Latest news with #VisitFlorida
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Will US enforcement requiring some visitors to register affect Canadians in Florida?
Canadian license plates are common on Florida roads during "snowbird" season when visitors head south to avoid the worst of the winter weather. Some changes are coming when it comes to Canadians — and other foreign nationals — who like to visit the United States. Beginning April 11, Canadians who stay in America for more than 30 days will have to register with the U.S. government. ➤ Canada updates its US travel guidance, adds registration rule Time will tell whether that will change the number of annual visitors to the Sunshine State. The number of visitors from Canada has been growing, but as of 2024, they haven't reached pre-COVID levels, according to VisitFlorida. Here's what you should know. Preliminary estimates indicate Canadian visitors totaled 3.271 million in 2024, up by +1.2% over 2023, according to a report from Visit Florida. "While down 20.0% from pre-pandemic 2019, this marks the closest that Canadian visitation has come to prepandemic levels," VisitFlorida said. Of the almost 3.3 million, 2.143 million Canadians traveled by air and 1.128 million by other means. Canadians — along with other foreign nationals — who stay in America for more than 30 days have to register with the U.S. government. Most Canadian travelers do not have to provide fingerprints, Canada's guidance said. The rule will take effect on April 11. "Canadians and other foreign nationals visiting the United States for periods longer than 30 days must be registered with the United States Government. Failure to comply with the registration requirement could result in penalties, fines, and misdemeanor prosecution," according to "Upon entry into the United States, non-U.S. citizens must provide biometrics, such as digital fingerprints and a photograph. Most Canadian citizens are exempt from this requirement. "Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination's entry or exit requirements. On his first day in office, Jan. 20, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to enforce the section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that requires anyone who plans to stay in the U.S. for 30 days or more to register with the U.S. The Alien Registration Requirement reads: "With limited exceptions, all aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a U.S. visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer, must apply for registration and fingerprinting. "Similarly, parents and legal guardians of aliens below the age of 14 must ensure that those aliens are registered. "Within 30 days of reaching his or her 14th birthday, all previously registered aliens must apply for re-registration and to be fingerprinted. "Once an alien has registered and appeared for fingerprinting (unless waived), DHS (Department of Homeland Security) will issue evidence of registration, which aliens over the age of 18 must carry and keep in their personal possession at all times." The existing rule requiring all foreign nationals to register with U.S. authorities has not been applied consistently for Canadians coming to America, according to The Guardian. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services explained the process to register on its website. It made a special note that Canadian visitors and those under 14 years of age will not be required to appear for a biometric services appointment. Create a USCIS Online Account: To register, you must first create a USCIS online account. Each person registering must have their own individual USCIS online account. This includes those under the age of 14. If you are the parent or legal guardian of an alien under the age of 14 who needs to register, you will need to set up an individual USCIS online account on your child's behalf and in their name. Step 2: Submit Form G-325R: Fill out an electronic version of the Form G-325R, Biographic Information (Registration). Form G-325R must be filed online through a USCIS online account. It cannot be filed by mail or in person. USCIS review of Form G-325R: USCIS will review the information you provided and any DHS records that are available about you. If it appears that you have already complied with the registration requirements in some other way and do not need to submit Form G-325R, USCIS will notify you that you have already complied with the registration requirement. If it appears that you are required to register, USCIS will review your Form G-325R to determine if you are required to appear for a biometric services appointment. If you are not required to appear for a biometric services appointment (for example, Canadian visitors and people under 14 years of age), USCIS will provide you with evidence of registration Attend appointment for biometrics collection: If you are required to register and provide biometrics, USCIS will schedule you for a biometric services appointment. There is no fee. Receive registration documentation: Once you have registered and provided your biometrics (if required), we will post a notice that provides proof of your registration to your USCIS online your USCIS online account, you will be allowed to download a PDF version of the notice and can print it. "Any alien who willfully fails or refuses to apply to register or be fingerprinted (if required), and any parent or legal guardian who is required to apply for the registration on behalf of an alien less than 14 years of age and who willfully fails or refuses to file an application for the registration of such alien, will be guilty of a misdemeanor and will, upon conviction, be fined not to exceed $5,000 or be imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both," according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Canadians staying in US longer must register. See requirement
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
I'm a Canadian who lives in Florida. Don't let tariffs ruin our relationship.
