Canadian immigration minister Marc Miller has mentioned that work and research permits will not be supplied to ‘flagpolers’ at a port of entry, in an announcement on December 23.
Flagpoling happens when international nationals who maintain short-term resident standing depart and re-enter Canada by way of the US to acquire same-day providers for immigration functions comparable to renewing research and work permits.
Taking rapid impact on December 23, immigration providers on the border will now be restricted to people arriving in Canada, with these already in Canada required to submit renewal functions on-line by way of the IRCC web site – the place processing time can take as much as six months.
“Flagpoling is pointless and diverts sources from vital enforcement actions. This transformation will ease border congestion, enhance equity for candidates and improve the effectivity and safety of our borders,” mentioned Miller.
The immigration minister beforehand introduced his intention to finish the follow on December 17, although the official IRCC replace got here simply 4 hours earlier than the change took impact.
Flagpoling had change into a well-liked technique of accessing on the spot immigration providers and bypassing lengthy wait instances related to on-line functions.
Flagpoling is pointless and diverts sources from vital enforcement actions
Minister Marc Miller, Canadian authorities
Between April 2023 and March 2024, the Canadian Border Companies Company (CBSA) processed over 69,3000 flagpolers throughout Canada, diverting each Canadian and US immigration sources on the border.
Asserting the change, Miller highlighted the “sturdy Canada-US relationship” that “retains individuals and items transferring safely whereas defending either side of the border”.
“This transformation will allow us to additional streamline actions at our ports of entry and permit Canadian and American border officers to deal with what they’ve been expertly skilled to do – border enforcement,” added David McGuinty, minister of public security.
US residents and everlasting residents stay exempt from the coverage, in addition to free commerce professionals and their spouses, in addition to sure pre-booked CBSA appointments.
The pre-Christmas announcement comes on the finish of a yr of turmoil for the Canadian sector, hit with seemingly infinite IRCC coverage bulletins impacting worldwide greater schooling.
