Canadians Have Resurgence of Hope for Passage of U.S. Retiree Visa by 106th Congress

In 1997 in the 105th Congress of the United States, Congressman McCollum of Florida introduced amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit certain aliens, including Canadians, who were at least 55 years of age to obtain a non-immigrant's visitor visa for a period of four years or more. Those amendments did not survive the ending of the 105th Congress.

On January 6, 1999, Mr. McCollum introduced the RETIREE VISA ACT of 1999, along the same lines. Canadian citizens or their spouses, meeting the following criteria would be able to obtain a four-year visa, renewable indefinitely. The requirements are:

1. One party be at least 55 years of age

2. Own, or be the spouse of someone who owns a residence in the United States 

3. Have a health insurance plan

4. Agree not to work in the U.S. 

5. Have, or be the spouse of someone who has an annual gross income at least two times the official poverty line.

The act provides that it would come into effect one year after enactment. The act was referred to the Committee of the Judiciary, and would be handled by the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims. The significant change is that, whereas in the 105th Congress Mr. McCollum was not on that committee, in the 106th Congress, Mr. McCollum is a prominent member of the committee. The majority of the committee are Republicans, including Mr. McCollum, and we are optimistic the matter will proceed.

The U.S. subcommittee on immigration held a hearing on the visitor visa on the fourth of June 1998, and the Canadian Snowbird Association was invited to make a presentation. Mrs. Ethel Laird, a CSA member appeared before the panel and indicated her reasons for encouraging the creation of such a visa. She said she would certainly take advantage of the ability to stay in the United States longer than six months, but did not expect she would stay the full year. She mentioned her friendships with Americans, her enjoyment of her time in the U.S., and that she had no problem with maintaining sufficient health insurance.

The Canadian Snowbird Association is, and will continue to lobby for passage of this legislation.

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