US May Demand More Personal Information from some Canadian Immigrants

Key Takeaways 

• The US may start asking for your social media and contact information for the past 10 years 

• The rules apply to people with passports from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries 

• Passport holders from VWP countries may be asked for this info even if they are temporary or permanent residents of Canada 

• Anyone staying in the US longer than 30 days must register with the government 

What’s Changing with US Border Crossings from Canada 

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says that passport holders from countries eligible under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) may now be required to submit their usernames for every social media platform they’ve used over the past five years. This would include both non-permanent residents and permanent residents of Canada who are citizens of VWP countries.  

On top of that, VWP eligible travelers would be asked for detailed personal information, including:   

• Telephone numbers used in the last five years  

• Emails used in the last 10 years  

• Family member names, phone numbers, birthdays, and addresses  

• Biometrics  

Background: What is the Visa Waiver Program?  

The VWP allows citizens of certain countries to stay in the US for up to 90 days. These countries are considered low risk, and nationals can enter the US with an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) instead of applying for a visa.   

There are 42 countries on the list, including most of Europe, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.  

What Does this Mean if you are a Non-Permanent Resident in Canada?  

If these changes become law, it will be mandatory for passport holders from VWP countries to submit highly detailed personal information to enter the US.   

 In other words, if you don’t have a Canadian passport and are a non-permanent resident from a VWP country, the proposed changes will apply to you, even if you are just transiting through the US on your way somewhere else.   

Canadian citizens, with some exceptions, can still enter the US using just their passport without a visa or ESTA.  

 Registration for Long Stays  

It’s been a busy year for the US CBP as it intensifies entry requirements, vetting, and registration for visitors.   

Of note, earlier this year US CBP announced that all visitors, including Canadians, must register with the United States Government for stays longer than 30 days.   

The rule isn’t specific to Canada, but the US Embassy and Consulate in Canada notes that Canadian citizens are exempt from providing their fingerprints. Passport holders from other countries, including VWP countries, are required to include biometric data.   

Registration is done via Form I-94. In most cases, such as air and sea arrivals, the form is generated automatically, and travellers can access and verify it online. Crossing a land border may automatically generate an electronic copy, but if it doesn’t, travellers can check online and complete USCIS Form G-325R.  

US Tourism Numbers Dropping  

It’s no surprise that fewer Canadian residents are heading south of the border as US entry requirements get more arduous. November data from Statistics Canada found that:  

“The number of Canadian-resident return trips from the United States was down 30.9% year over year, while the number of trips to Canada by US residents decreased 2.6%. September marked the end of a three-month summer streak (June to August 2025), where more US residents travelled to Canada than Canadian residents travelled to the United States.”  

The tighter restrictions are also expected to impact the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup that shares matches between Canada, the US, and Mexico.

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