Canada closes ‘flagpoling’ loophole for temporary visa holders


Temporary residents of Canada will no longer be able to use the flagging process to initiate work or study permits, following a ban by the Canada Border Services Agency.

Flagpoling is the process of obtaining a visa at the border between the United States and Canada, named in reference to the flagpoles located at major ports of entry between the two countries.

Those preparing applications and renewals for work or study permits will now need to submit them through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

“It changes the whole experience in terms of how quickly you can get work permits and study permits,” said Chris Brown, director of Immigration Services at Tudor House in Vancouver.

Brown said the use of flags “tremendously” speeds up the process of obtaining a visa and that the route is taken advantage of whenever possible.

“From my customer base, every opportunity we can take advantage of, we do,” he said.

The foreign nationals most likely to be affected by the changes are those who need a visa quickly, Brown said, particularly those applying for work permits for employers who desperately need workers.

“If there is an employer in British Columbia and they find someone they want to hire, they can follow all legal methods to hire them and regardless of which program they choose, that can take months,” he said.

“At the end of that process you have an eligibility verification that the applicant can apply for a work permit. During flagging days, we could just send them to the border and get their work permit immediately, and the next day they are working for their employer.”

Now, applicants will have to wait another “three to six months” on top of the initial application wait time to receive the permit, he said.

“This will greatly affect processing times and they are all already backlogged. When that time passes, will there still be a job available?

As of December 31, 2024, the average processing time for a work permit issued to those already in Canada was 156 days.

According to CBSA, more than 69,300 visa holders used the flagging process across Canada between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024.

The move to end the process, implemented on December 23, is part of a broader plan to strengthen Canada’s border security.

“This practice has consumed significant resources at the border, diverting Canadian and U.S. agents from important law enforcement activities and has contributed to increased wait times for cross-border travelers,” the CBSA said in a statement.

“Immigration services at the border are intended for people arriving in Canada, not those already in Canada,” he added.

Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller described the flagging as “unnecessary” and a process that “diverts resources from critical law enforcement activities.”

In the statement issued by CBSA, it said the change “will alleviate border congestion, improve equity for applicants, and improve the efficiency and security of our borders.”

“A strong relationship between Canada and the United States keeps people and goods moving safely while protecting both sides of the border,” he added.

The CBSA said work and study permits can still be granted at a port of entry, but in very limited circumstances.

Exemptions include those who are citizens and legal permanent residents of the United States, professionals and technicians under free trade agreements with the United States, Mexico, Chile, Panama, Peru, Colombia or South Korea, or spouses or common-law partners of professionals and technicians under free trade agreements with Panama, Colombia and South Korea.

International truckers who hold a work permit and must leave Canada to work may also be exempt, along with those who have a pre-existing appointment booked with the CBSA for permit processing.

Those attempting to apply for a work and study permit will be asked to apply to IRCC unless they meet limited exemptions.



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