Rainbow Bridge PR Landing FAILED

[rnimk]

Flag-poling is not the same as entering the US and returning to Canada, and you won't be provided with a document from the US side stating "flag-poling" on it. Many people who flag-pole actually cannot legally enter the US since they do not have the required visa, however they are still able to flag-pole. The article specifically refers to flag-poling. Also, the below article was published 2 days later, saying that this change was postponed until further notice, which is why people have still been able to flag pole during weekends.

http://immigrationblog.ca.pwc.com/blog/canada-immigration-news/cbsa-postpones-restriction-on-flag-poling-during-certain-days

Same question, so is flagpoling only for people who are already in Canada?

 

[luckysimsim]

I do have a valid US visa, but I don't think the US officer took a look since I said I want to do my Canadian PR landing at the first place.

So if I just say I want to visit the other side of the falls and when I come back to Canada with a stamped passport I should be OK?

Last time both the US and Canada didn't leave any marks on my passport even though my PR visa is meant for single entry only.

 

[nmehra6613]

Hi,
I have a Post Grad Work Permit (was on Study visa earlier) but not the TRV visa as the permit was recently approved.
I plan to flagpole next week. Is there a possibility of being disallowed reentry in any case (considering the latest changes)?
Best Regards,
Neeraj

 

[Bs65]

Just want to get something clarified, does flag poling mean you are already in Canada, but you just want to cross the border to US side and then come back to Canada?

Am I correct in understanding that if you are in US on a visa and want to land in Canada, and come back to the US it is not the same thing?

Flagpoling just means you are already in Canada and you cross to the US but then tell US CBP you want to flagpole.

They then issue an admin refusal piece of paper and you then return to the Canadian side where you tell them you want to activate whatever visa or permit you want to activate so not quite the same as being in the US as never actually physically enter the US. Do not even need a visa to enter the US when flagpoling.

Of course there is always the possibility that if someones documentation is not in order they could in theory be inadmissable back into Canada

A couple things with this thread 1) cannot find anything official just the PWC link 2)does this also apply to people who start out from within the US, then cross to Canada , so they are not in effect flagpoling but simply landing as they might do at an airport POE. Will those applicants also get refused as though they were flagpoling even though they are not, looks like they might be as well.

As said nobody seems to be able to point to an official CBSA announcement so people will either need to take a chance or rely on feedback from people who took the chance.

 

[Bs65]

Hi,
I have a Post Grad Work Permit (was on Study visa earlier) but not the TRV visa as the permit was recently approved.
I plan to flagpole next week. Is there a possibility of being disallowed reentry in any case (considering the latest changes)?
Best Regards,
Neeraj

Others will correct me but if you are planning to try and renew a TRV through flagpoling not sure that is possible to do at the border.

 

[rnimk]

Flagpoling just means you are already in Canada and you cross to the US but then tell US CBP you want to flagpole.

They then issue an admin refusal piece of paper and you then return to the Canadian side where you tell them you want to activate whatever visa or permit you want to activate so not quite the same as being in the US as never actually physically enter the US. Do not even need a visa to enter the US when flagpoling.

Of course there is always the possibility that if someones documentation is not in order they could in theory be inadmissable back into Canada

A couple things with this thread 1) cannot find anything official just the PWC link 2)does this also apply to people who start out from within the US, then cross to Canada , so they are not in effect flagpoling but simply landing as they might do at an airport POE. Will those applicants also get refused as though they were flagpoling even though they are not, looks like they might be as well.

As said nobody seems to be able to point to an official CBSA announcement so people will either need to take a chance or rely on feedback from people who took the chance.

I see, however the same thing might apply to those who are just going to Cross the Canadian border to activate their PR and return to the US. IF the Canadian Border Agency wants to restrict any type of visa activation over the weekend then it will be applicable to all I guess

 

[nmehra6613]

Others will correct me but if you are planning to try and renew a TRV through flagpoling not sure that is possible to do at the border.

I will be receiving COPR this week and will be flag-poling to become a PR. I have a valid PGWP permit currently but don't have a valid TRV visa.

 

[bellaluna]

Well, for those who intend to flagpole this summer, just be on the safe side and don't go on the weekends.

I will be receiving COPR this week and will be flag-poling to become a PR. I have a valid PGWP permit currently but don't have a valid TRV visa.

You don't need a TRV. Unless you are visa-exempt, you will get a single-entry immigrant visa (IM-1) together with your COPR to be able to complete the landing.

