The snowbirds knew they’d have to comply with a new registration requirement for travellers staying in the United States longer than 29 days. So when a CBP officer said they could complete the process at the border, the couple agreed, unaware of what lay ahead.

Jacquie Ree said they were sent to secondary inspection where their motorhome was searched.

“I'm watching them open all our hatches, and we're thinking, ‘Oh my god,’” she said. “They went through our whole RV.”

Ree says she and her husband waited in line for 1.5 hours, only to be told by a second CBP officer they couldn’t register at the border. But when they were about to leave, a third officer said he could register the couple, and proceeded to photograph and fingerprint them for data collection purposes.

Not sure what they expected

The requirement has been in effect since April. However, as the new snowbird season kicks off, this is the first time many Canadian snowbirds are dealing with the rules — resulting in some uncertainty and frustration.

Air travellers are typically exempt from the registration requirement, because they’re issued an electronic arrival record (I-94) when entering the U.S. However, land travellers often don’t receive one.