Canadian Snowbird Visa Act

Bill: 114-hr-6285
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Introduced: 2016-09-28
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Canada

Immigration status and procedures

Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Travel and tourism
Latest action: action_date: 2016-10-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-09-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Canadian Snowbird Visa Act</strong></p> <p> This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Department of Homeland Security to admit into the United States as a nonimmigrant visitor for a period not to exceed 240 days during any single 365-day period a Canadian citizen who: (1) is at least 50 years old, (2) maintains a Canadian residence and owns a U.S. residence or has rented a U.S. accommodation for the duration of such stay, (3) is not inadmissible or deportable, (4) will not engage in employment or labor for hire in the United States, and (5) will not seek any form of assistance or benefit under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.</p> <p> The spouse of such person may be admitted under the same terms except that he or she is not required to separately satisfy the residence/housing requirements.</p> The bill grants a person so admitted nonresident alien tax status.

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6285 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 28, 2016 Ms. Stefanik 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 authorize admission of Canadian retirees as long-term visitors for pleasure described in section 101(a)(15)(B) of such Act.

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 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (s) Canadian retirees (1) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security may admit an alien as a visitor for pleasure 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; 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. (5) Non-resident alien tax status Notwithstanding section 7701(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, an alien admitted pursuant to this subsection shall be treated as a nonresident alien for purposes the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (other than subtitle B thereof). .