Canada ends Flagpoling for International Students to apply for PGWP

Flagpoling is the nickname for when foreign nationals with a temporary status leave Canada and immediately re-enter to get same-day immigration services conducted by CBSA Officer. International students used to use this technique to experdize the process of applying PGWP before their study permit expiry.

Usually, people in Canada cross a U.S. border and immediately turn around to get their documents processed. It can be done at any point of entry but is generally done at land border crossings, particularly in Ontario's Niagara region. It's completely legal and a practice familiar to immigration lawyers and consultants.

As per the IRCC, flagpoling at the border requires a lot of resources, diverting officers from enforcement duties, delaying travel, and slowing down the flow of commodities. During the period from March 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, PGWP applicants made up almost 25% of all foreign nationals who came to the border for flagpoling.

In an effort of implementing policies to incentivize candidates to apply domestically rather than at the border, on June 21, 2024, Minister Marc Miller of IRCC announced the immediate cessation of the option for international students to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) directly at the border. This decision aims to curb the practice known as "flagpoling," which is preferred method that international students use to avoid the typical wait times associated with online work or study permit applications processed by IRCC.