Thinking of heading to the United States this summer? Well, whether you’re flying out or driving down, Canada’s latest travel advisory might give you pause.
Although the government’s U.S. advisory was updated on June 3, the real shift happened back in April. That’s when Canada first warned travellers about ramped-up U.S. border scrutiny — including a major new policy that limits foreign stays to 30 days unless you’re officially registered with the U.S. government.
According to the advisory, American border agents are also allowed to search your phone, laptop, or tablet without reason, and you might be asked to hand over passwords. If you refuse, “they may seize your device,” the government warns. “The border agent could also delay your travel or deny entry.”
But that’s not all. U.S. officers have what Canada calls “significant discretion,” meaning they can ask for proof of your travel plans, financial situation, and ties to Canada — like a job, school enrollment, or permanent address.
As for the new 30-day rule, Canadians and other foreign nationals must be registered with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) if they plan to stay longer. If you skip that step, you could face fines, penalties, or even misdemeanour charges. You can check your registration status by looking up your I-94 admission record on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website.
What’s driving the warning? Tensions between the two countries have been on the rise in the past few months, with trade disputes and pointed remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump stirring up backlash.
Combined with the new entry rules, that’s already had an impact: in April, Statistics Canada reported that transborder travel fell by nearly 6% compared to last year, including a 10.1% drop in U.S.-bound passengers at Montréal-Trudeau.
But if you’re still planning a trip, the government recommends putting your phone on airplane mode before reaching the border and being cooperative. Refusing to comply could lead to denied entry or even detention.
Canada’s full U.S. travel advisory can be found here.
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