By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Federal legislation has been introduced that would give Canadian snowbirds more time in the U.S. Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott have sponsored a bill that would give Canadians a bump in their stay limit – up from six months, as is presently allowed, to eight months.
Like anything else, there are some caveats: Canadian snowbirds must be over 50, maintain a Canadian residence, not take on employment in the U.S., nor try to get government assistance or benefits while visiting. Finally, they must either own or rent a residence in the U.S. Does that mean renting an RV park site will make the extended visit valid? Perhaps. The devil is in the details: Snowbirds will need to have a rental agreement for the duration of their stay in the country. That being the case, Canadians boondocking through U.S. winters could be “out in the cold.”
Sweetening the pot, House and Senate versions contain a tax provision shielding snowbirds from negative tax ramifications in the United States. Despite spending more than six months in the U.S., those who are approved for this extension will be considered non-residents of the U.S. for tax purposes.
It’s not law yet. Both houses of Congress must pass the law and bang out any differences prior to the proposal being passed along to the President for final approval or rejection.
##RVT915
That is very nice, for some, to be sure. However, unless the Canadian gov’t ensures that those snowbirds are legally allowed to be gone for that long and still maintain their health care benefits, it’s a moot point. Presently each province legislates how long one can be away from their home province before they lose access to their health care at home. For most, it is 6 months. That is a huge consideration, if staying south too long caused loss of health care upon one’s return.
Nice idea, In Ontario we can take 7 months out of country and still maintain our healthcare.
However,the vehicle insurers do NOT permit your car, truck, motorhome etc to be out of the country for greater than 6 months.
I could find NO EXCEPTIONS.
So for up, presently, we take motorhome and car south, drive car home for Christmas.
Motorhome has to be back in Canada within 6 months of initial crossing or your insurer can refuse coverage.
And that’s freedom. That’s down right scarry stuff.
Pay attention, be out of Canada for more than 7 mo. Lose your healthcare, more than 6 mo. Lose your car insurance.
And we want more government in our faces here, HECK NO!
Sure, why not. Heck it is already snowing in Canada. The Canadians I have met were the nicest people. Besides, the RV parks are already full of Yankee’s escaping the cold.
Very nice but Canadian law has to agree with that.. after 6 months away your health care could be cancelled, your vehicle insurance and your drivers lic.
Yeppers…, got to love socialistic forms of government. The Canadian government will quash it in a heart beat. You see, Canada needs it’s citizens at home, most of the time, to assess repressive taxes, GST, PST, Fuel, Alcholic Beverage, and the list goes on. How can they milk their own citizens to pay for the oppressive government infrastructure, if they are frolicking down here. THEY CAN’T.
Thanks anyway, for me 5 months is plenty long enough