Promoting Tourism to Enhance our Economy Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-979
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-8]
Introduced: 2017-02-07
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Canada

Immigration status and procedures

Travel and tourism

Visas and passports
Latest action: action_date: 2017-03-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-02-07
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Promoting Tourism to Enhance our Economy Act of 2017</strong></p> <p> This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to admit into the United States as a visitor for pleasure a qualifying Canadian citizen over 55 years old and his or her spouse (who is not required to be over 55 years old) for a period not to exceed 240 days if the person: (1) maintains a Canadian residence and owns a U.S. residence or has rented a U.S. accommodation for the duration of such stay, and (2) is not inadmissible or described in any ground of deportability.</p> <p>Such person may not: (1) engage in employment or labor for hire in the United States, or (2) seek any form of assistance or benefit under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 979 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. Short title This Act may be cited as the Promoting Tourism to Enhance our Economy Act of 2017 . 2. Encouraging Canadian tourism to the United States 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 as a visitor for pleasure as described in section 101(a)(15)(B) any alien for a period not to exceed 240 days, if the alien demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that the alien— (A) is a citizen of Canada; (B) is at least 55 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 subparagraphs (B) and (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 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. Periods of time spent outside the United States during such 240-day period shall not toll the expiration of such 240-day period. (5) Non-resident alien tax status An alien admitted pursuant to this subsection shall be treated as a nonresident alien for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (other than subtitle B thereof). .