Canadian Snowbird Visa Act

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize admission of Canadian retirees as long-term visitors for pleasure described in section 101(a)(15)(B) of such Act, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act 2. Admission of Canadian retirees Section 214 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184 (s) Canadian retirees (1) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security may admit an alien as a visitor described in section 101(a)(15)(B) if the alien demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that the alien— (A) is a citizen of Canada; (B) is at least 50 years of age; (C) maintains a residence in Canada; (D) owns a residence in the United States or has signed a rental agreement for accommodations in the United States for the duration of the alien’s stay in the United States; (E) is not inadmissible under section 212; (F) is not described in any ground of deportability under section 237; (G) will not engage in employment or labor for hire in the United States other than employment or labor for hire for a person or entity not based in the United States by whom the Canadian citizen was employed in Canada or for whom the Canadian citizen performed services in Canada; and (H) will not seek any form of assistance or benefit described in section 403(a) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 ( 8 U.S.C. 1613(a) (2) Spouse The spouse of an alien described in paragraph (1) may be admitted under the same terms as the principal alien if the spouse satisfies the requirements of paragraph (1), other than subparagraph (D). (3) Immigrant intent In determining eligibility for admission under this subsection, maintenance of a residence in the United States shall not be considered evidence of intent by the alien to abandon the alien’s residence in Canada. (4) Period of admission During any single 365-day period, an alien may be admitted as a visitor for pleasure described in section 101(a)(15)(B) pursuant to this subsection for a period not to exceed 240 days, beginning on the date of admission. Time spent outside of the United States during such period of admission shall not be counted for purposes of determining the termination date of such period. . 3. Nonresident alien tax status Subparagraph (B) of section 7701(b)(1) , or, notwithstanding subparagraph (A)(ii), is a Canadian citizen described in section 214(s) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(s) (within the meaning of subparagraph (A))

Summary: Canadian Snowbird Visa Act This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to admit into the United States qualifying Canadian citizens as long-term nonimmigrant visitors. A qualifying Canadian citizen is an individual who (1) is at least 50 years old, (2) maintains a Canadian residence, (3) owns a U.S. residence or has rented a U.S. accommodation for the duration of the individual's stay, (4) is not inadmissible or deportable, (5) will not engage in employment or labor for hire in the United States other than for a non-U.S.-based person or entity by whom the Canadian citizen was employed in Canada or for whom the Canadian citizen performed services in Canada, and (6) will not seek certain forms of assistance or benefits. A qualified individual may be admitted for up to 240 days during any single 365-day period. The spouse of such an individual may be admitted under the same terms, except that the spouse is not required to separately satisfy the requirement for owning or renting a residence in the United States. The bill grants an individual so admitted nonresident alien tax status.