Like many other Canadians, I fell in love with Florida as a child. In my case, it was seven decades ago, when my brother and I spent a week of our Christmas holidays in Miami with my grandmother and her sister. The memories of our visit to the small house on SW 17th St. are still vivid. There was a trip on the Jungle Queen, watching alligator wrestling at the Seminole trading post, hamburgers at White Castle, and an evening at the auction house in Ft. Lauderdale. It was all very exciting for a five-year-old from small-town Ontario. The intervening years have been filled with family vacations throughout the Sunshine State, including the pilgrimages to Disney World that are rites of passage for Canadian families. A decade ago, we bought our home in Naples. This was to be our first full winter here. Our story isn't unique. The economic ties between Canada and Florida run deep. According to Visit Florida, 3.2 million Canadians came here in 2023, almost 20% more than the year before. Somewhere between 350,000 and a half-million Canadians own homes here. There are 503 Canadian-owned companies in the state, and they directly employ 51,450 Floridians. Canada is Florida's number-one export market, to the tune of $5.2 billion a year. Tariff-free access to Canada provides jobs and incomes for tens of thousands of Florida families. But our ties are more than economic. Some of us trace our family roots, like my American-born grandmother's, to the United States. We attend each other's universities, our militaries defend freedom together, and we celebrate our achievements together. Wherever they come from, tourists help drive Florida's economy, but Canadians in Florida provide much more than just hotel stays. They join churches, fundraise for health care and other charities, volunteer with seniors and contribute to cultural activities. Artis—Naples, the outstanding visual and performing arts center in Naples, has created a Canadian Friends of Artis—Naples group of patrons. These supporters don't just pass through the community. They are an important part of it. The decision to impose punishing tariffs against Canada was made in Washington, not in Ottawa or Tallahassee, but the businesses and citizens of both countries will bear the cost. Opinion: I'm a Canadian and a longtime Florida snowbird. Where's the love, America? Tariff wars are like nuclear wars. Everyone loses. That's why our governments have worked so hard over the years to prevent both. Companies and customers who buy imported goods and services will all pay these new taxes. Ordinary Floridians worried about the cost of living will see significantly higher prices at the grocery store and at the gas pump. The tariffs will also add thousands of dollars to the price of new cars and make building new homes or repairing hurricane damage much more expensive because of higher lumber prices. In addition, Canada's reciprocal tariffs against the U.S. will cause Canadian businesses and shoppers to avoid American products that suddenly become more expensive. Canadians here report that their American neighbors remain warm and welcoming. Many have reached out to say that they don't understand why anyone would undermine such a beneficial relationship. But that relationship is indeed being severely strained. Opinion: Let's get Florida's crucial 'State Park Preservation Act' over the finish line Friends of ours had prepaid their Florida vacation until the end of April. They walked away from that investment and headed home last week. They will miss both the climate and the community, but their consciences won't let them stay in a country whose government says Canada should no longer exist. They know that Washington won't notice their departure. But they represent millions of Canadians who are cancelling visits or changing buying habits because their country is suddenly under attack from its closest ally, neighbor and friend. For generations, our shared goal has been to succeed together. I was there on April 6, 1987, when Ronald Regan told our Parliament how he saw the relationship: As two proud and independent peoples, there is much that distinguishes us one from the other, but there is also much that we share: a vast continent, with its common hardships and uncommon duties; generations of mutual respect and support; and an abiding friendship that grows ever stronger. Restoring mutual respect and support, and renewing the abiding friendship President Regan spoke of is what Canadians, including Canadians in Florida, want most of all. We hope our American neighbors and friends share that desire. Perrin Beatty is a former defense minister and foreign minister in Canada. He was President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce until last August. He and his wife are winter residents of Naples. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Canada tourists, transplants love Florida, not tariff wars | Opinion
Miami Herald
17-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Miami Herald
This small Florida city ranks among nation's best places to retire. Here's why
