Canada has ended ‘flagpoling’ for immigrants. What is the practice?

The CBSA said work and study permits will no longer be provided to flagpolers at a port of entry, effective Dec. 23 at 11:59 p.m. eastern.

As of midnight on Monday, the immigration practice known as ‘flagpoling’ was officially ended, the Canada Border Services Agency said in a press release.

According to the CBSA, flagpoling occurs when foreign nationals who hold temporary resident status in Canada leave the country and, after a visit to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, re-enter to access immigration services at a port of entry.

The agency said work and study permits will no longer be provided to flagpolers at a port of entry, effective Dec. 23 at 11:59 p.m. eastern.

“This practice has taken up significant resources at the border, diverting Canadian and American officers away from important enforcement activities and has contributed to wait times for cross-border travellers,” the CBSA press release said.

Manan Gupta, a regulated Canadian immigration consultant based in Brampton, Ont., said that “this has become a very popular trend in recent years.”

This generally happens when someone needs a visa or an extension on short notice.

“If someone gets a job offer and they have to start soon, they often resort to flagpoling to get same-day visa services,” he said.

Essentially, when flagpoling, a person exits Canada and reports to U.S. border officials, indicating that they intend to return to Canada and not to remain in the United States.