Last updated: May 2026. This post has been updated to reflect real-world enforcement developments at land border crossings, including biometrics, NEXUS clarifications, and the single-trip validity of I-94 records.
Everything Canadians Need to Know About Form I-94
If you are a Canadian citizen planning to travel to the United States for an extended stay, Form I-94 is one of the most important documents to understand. It determines whether you are already registered with US immigration authorities, and therefore whether you need to take any additional steps under the new alien registration requirement introduced in 2025.
For the approximately one million Canadian snowbirds who head south every winter, understanding your I-94 status is now a routine part of cross-border travel — not optional paperwork.
What is Form I-94?
Form I-94, also known as the Arrival/Departure Record, is an official document issued by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to foreign nationals entering the United States. It records the date and location of arrival, visa status (if applicable), and the authorized period of stay. For most visitors, the I-94 is now issued and stored electronically in the CBP system rather than as a paper document.
Critically for Canadian snowbirds, a valid I-94 also satisfies the registration requirement under the alien registration rules that took effect April 11, 2025. If you have an active I-94 on record, you are registered. If you do not, and you plan to stay 30 days or more, you must register separately using Form G-325R.
Do Canadians Need an I-94?
Canadian citizens can enter the United States visa-free for stays of up to six months for tourism, business visits, and other short-term purposes. An I-94 is not required to enter the US.
However, as a result of Executive Order 14159 signed by President Trump on January 20, 2025, Canadians staying for 30 days or more must be registered with US immigration authorities. An active I-94 is the simplest way to satisfy that requirement. If you do not have one, Form G-325R is the alternative path.
Form I-94 is also required regardless of length of stay if you are entering under specific visa categories such as a TN work permit, an F-1 student visa, a K-1 fiancé visa, or for other authorized non-tourist purposes.
How the I-94 Works in Practice
If You Enter by Air
Canadians entering the US by air are generally issued an electronic I-94 automatically upon arrival. In most cases you will not receive a paper document; the record exists electronically in the CBP system. After arriving at your US destination, check the CBP I-94 website to confirm your record was created and note your authorized period of stay.
If You Enter by Land
This is where the process becomes less predictable, and where most snowbirds encounter confusion.
Canadians crossing a land border may or may not be issued an electronic I-94. CBP officers are not obligated to issue one upon entry, and whether one is generated varies by crossing, officer, and volume of traffic. At high-traffic crossings like the Peace Bridge, processing I-94 requests for all travellers would require diverting vehicles to secondary inspection areas with limited capacity, leading to significant delays, so CBP prioritizes efficient processing and typically reserves secondary inspections for cases requiring further scrutiny.
The only reliable way to know whether you received an I-94 is to check the CBP website after every crossing. Do not assume one was issued either way.
Your options at a land border are:
(a) Cross as normal and check afterward. After arriving at your US destination, go to i94.cbp.dhs.gov, select “Get most recent I-94/I-95,” and check your record. If an I-94 exists, you are registered. If not, and you plan to stay 30 days or more, file Form G-325R within 30 days of entry.
(b) Apply for an I-94 online in advance. You can apply via the CBP website up to seven days before crossing ($30 USD per person). Note that an online application generates a provisional I-94 only; the official record is created when CBP confirms your entry at the border. Despite applying for a provisional I-94 or requesting one at the border, the CBP officer processing your admission has final say on whether one is issued. Also note that requests for I-94 forms by Canadian citizens have not been typical practice until now, and requesting one may lead to additional questions or inspection at the border.
(c) Request an I-94 at the border. This is possible but not reliably granted. If your request is approved, you will pay $30 USD and be subject to CBP biometric processing (see below). In practice, requesting an I-94 at the border is often denied at busy crossings. If denied, check the CBP website after entry and file a G-325R if needed.
Our recommendation is straightforward: continue to cross the border as you normally would, then verify whether an I-94 was issued upon arrival at their destination. If it was, print it and carry it. If it was not, file Form G-325R within 30 days.
What About Biometrics?
This is an area where the official rules and on-the-ground experience have diverged, and it is worth being clear about both.
The official position: Canadian citizens are exempt from the fingerprinting requirement as part of the G-325R USCIS registration process, as stated in the Federal Register.
What is actually happening at land borders: A different picture has emerged in practice. Despite recent claims from US authorities that fingerprinting and photographing Canadian travellers is part of a new policy, some snowbirds have reported inconsistent experiences at various land border crossings, with the process varying depending on the individual border officer and location.
Specifically, Canadians who request or are processed for an I-94 at a land border crossing (through the $30 CBP process) are subject to CBP’s biometric requirements, which include fingerprints and a photograph. This is a CBP process, separate from the USCIS G-325R fingerprint exemption. CBC News reported in November 2025 that some snowbirds were photographed and fingerprinted without being given a choice, while others crossed without any mention of registration.
The practical takeaway: if you cross a land border and are processed for an I-94 on-site, expect biometrics. If you cross without an I-94 being issued and file a G-325R afterward online, no biometrics appointment is required for Canadian citizens.
Important: Your I-94 Is Valid for One Trip Only
This is the detail that has caught the most snowbirds off guard, and it is critical to understand before making any day trips or short excursions during your US stay.
Your I-94 record covers a single continuous stay. If you leave the United States — even for a one-day trip to Mexico, a weekend back in Canada, or any other departure — your I-94 is no longer valid upon re-entry.
CBC News documented a concrete example of this during the 2025-2026 snowbird season. Alberta snowbirds David and Gerilee Kermack completed their G-325R registration upon arriving in Arizona, then took a one-day road trip to Mexico. When they returned to the US, they learned their registration was no longer valid. The border officer explained that it is “basically like a contract — if you leave, it expires.” They were then required to apply for an I-94 at the southern border, which included biometrics and the $30 fee.
