Canadians staying in the US for more than 30 days will be required to submit fingerprints. New amendment could change many people's travel plans!

If you were planning to travel south of the Canadian border to work remotely all summer, take a long road trip with friends, or spend the winter there, know that new rules introduced by the Donald Trump administration could change your plans. From April 11, anyone staying in the US for more than 30 days will be required to register with US authorities, including submitting fingerprints.

This is stated in a new regulation published in the official USA Gazette this Wednesday, March 12. It must be said that this measure is not specifically aimed at Canadians.

It follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump on the first day of his presidency, January 20, 2025, in addition to applying an existing law from which the Canadian population was exempted.

Thus, from April 11, 2025, persons aged 14 and over, and parents or legal guardians of children under 14, will have to register. Registration also does not guarantee the right of passage.

“Willful failure or refusal of a foreign national to register or provide fingerprints is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to six months,” the publication says.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, this new rule for the Canadian population will affect “between 2.2 million and 3.2 million” people, including “Canadian visitors who entered the United States through land border crossings and were not provided proof of registration.”

How to register:

According to the official publication in the publication (newspaper), travelers will have to register online with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). After that, the process of scheduling an appointment for biometric data registration will be initiated.

USCIS uses biometric information (fingerprints and photographs) "for identity verification, security, and background check purposes, including criminal background checks conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)"