Government Relations Report Johanne Blain First Vice-President In March, CSA representatives travelled to Washington, D.C. for meetings on Capitol Hill related to our Canadian Retiree Visa initiative. In the 118th session of Congress, we have two bills, one in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R.4448) and one in the U.S. Senate (S.387) which, if passed, would increase the permitted length of stay for retired Canadians travelling to the United States to an eight-month period. Passage of the same bill in both the House and Senate is required in order for the bill to become law. If these bills are approved, it would mean a two-month increase from the current policy, which limits the amount of time Canadian visitors can stay in the United States to six months less a day within any 12-month period. While the House version of our legislation was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, the Senate companion bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance. CSA representatives are working on expanding the number of Congressional co-sponsors for both of these bills, focusing on obtaining the direct support of members who sit on these committees. At this time, the House bill has 23 bipartisan co-sponsors… and that number continues to grow. Both of these bills also contain a provision which ensures that eligible retirees are not faced with negative income tax ramifications by being treated as U.S. residents for tax purposes. This is a crucial provision which CSA representatives ensure is included in every iteration of this legislation that is introduced in Congress. Updates regarding this initiative will be provided to members through our email advisories as these bills make their way through the legislative process. In early April, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that the NEXUS program application fee would be increased from US$50 to US$120, effective October 1, 2024. Applicants who have submitted their application and paid the US$50 fee but have not completed their enrolment interviews by October 1, 2024 will not have to pay the proposed US$120 fee. The NEXUS program allows pre-screened travellers expedited processing when entering the United States and Canada. NEXUS cards allow members to: ▶ use self-serve NEXUS kiosks or eGates when entering Canada at nine major international airports ▶ use dedicated vehicle lanes at 20 designated land-border crossings ▶ use U.S. Global Entry kiosks for entry into the U.S. ▶ receive expedited clearance through CATSA security screening lines at major and select mid-sized airports in Canada ▶ receive expedited clearance through the U.S. Transportation Security Administration Pre-Check lines at more than 200 participating U.S. airports ▶ clear the border by boat using the Telephone Reporting Centre and preregister your arrival at 426 designated sites Applicants are encouraged to book their interview as soon as possible. Appointments are available on the Trusted Traveller Programs System, https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov. Many enrolment centres offer next-day availability for scheduling interviews, allowing applicants to book their appointments quickly. Please be aware of certain third-party organizations that offer to help complete the NEXUS application on your behalf. A third-party representative is not necessary in order to complete your NEXUS application and will not speed up the process. In fact, using a third-party representative can often result in additional charges and delays in your membership being approved or issued. Always ensure that you are using the official Trusted Traveller Programs System when applying for a NEXUS card. As part of the CSA renewal package, we have included two copies of IRS Form 8840 – the Closer Connection Exception Statement for Aliens. In accordance with U.S. tax law, any foreign visitor to the United States who meets the substantial presence test can be treated as a U.S. resident for tax purposes. Information about the substantial presence test can be found in your CSA renewal package. As a Canadian visitor to the United States, if you generally spend four months or longer stateside annually, the Canadian Snowbird Association strongly recommends that you complete and file the 8840 Form in a timely manner each year. Please note that you will need to complete one form per person and ensure that it reaches the IRS by the June 15 deadline. You are eligible to file the 8840 Form as long as you do not exceed 182 days of physical presence in the United States in a single calendar year. Filing the 8840 Form is an easy way to protect yourself by ensuring that you are compliant with U.S. tax law. Make sure that you keep a copy of your 8840 Form for your files, prior to submitting it to the IRS. Gilles and I wish you a safe and relaxing summer. CSANews | SPRING 2024 | 11
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