Canadian and United States border authorities crack down on flagpoling
Canadian and U.S. authorities have limited the number of ports of entry (POEs) that can be used as flagpoling sites.
As of May 30th, 2024, 12 Canada-U.S. border crossings will offer flagpoling services to newcomers at reduced service hours.
What is flagpoling?
Flagpoling is a practice by which temporary residents (those on a /, or with a / (eTA))鈥攎ay receive immigration services in person at a POE, by exiting and returning to Canada within 24 hours.
This process is legal and has gained popularity for its ability to mitigate long processing times that often follow an application to (IRCC) when applying online or by paper.
While flagpoling is legitimate, the (CBSA) advises that wait times can be extensive and advises newcomers to pursue online services with IRCC where possible.
Where can newcomers in Canada access flagpoling services?
Newcomers can still access flagpoling services at all POEs. The following locations, however, feature reduced hours of service:
Quebec Region
- Armstrong鈥擬onday-Thursday from 12 pm to 7 pm;
- Saint Armand/Phillipsburg鈥擬onday-Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm;
- Saint Bernard de Lacolle鈥擬onday-Thursday from 12 pm to 7 pm; and
- Stanstead Route 55鈥擬onday-Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm.
Southern Ontario Region
- Fort Erie (Peace Bridge)鈥擳uesday-Thursday from 8 am to 12 am;
- Niagra Falls Rainbow Bridge鈥擳uesday-Thursday from 8 am to 12 am; and
- Queenston-Lewiston Bridge鈥擳uesday-Thursday from 8 am to 12 am.
Pacific Region
- Abbotsford-Huntington鈥擬onday-Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm;
- Aldergrove鈥擬onday-Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm;
- Boundary Bar鈥擬onday-Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm;
- Douglas鈥 Monday-Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm; and
- Pacific Highway鈥 Monday-Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Note: At the time of writing CBSA has threatened to enter a strike following wage disputes between the border authorities and the federal Canadian government. This may further impact flagpoling services for the duration of these negotiations.
What has caused the recent crackdown on flagpoling?
Statements by Canadian and U.S. officials indicate that new changes to flagpoling are largely due to increased traffic at the Canada-U.S. border, increasing processing stress on officers at the border.
In a statement to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), CBSA stated that they made changes to locations and hours of flagpoling services to increase efficiencies during peak travel times, and to 鈥渁llow officers to focus on other priorities, including trade facilitation, high-risk travelers and asylum seekers鈥.
Comments by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer align with this view. At a recent press conference, Schumer elaborated on the problem, saying that the increased immigration traffic and wait times put Niagra Falls and New York economies at risk鈥斺 hampering smooth commerce鈥 and tourism.
- Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by
- Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com