Canadian snowbirds face fingerprinting at U.S. border. Here's why and how much it'll cost

Canadian snowbirds on their way to the United States may find a new wrinkle at the border this autumn. New regulations in the U.S. require fingerprints and photographs to be taken as part of documentation upon entering the country for an extended period. And there’s a $30 fee attached.

The Alien Registration Form (G-325R) was introduced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in April and requires most non-citizens who are in the country for 30 days or longer to officially register their presence and provide biographic information; i.e., a photograph and fingerprints.

Yes. The requirement includes Canadians who spend winter months in the U.S.; retirees who spend part of the year there; Canadians visiting friends or family for a month or more; and Canadians working remotely from the U.S. for more than a month without a work visa.

As a Canadian, if you are not planning to be in the U.S. for more than a month, you do not need to register your stay with USCIS.

Children under the age of 14 are exempt from fingerprinting, but still need to be registered by their parents if they are going to be in the U.S. for a month or more.

According to a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol website, effective Sept. 30, 2025, the fee for Form I-94 has increased to $30 per person from the previous $6. (Notably, this fee only applies at land border crossings.)

Yes. Form G-325R is the Alien Registration form, but the I-94 is your arrival-and-departure record, so you basically need both — one to register as a visiting alien, and the second to indicate you’re actually in the country. Getting the I-94 at the border is also when you’ll get fingerprinted and photographed.

That changes things. According to Richards Jurusik , an immigration law firm operating in both the U.S. and Canada, Canadians who enter the U.S. by air are automatically issued an electronic I-94 free of charge on arrival, whereas those who cross by land are not.

Yes. In fact, you must register after arrival, which you can do through the USCIS website .

Yes, but it seems to be at the discretion of border agents, who are still getting used to the new rules. A CBC investigation that spoke to several Canadian snowbirds found a variety of cross-border experiences.

Some travellers were told they had to be fingerprinted and photographed and had to pay $30 each, while others were informed that an online application was available without the biometrics, and were free to choose that.

An immigration lawyer told CBC that some of the confusion stems from the fact that two agencies — Customs and Border Patrol but also U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — are involved.

It’s also true that the goalposts are moving quickly. The new regulations have all come into effect since last autumn, which is the last time most snowbirds would have travelled to the U.S.

The U.S. embassy in Canada notes on its website: “ Canadian citizens are generally exempted from the fingerprint requirement.” However, that site was last updated in March.

Very. Failing to register or providing false information can lead to fines of up to US$5,000 as well as up to six months in jail, and/or deportation for fraudulent registration.

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