President’s Message Karen Huestis CSA President Welcome to the fall edition of CSANews. Unfortunately, this means that summer is coming to an end, but the good news is that we will soon be on our way to our winter homes. Last winter, we heard a great deal about some of the economic challenges travelling to the United States presented for Canadian travellers, but there is definitely some good news to report. Did you know that Canadians are purchasing American properties in record numbers? Canadians spent US$19 billion between spring 2016 and spring 2017, an all-time high, according to a report from the U.S.-based National Association of Realtors. As we go to press, the Canadian dollar is trading at 80 cents, up nearly 10 per cent from early May alone. Over the last two-and-a-half months, our dollar has been the world’s best-performing major currency. Obviously we can’t predict the future, but these are both encouraging signs for the upcoming snowbird travel season. Speaking of which, here are a few things to keep in mind while you prepare for your trip south, if you are headed to the United States. For tourism purposes, Canadian citizens are permitted to spend up to a maximum of six months less a day (182 days) in the United States in a 12-month period. The 12-month period generally begins on your admission date to the United States and concludes one year later. For example, if you entered the U.S. on November 1st of 2017, then October 31st of 2018 would be your one-year period. The decision to allow entry into the United States is made at the discretion of the U.S. immigration officer. If you are already present in the United States and you leave for Canada or take a cruise outside of the United States, for fewer than 30 days, and you return to the United States, your departure may be included in your 182-day total.The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officerMAYrule, at their discretion, that your absence was not of sufficient duration to “stop the clock.” The CSA’s recommendation is to err on the side of caution and to treat short trips back home or abroad that are fewer than 30 days in duration, as if you never departed the United States. Finally, for most travellers to the United States, passports must be valid for six months beyond their departure date. This does not apply to Canadian citizens‒ passports only need to be valid for the duration of their trip. However, if you will be travelling abroad, you should verify passport requirements of your travel destination, as these will vary. Some countries may require you to have a passport which is valid for three or six months beyond your departure date. The Snowbird Lifestyle Presentations are right around the corner. This September, we begin our tour in Ontario with stops in Richmond Hill, St. Catharines, Parry Sound and Nepean. Following our Ontario shows, we head to the East Coast for shows in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Moncton, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia. As always, admission to these shows is free. Along with professional musical entertainment, they are a great source of information regarding most aspects of the snowbird lifestyle and, if you have a question we don’t have an answer for, rest assured that we’ll find it for you. Specific dates and times are available on our website at snowbirds.org. If you have any questions regarding the shows, please don’t hesitate to contact the office. Recently, some members have contacted the office asking if they are permitted to perform volunteer community service while in the United States. Admitted travellers are permitted to perform volunteer community service, provided it truly is “volunteer”- such as working in a hospital, community recreation centre or place of worship. There can be no pay or compensation received other than perhaps free refreshments/meal and/ or free parking while performing the service. Entering the United States as a tourist class visitor without a valid U.S. work permit does not permit any form of paid work, regardless if payment is in the form of cash, cheque or “in consideration” of some benefit which has a monetary value. On behalf of my husband Bill and I, safe travels and, hopefully, we’ll have a chance to meet at one of our many events. 10 | www.snowbirds.org
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