Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has reintroduced the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act with Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL), a bipartisan bill to extend the time Canadians who own or lease a home in the United States can travel within the United States by two months. Current U.S. law limits the amount of time a Canadian visitor may spend in the U.S. to 182 days per year.
“Our successful and productive economic partnership with Canada extends beyond our cross-border business and manufacturing operations,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “Our Canadian visitors are also critically important to the North Country’s tourism industry and our economy as a whole. We are lucky to share the St. Lawrence River, and our neighbors to the North frequently cross the border in the summer months to boat, hike, or visit one of our many historical sites. Providing them with an extra two months to participate in these activities will grow small businesses, create jobs, and foster our relationship with our closest economic ally.”
"We're proud to welcome our northern neighbors to our sunny corner of the country," said Congressman Deutch. "In fact, their visits to South Florida contribute significantly to our regional economy, helping local businesses and creating jobs. I'm proud to work with my New York colleague to introduce this bill to allow our Canadian guests to extend their stay in the United States."
“This bill will provide Canadian retirees with greater flexibility in their ability to travel to the United States annually and is a win-win for people on both sides of the border,” said Karen Huestis, President, Canadian Snowbird Association. “We commend Reps. Stefanik and Deutch for spearheading this initiative”.
Canada provides more visitors to the United States than any other country. Many of these visitors own or rent homes in the United States, and spend their winters along our beaches or in our national parks. Canadian visitors provide a substantial economic boost to communities throughout our country, purchasing on average $13.1 billion of U.S. residential real estate each year. In New York, nearly 4 million Canadians visit the Empire State a year, spending $1.5 billion. These Canadian visitors would be prohibited from working for a U.S. employer and from being eligible for various forms of public assistance. Additionally, they would remain fully subject to the vetting process imposed by current law.
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