Canadians in US - length of stay

[crabbin_cabin]

Just heard this afternoon, from our local rep.to Canadian Snowbird Assoc. that the change in rules that now allows Canadian visitors to stay up to 7 months ( instead of 6) has been passed by Congress. Any one else that can verify this for us?
John

[Gruffy]

OK found it. THE IMMIGRATION BILL HAS NOT YET MADE IT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

As of 16 December 2013 the plan appears to be to intoduce the bill in January. In fact, the Congress appears ready to write their own bill so "length of stay" may not even be addressed. We will have to wait and see. That CSA rep is shooting from the hip. Not uncommon. See below, from USA Today.

"WASHINGTON — If the Senate manages to pass a long-term budget deal Tuesday, the next item on the agenda for Congress could be even harder: immigration."

[Gruffy]

I can't find any reference to a vote in the US House of Representatives, only for the Senate. Passed back in June .... See quote below.

"Posted by: infinitilaw | on June 27, 2013

The senate passed the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill (S744) today by a vote of 68-32. The next step for the bill is the House of Representatives.

Here is a list of who voted for & against the bill:"

[John___Angela]

crabbin cabin wrote:
Just heard this afternoon, from our local rep.to Canadian Snowbird Assoc. that the change in rules that now allows Canadian visitors to stay up to 7 months ( instead of 6) has been passed by Congress. Any one else that can verify this for us?
John

I suspect this is being confused with the recent news release from the Alberta Goverment that alloes Albertans to keep their healthcare coverage for up to 7 months outside of the province of Alberta. I don't think it has anything to do with the US. Many snowbirds don't go to the US and instead go to countrys such as Mexico, Ecuador, Costa Rica. Chile etc. Some (like us) also split our times between several countrys. This is probably a bigger deal for them than the US bound Canadian snowbirds.

[Gruffy]

Before you think your home free ..... consider that the bill has for sure passed the senate, I think it passed congress .... but if I understand the process Obama must sign it before it goes into effect. In other words .... it's still 182 days until it's actually signed, and CPB has a chance to publish the new rules.

[crabbin_cabin]

PackerBacker wrote:
I just found the Snowbird association press release from December 17th and it is for people from Alberta.
http://www.snowbirds.org/news-releases

Thanks for the clarification sir. My source is from Calgary!

[Community Alumni]

I just found the Snowbird association press release from December 17th and it is for people from Alberta.
http://www.snowbirds.org/news-releases

[Community Alumni]

I've been following this pretty close since we spend about half our time in the US. There a change in the works that would permit an 8 month stay however it is on the immigration side of things, the US IRS would still be able to tax your income if you stay 183 days or more.

On the other side, the amount of time that you can leave Canada and retain your benefits is still on a province by province basis. For us in Quebec, it is still. 6 months.

This is my current understanding of this subject.

[Executive45]

Discussed HERE....Dennis