What this means for snowbirds who take winter excursions: after every re-entry into the US, check your I-94 status at the CBP website. If a new I-94 was issued for that re-entry, you are registered for that stay. If not and you plan to stay 30 or more days again, file a new G-325R.
NEXUS Card Holders: You Are Not Exempt
There has been significant confusion about whether NEXUS or Global Entry members are exempt from the I-94 and registration requirements. The answer, as of the most recent CBP guidance, is no.
CBP initially told CBC News on October 21, 2025 that NEXUS holders were exempt. However, on November 6, 2025, CBP reversed that position. Snowbird and NEXUS member Maureen Adderley from Midland, Ontario reported that when she arrived at the US border, a border officer advised her that she still needed to register. She waited an hour to be photographed and fingerprinted.
NEXUS and Global Entry memberships facilitate expedited border crossings but do not satisfy the registration requirement. The same rules apply to NEXUS holders as to all other Canadian travellers: check your I-94 after every entry, and register via G-325R if no I-94 was issued and you plan to stay 30 days or more.
How to Check Your I-94 Status
Checking your I-94 status is straightforward and should be done after every US entry:
- Go to i94.cbp.dhs.gov
- Select “Get most recent I-94/I-95”
- Agree to the terms of service
- Enter your passport details
- Review your current record; note the admission class and authorized period of stay
If a record appears for your most recent entry, you are registered. Print a copy and carry it with you at all times while in the US.
If no record appears, and you plan to stay 30 days or more, you must file Form G-325R within 30 days of your entry date. There is no fee to file G-325R.
Note: your travel history on the CBP website is different from your I-94 record. Check specifically for an active I-94 entry, not just your travel history.
Read the CBP website’s FAQ section for more information about how to access, verify, and print your electronic I-94 record.
Departing the US and I-94 Compliance
For air travellers, your departure is recorded automatically when you leave the US. No action is required on your part.
If you received a paper I-94 (rare under the current electronic system), surrender it to a CBP officer at the border or to airline personnel when departing by plane. If you forget, mail it to the appropriate CBP office with documentation proving your exit date.
Failing to properly close out your I-94 can result in your record showing an overstay, which can affect future US entries even if you actually left on time. If you believe your departure was not recorded correctly, contact CBP to correct the record.
A Note on Mandatory Border Photography
Starting December 26, 2025, the US introduced mandatory biometric photography for all travellers entering and exiting at land border crossings and airports equipped with facial biometrics technology, with full implementation across all crossings in 2026. This applies to all travellers including Canadians, and is separate from the I-94 and G-325R registration processes. No action is required on your part; it is conducted at the crossing itself.
In Summary
For most Canadian snowbirds who enter by air, the I-94 process is automatic and invisible: the record is created electronically and no further steps are required. The complexity arises at land border crossings, where I-94 issuance is inconsistent and the fallback (Form G-325R) must be filed within 30 days if no I-94 was issued.
The practical checklist after every US entry:
- Repeat after every re-entry — your I-94 only covers a single continuous stay
- Check your I-94 status at i94.cbp.dhs.gov
- If an I-94 was issued, print it and carry it with you
- If no I-94 was issued and you plan to stay 30+ days, file Form G-325R within 30 days
Heading down to the US this winter? Learn more about our car transport service for snowbirds.
FAQs About Form I-94
Do all Canadians need Form I-94 to enter the US?
Not necessarily. An I-94 is not required to enter the US. However, if you are staying 30 days or more, you need either an active I-94 or a completed Form G-325R to satisfy the registration requirement under Executive Order 14159. Canadians entering by air generally receive an I-94 automatically. Those entering by land should check the CBP website after every crossing.
Where can I check my I-94 status?
Go to i94.cbp.dhs.gov and check your most recent record by entering your passport details. Do not rely on what happened at the border; check the website directly after every entry to confirm.
Is there a fee for Form I-94?
An electronically issued I-94 can be accessed free of charge via the CBP website. The fee for a paper I-94 issued at a land border, or requested in advance via the online application form, is currently $30 USD.
How long does an I-94 allow me to stay in the US?
The authorized stay depends on your visa status. Tourists are typically allowed up to six months, while work and study visas have varying durations.
Does my I-94 cover day trips out of the US?
No. Your I-94 is valid for a single continuous stay. If you leave the US, even briefly, your I-94 is no longer valid upon re-entry. Check the CBP website after every re-entry and file a new G-325R if no I-94 was issued for that new stay.
I have a NEXUS card. Am I exempt?
No. CBP confirmed in November 2025 that NEXUS and Global Entry holders are not exempt from the registration requirement. The same rules apply regardless of Trusted Traveler Program membership.
Will I be fingerprinted when getting an I-94 at the border?
If you obtain an I-94 through the CBP process at a land border crossing, CBP’s biometric requirements apply, including fingerprints and a photograph and the $30 fee. This has been reported inconsistently across different crossings and officers. If you file G-325R online after entry instead, no biometrics appointment is required for Canadian citizens.
What if I don’t register at all?
Failure to register when required is a violation of federal immigration law and can result in fines of up to $5,000 and imprisonment of up to six months. It can also affect your ability to re-enter the US on future trips. The Trump administration has designated immigration compliance as a civil and criminal enforcement priority.
What should I do if I lost my paper I-94?
You can retrieve your electronic I-94 online via the CBP website. The electronic I-94 fulfills the same proof of registration requirements as the paper version.