I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 979 

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to encourage Canadian 

tourism to the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 7, 2017 

Mr. SIRES (for himself and Mr. YOHO) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the 

Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to encourage 

Canadian tourism to the United States. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Promoting Tourism 

5 to Enhance our Economy Act of 2017’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ENCOURAGING CANADIAN TOURISM TO THE 

2 UNITED STATES. 

3 Section 214 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 

4 (8 U.S.C. 1184) is amended by adding at the end the fol5 lowing: 

6 ‘‘(s) CANADIAN RETIREES.— 

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland 

8 Security may admit as a visitor for pleasure as de9 scribed in section 101(a)(15)(B) any alien for a pe10 riod not to exceed 240 days, if the alien dem11 onstrates, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that 

12 the alien— 

13 ‘‘(A) is a citizen of Canada; 

14 ‘‘(B) is at least 55 years of age; 

15 ‘‘(C) maintains a residence in Canada; 

16 ‘‘(D) owns a residence in the United States 

17 or has signed a rental agreement for accom18 modations in the United States for the duration 

19 of the alien’s stay in the United States; 

20 ‘‘(E) is not inadmissible under section 212; 

21 ‘‘(F) is not described in any ground of de22 portability under section 237; 

23 ‘‘(G) will not engage in employment or 

24 labor for hire in the United States; and 

25 ‘‘(H) will not seek any form of assistance 

26 or benefit described in section 403(a) of the 


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1 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 

2 Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613(a)). 

3 ‘‘(2) SPOUSE.—The spouse of an alien de4 scribed in paragraph (1) may be admitted under the 

5 same terms as the principal alien if the spouse satis6 fies the requirements of paragraph (1), other than 

7 subparagraphs (B) and (D). 

8 ‘‘(3) IMMIGRANT INTENT.—In determining eli9 gibility for admission under this subsection, mainte10 nance of a residence in the United States shall not 

11 be considered evidence of intent by the alien to 

12 abandon the alien’s residence in Canada. 

13 ‘‘(4) PERIOD OF ADMISSION.—During any sin14 gle 365-day period, an alien may be admitted as de15 scribed in section 101(a)(15)(B) pursuant to this 

16 subsection for a period not to exceed 240 days, be17 ginning on the date of admission. Periods of time 

18 spent outside the United States during such 240-day 

19 period shall not toll the expiration of such 240-day 

20 period. 

21 ‘‘(5) NON-RESIDENT ALIEN TAX STATUS.—An 

22 alien admitted pursuant to this subsection shall be 

23 treated as a nonresident alien for purposes of the InVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:22 Feb 17, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H979.IH H979

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1 ternal Revenue Code of 1986 (other than subtitle B 

2 thereof).’’. 

Æ 


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