US Customs New Crackdown Prompts Canadian Lawyers To Urge All Travelers To Use Burner Phones To Protect Personal Data

Published on April 3, 2025

Canadian immigration lawyers are now advising travelers to the United States to carry burner phones instead of their personal devices. This recommendation stems from concerns that U.S. border officials have the authority to inspect mobile phones, review social media activity, and even copy data stored on the device. According to immigration lawyer Heather Segal, the understanding and application of personal privacy at U.S. borders has shifted significantly, leaving travelers more vulnerable to invasive searches and data collection.

Amid tightening U.S. travel regulations for Canadians and heightened scrutiny at the border, immigration experts are warning travelers to leave their personal phones at home. Instead, they recommend using temporary or “burner” phones when crossing into the United States. This advice comes as U.S. customs officers now have broad authority to inspect digital devices, monitor social media activity, and extract data without consent.

Canadians planning to stay in the United States for more than 30 days will soon face a new requirement: mandatory registration with U.S. immigration authorities.

In a recent update to its travel advisory, Global Affairs Canada announced that starting April 11, 2025, Canadian citizens staying longer than 30 days must register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The new rule is part of a broader policy change by U.S. authorities aimed at tracking extended foreign stays more closely.

Although the overall risk level for travel to the U.S. remains unchanged—advising Canadians to “take normal security precautions”—the advisory now includes specific instructions for long-term visitors. The requirement applies to travelers aged 14 and older who haven’t previously undergone biometric screening, such as fingerprinting, during a U.S. visa process.

Canadians entering the U.S. under certain nonimmigrant visa categories, such as work permits, and who have already been issued an I-94 arrival/departure record are generally viewed as registered and may not need to complete this additional step.