, a U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) officer will simply calculate the maximum visit time as “six months less a
day”. They will not take the time to actually count 182 boxes on a calendar. Depending when you
travel; if it is a leap-year or not; and how many days are in each month during your trip, you may in
fact be admitted for 181, 182, or 183 days using this simplified method.
It is important to note that a CBP officer may elect – for any reason – to admit you for a period
less than six months. This is not a debateable or negotiable point. It is their right to admit you for
whatever period – not exceeding the maximum – which the CBP officer considers appropriate.
If you are a dual citizen of Canada and another country other than the United States (e.g. United
Kingdom), to be treated as a Canadian citizen at the border, including being admitted for the
maximum six month stay, you must present a Canadian passport as your travel document. You cannot
use the passport of your other country together with merely your Canadian citizenship card slipped
inside the cover to be treated as a Canadian citizen. The passport you use will determine under which
citizenship rules you will be admitted to the United States.