A Florida destination has a 'slower pace' — but still boasts activities for retirees to enjoy, a new report finds. Now, the small city of Sebring ranks among the nation's top 50 places to retire, according to results published Tuesday, March 11. To create the list of best retirement destinations, Travel + Leisure magazine partnered with financial website Investopedia. Using data from the U.S. government and other sources, it studied counties across the country. Each place was evaluated across four metrics that may appeal to older adults: cost of living, access to travel, access to health care and access to entertainment. 'Editors considered a range of population densities and states to ensure readers have a variety of options,' the magazine wrote in its report. What makes the FL city ideal for retirement? Sebring was the only place in the Sunshine State to earn a spot on the list, called 'Destination: Retirement 2025.' The city of about 11,000 people is a roughly 85-mile drive south from Orlando. 'You won't find bustling nightlife or too many attractions in Sebring, but don't count this Florida town ... out just yet,' Travel + Leisure wrote in its report. 'In fact, it's exactly this slower pace, paired with a low cost of living, that makes it one of the best places to retire in the Southeast.' The magazine said residents can bask in warm weather while shopping downtown or attending events at the Sebring International Raceway. Meanwhile, Investopedia praised the city for being close to state parks and for having an 'extra appealing' median housing cost of less than $800 a month. 'Sebring, located in Florida's Highlands County, is an excellent option for retirees hoping to take advantage of Florida's retirement-friendly tax policies without fighting off spring breakers or steep price tags to enjoy the outdoors or one of the many fine or casual dining restaurants,' the financial website wrote in its report. The city, which also offers access to hospitals and activities on nearby lakefronts, has gotten a recent boost. Several of Sebring's homes and businesses have been renovated on the HGTV show 'Home Town Takeover,' according to the Visit Florida tourism website. 'Sebring's history of hurricane damage and an excess of empty storefronts in the once bustling downtown shopping district have proven to be challenging obstacles, and, despite being home to one of the nation's oldest raceways, spectators leave without patronizing any local businesses,' the TV show wrote on its website, adding that its hosts worked with local leaders on the revitalization project. Nationwide, destinations in several states were named top places for retirees to live. The winners weren't listed in ranked order, a Travel + Leisure spokesperson told McClatchy News via email.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republican wants to repeal law that keeps the public off Panhandle beach
Fort Walton Beach (Photo from Visit Florida) A Panhandle Republican has filed legislation to repeal a controversial 2018 state law that has limited public access to local beaches in the area and prohibited local governments from adopting ordinances to protect customary use. The bill from Panama City Republican state Sen. Jay Trumbull (SB 1622) is direct and to the point. It says that if passed, it would repeal a section of Florida law (163.035) relating to the establishment of recreational customary use of beaches. The term 'customary use' refers to a general right of the public at large to possess and use certain dry sand areas for recreational purposes, according to a Senate bill analysis. Where a customary use of a dry sand area is shown, the property owner may not use traditional causes of action like ejectment, forcible entry, or trespass to stop such public use of the private land. The 2018 law in question (HB 631) prohibited local governments from adopting or keeping in effect ordinances establishing customary use of privately owned dry sand areas. However, the bill did not apply to a local government with an ordinance or rule adopted before on or before January 1, 2016. It also said, 'the provisions do not deprive a governmental entity from raising customary use as an affirmative defense in any proceeding that challenges an ordinance or rule that was adopted before July 1, 2018.' Walton County Commissioners passed an ordinance allowing the customary use of its beaches in 2016. The 2018 law allowed beachfront owners there to bar the public from certain beach areas up to the 'mean high water line' using signs and ropes. As the Phoenix reported at the time, waterfront property owners in Walton County hired a number of lobbyists to get the measure passed, with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — who at the time had a Gulf-front home there — among those supporting the law. Huckabee thanked Naples Republican Kathleen Passidomo for sponsoring the measure in the Senate that year, the Tampa Bay Times reported in 2018. But he later disputed that anyone had been prohibited from using public beaches. 'Most beachfront owners don't run people off their property, anyway. I haven't, and despite the lies told, I've not placed signs prohibiting people from responsible use of my property,' Huckabee told the Tallahassee Democrat in 2020. Trumbull said Friday that during his time in the Florida Senate, 'public access to our beaches has been an overwhelming concern of the residents of Senate District 2 — particularly in Walton County.' Tampa Bay area Democratic state Sen. Daryl Rouson has filed a similar measure (SB 284). Republican Joel Rudman filed a House companion (HB 6001) in January but withdrew it after he resigned to run for in the special election for Florida's 1st Congressional District in January. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Angered by Trump's threats, Canadians rethinking travel to Florida
