GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INTERMIN MEASURES
New interim administrative measures have been introduced to improve border crossing for American Indians born in the United States. You can learn more about the interim measures here.
These measures will ease some of the current restrictions, improving the ability of our U.S.-born relatives to work, study, visit, and stay longer in Canada. This is one step toward addressing the longstanding barriers that have impacted the movement of our people and relatives across the U.S.-Canada border.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible individuals include those who are a member of a Federally Recognized Tribe in the United States or a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation and
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be a United States citizen or born in the U.S. and
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have an anchor family member who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered under the Indian Act and lives in Canada
An anchor family member is defined as a family member in Canada who is your:
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spouse or common-law partner
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child
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grandchild or great-grandchild
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parent, step-parent or parent-in-law
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grandparent or great grandparent
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sibling
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aunt or uncle
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niece or nephew
How It Will Work
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Apply in advance from inside or outside Canada, but not directly at the port of entry (border)
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Forms available on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website to be printed and mailed to IRCC with supporting documents
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If in U.S., you will get a letter of introduction to take to port of entry for temporary resident documents to be printed
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If in Canada, documents will be mailed to you
What’s Next?
These interim measures will be in place until permanent legislation is passed. JTBA will continue working with the Government of Canada to ensure the permanent recognition and restoration of our inherent rights.
The JTBA is also actively working on advancing U.S. legislation to address border crossing rights for Canadian-born American Indians. This effort remains a priority, and much of this work will continue when the next Congress is elected and seated. We remain committed to engaging with lawmakers and federal agencies to push for comprehensive legislation that reflects our inherent rights and aligns with the principles of the Jay Treaty and UNDRIP.