Title: Canada Tightens Border Rules to Curb “Flagpoling” by Foreign Nationals
Grab your passport and buckle up for changes at the Canada–United States border! Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, dropped a bombshell announcement that foreign nationals can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the border, effective immediately.
Say goodbye to “flagpoling,” the sneaky maneuver where temporary residents of Canada skip the online permit application process and instead leave the country only to re-enter immediately for a same-day permit. This tricky tactic not only causes chaos and delays at the border but also diverts officers from vital enforcement activities.
From March 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, a whopping one-fifth of foreign nationals attempting to flagpole were PGWP applicants. The Government of Canada is cracking down, encouraging applicants to apply within the country to streamline the process and eliminate these disruptive border antics.
In a joint effort to combat flagpoling, Minister Miller stated, “The time and effort required to process applications from ‘flagpolers’ takes officers away from their crucial role in protecting the safety, security, and prosperity of Canadians and Americans.” Minister Dominic LeBlanc added, “Flagpoling places an undue burden on our border services officers.”
To further enhance efficiency, recent measures include reducing flagpoling hours at 12 ports of entry across Canada and concentrating on critical tasks like managing high-risk travelers and trade facilitation. Let’s bid farewell to flagpoling and welcome a smoother, more secure border for both nations.
Grab your passport and buckle up for changes at the Canada–United States border! Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, dropped a bombshell announcement that foreign nationals can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the border, effective immediately.
Say goodbye to “flagpoling,” the sneaky maneuver where temporary residents of Canada skip the online permit application process and instead leave the country only to re-enter immediately for a same-day permit. This tricky tactic not only causes chaos and delays at the border but also diverts officers from vital enforcement activities.
From March 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, a whopping one-fifth of foreign nationals attempting to flagpole were PGWP applicants. The Government of Canada is cracking down, encouraging applicants to apply within the country to streamline the process and eliminate these disruptive border antics.
In a joint effort to combat flagpoling, Minister Miller stated, “The time and effort required to process applications from ‘flagpolers’ takes officers away from their crucial role in protecting the safety, security, and prosperity of Canadians and Americans.” Minister Dominic LeBlanc added, “Flagpoling places an undue burden on our border services officers.”
To further enhance efficiency, recent measures include reducing flagpoling hours at 12 ports of entry across Canada and concentrating on critical tasks like managing high-risk travelers and trade facilitation. Let’s bid farewell to flagpoling and welcome a smoother, more secure border for both nations.