Orlando, Florida (tca/dpa) - Walt Disney World has been a regular destination for Tim Bishop and his family for years, but that's all over now. The 56-year-old Toronto-area real estate agent is crossing Florida off his travel list and taking his money elsewhere. 'Any Canadian who has a lick of national pride should be rethinking their US travel plans as a simple gesture of the middle finger to Trump,' Bishop said in a text message. 'It's unfortunate because I'll miss visiting my American friends for the next four years.' As President Donald Trump threatens sweeping tariffs and belittles Canada as the '51st state,' Bishop is part of a social media movement urging Canadians to spend their money at home or in more supportive countries. That could be bad for business in Florida. Canada is the Sunshine State's top source of international visitors with the Maple Leaf flag flying proudly in snowbird enclaves and license plates from Ontario and Quebec signaling winter's arrival. About 3.3 million Canadians flocked to Florida in 2024, making up roughly 2% of total visitors, according to Visit Florida, the state's tourism marketing organization. Orlando alone received more than 1.2 million Canadian visitors in 2023, the most recent data available. 'This figure underscores the importance of Canadian visitors to Orlando,' said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. 'While it's premature to forecast the full impact of tariffs, any disruption to our tourism industry could negatively impact our local economy.' Though only a sliver of Florida's travel market, Canadian travel dollars add up. The U.S. Travel Associationwarned that a 10% drop in Canadian travel could mean 2 million fewer visits nationwide, leading to the loss of 14,000 jobs and a $2.1 billion economic hit. Canada's weak dollar — worth about 70 US cents — has made America a more expensive destination, another factor that could alter Canadians' vacation plans. Whether Canada's anger and the current political turmoil will translate to action remains to be seen. Agents at Flight Centre, one of Canada's leading travel agencies, have noticed a shift away from US destinations, company spokeswoman Amra Durakovic said. Instead of Florida, some travelers are opting for warm-weather alternatives like Antigua, Mexico and Portugal. Meanwhile, Porter Airlines, a Canada-based carrier, is monitoring the situation, said spokeswoman Robyn van Teunenbroek. 'We initially saw some softening of select US leisure markets, but it is too early to determine if there are any strong trends one way or the other,' she said. 'Many routes have increased bookings in recent days.' Orlando International Airport offers 16 nonstop routes to Canada, and Visit Orlando mounts media campaigns throughout the year to fill those flights. The organization spent $3 million on a winter advertising push targeting Canadians that runs until April. Visit Orlando has no plans to make major changes to its marketing strategy but is keeping close tabs on Canadian sentiment, Matej said. Carolyn de Blieck, a Canadian vacation specialist, said she hasn't received any cancellations, but she's noticed more interest in non-US destinations. Her company, Pure Magic Vacations, specializes in helping Canadians plan trips to Central Florida theme parks and cruise lines. Disney's strong brand could keep Canadians coming despite political tensions, she said. 'People who love Disney, who love Universal, who want to cruise, if that's a passion, I think they're going to still just consider ways to visit. … It's not something you necessarily find elsewhere,' de Blieck said. Canada and the United States have long been close allies, but the relationship has soured since Trump took office. Trump threatened to impose 25% across-the-board tariffs on Canadian goods and said he wanted to annex the country and make it a US state. Earlier this month, he paused those tariffs for 30 days in response to stronger border policies from Canada. Canadians have responded by booing the US national anthem at hockey games and pulling American alcohol from store shelves. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to retaliate with tariffs punishing Trump-loving red states the most, listing Florida orange juice as an example of a product Canadians should shun. Canada is the top export market for Florida citrus. Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Mexico, Canada after they pledge to boost border enforcement As for travel, Trudeau urged Canadians in a national address to reconsider their summer vacation plans, encouraging them to explore their nation's natural wonders and 'stand up for Canada.' Mark Singer, a Sarasota-based real estate agent catering to Canadian snowbirds, said he thinks Canada's weak dollar and Florida's rising property insurance rates are far bigger factors influencing travel decisions than Trump's politics. Those economic realities, along with instabilities in Florida's condo market, have created a financial 'perfect storm' that may have Canadian retirees reconsidering whether to spend time or purchase a vacation property in Florida, he said. But even with those issues, Singer said, the Sunshine State's pleasant winter climate and attractions remain a powerful draw. Florida weathered other boycott efforts from the NAACP and gay rights groups over Gov. Ron DeSantis' conservative culture-war agenda, hitting record tourism numbers in 2024. 'People are going to come to Florida regardless,' said Singer, a dual US-Canadian citizen. 'If you have a small percentage who want to boycott because of Trump, that's their choice. That's not going to stop Florida from succeeding. We still have beautiful beaches.'
