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As with all travel, faculty, staff and students are reminded to thoroughly research and prepare for travel to the United States and to register the travel in START as per the requirements to the Off-Campus Activity Safety Policy.

The overall Global Affairs Canada security risk level for travel to the United States remains low with travelers encouraged to take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada. However, if you are travelling in the near future you need to be aware of recent changes related to entry requirements for travel to the U.S.

The Government of Canada updated its travel advice, cautioning Canadians and other foreign nationals visiting the U.S. for over 30 days to register their trips with the U.S. government. Global Affairs Canada also updated the entry and exit section for travel to the U.S. on March 21, 2025, noting that "failure to comply with the registration requirement could result in penalties, fines, and misdemeanour prosecution."

The U.S. State Department also recently eliminated the gender X identifier option on U.S. passports. If you have the gender designation X on your passport, or you have changed your gender, it is recommended that you contact the U.S. Embassy in Canada prior to travel for guidance on how to proceed.

Travelers are advised to consult the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website to determine if they with USCIS and for assistance in how to register, or to reach out to the to discuss your travel plans prior to leaving Canada.

The Government of Canada also clarified that neither approval from the U.S. ESTA system nor a U.S. visa entitles entry in every case. The final decision on whether a person can enter the U.S. lies with the U.S. border authorities.

As a reminder, border officials have the authority to ask for, and search, your personal devices, such as phones, computers and tablets. They do not need to provide a reason when requesting a password to open the device and if you refuse, they may seize the device and entry into the country could be delayed or denied, if you are not a U.S. citizen. Given the potential for device searches or seizures, consider what sensitive academic or workrelated data is stored on the device. If you are asked to provide a password, change the password once you receive the device back.

Group trips who are planning on traveling to the U.S. over the coming months will also need to contemplate how they will proceed if any of their members are denied entry at the border. For example - will the entire trip be cancelled or will there be a plan to have someone drive to the border to pick up anyone who was denied entry? These contingency plans need to be in place and communicated to participants prior to travel.

In addition to the above noted guidelines, here are some additional items to keep in mind if you are travelling to the US:

• Prior to travel make sure you adhere to your stated return to Canada and cross the border on the specified date.
• Ensure your passport is valid for up to 6 months after your anticipated return to Canada if using a passport to cross the border.
• When using personal vehicle to cross the border, make sure it is free of stickers, bumper stickers or any other items that may increase your risk of being questioned or pulled over.
• We also recommend checking with your faculty or department for a letter from Queen’s confirming your name, and the names of all of your participants if travelling as a group, the research being done or purpose of the travel (i.e. conference, competition, field trip) and your travel dates to validate your purpose for entering the US.
• Non-Canadian community members should consult with their embassy, or consulate, for advice prior to travel.