 

[luckysimsim]

Flagpoling just means you are already in Canada and you cross to the US but then tell US CBP you want to flagpole.

They then issue an admin refusal piece of paper and you then return to the Canadian side where you tell them you want to activate whatever visa or permit you want to activate so not quite the same as being in the US as never actually physically enter the US. Do not even need a visa to enter the US when flagpoling.

Of course there is always the possibility that if someones documentation is not in order they could in theory be inadmissable back into Canada

A couple things with this thread 1) cannot find anything official just the PWC link 2)does this also apply to people who start out from within the US, then cross to Canada , so they are not in effect flagpoling but simply landing as they might do at an airport POE. Will those applicants also get refused as though they were flagpoling even though they are not, looks like they might be as well.

As said nobody seems to be able to point to an official CBSA announcement so people will either need to take a chance or rely on feedback from people who took the chance.

Don't want to confuse anyone. This is what happened: We drove from Toronto to Rainbow Bridge. When I crossed the bridge and reached the US side, the officer asked me purpose of visiting, I said I want to strolling along the bank and look the other side of the falls. Then I said "oh, I also want to finish my landing process of Canadian permanent residence". The officer then said "oh, ok. You can't just go to the US side to do landing, you need document", then I asked "something called flag pole?". "Yes", she said. She gave me the white paper and I went back to Canadian border and told the officer I'm here to finish my PR landing process and showed him the white paper I got. The Canadian officer took a look of the paper and said "we don't do this during the summer on the weekends, you may want to come back during workdays but it'll be hours line up. I really recommend you to make an appointment with the office near Toronto and do landing there."

It was literally 1 minute at the border, but we drove 2 hours there. Nothing officially announced, but truly this is what happened on the Saturday of June 17th (around 3:00 pm).

 

[picklee]

Flagpoling just means you are already in Canada and you cross to the US but then tell US CBP you want to flagpole.

They then issue an admin refusal piece of paper and you then return to the Canadian side where you tell them you want to activate whatever visa or permit you want to activate so not quite the same as being in the US as never actually physically enter the US. Do not even need a visa to enter the US when flagpoling.

Of course there is always the possibility that if someones documentation is not in order they could in theory be inadmissable back into Canada

A couple things with this thread 1) cannot find anything official just the PWC link 2)does this also apply to people who start out from within the US, then cross to Canada , so they are not in effect flagpoling but simply landing as they might do at an airport POE. Will those applicants also get refused as though they were flagpoling even though they are not, looks like they might be as well.

As said nobody seems to be able to point to an official CBSA announcement so people will either need to take a chance or rely on feedback from people who took the chance.

You do actually enter the United States, physically and jurisdictionally. Otherwise you couldn't be subject to U.S. customs and immigration inspection.

This raises a more serious point, which is that you could be detained for unlawfully entering the U.S. if you are from a country where your status has been revoked by the Trump administration; the so-called Muslim ban.

Though this is not enforced currently, a decision from the Supreme Court is expected this month or very soon on the matter. So your plans to flagpole if you are a citizen or holder of a passport of certain nations could be jeopardized.

 

[Mthornt]

Most flag-poling is going just fine, no need to worry about "ifs" at the current time. If further communication comes out that these are not allowed that's one thing, until then no need to worry about a bunch of possibilities that aren't currently an issue.

 

[rnimk]

Most flag-poling is going just fine, no need to worry about "ifs" at the current time. If further communication comes out that these are not allowed that's one thing, until then no need to worry about a bunch of possibilities that aren't currently an issue.

Hello Mthornt,

I am assuming you are in the US and are going to do the landing when you get your passport back, so you will also try to go between Tuesday to Thursday?

Do you think there are any restrictions about how late on a Thursday?

 

[Mthornt]

Hello Mthornt,

I am assuming you are in the US and are going to do the landing when you get your passport back, so you will also try to go between Tuesday to Thursday?

Do you think there are any restrictions about how late on a Thursday?

That's a good question, and probably depends on the officer. If it's 12:01 am on Fri, and the person wants to give you a hard time, she/he will. Now that I know it may be a problem, I will do Tues - Thurs, probably early morning.

 

[farazafzal]

You do actually enter the United States, physically and jurisdictionally. Otherwise you couldn't be subject to U.S. customs and immigration inspection.

This raises a more serious point, which is that you could be detained for unlawfully entering the U.S. if you are from a country where your status has been revoked by the Trump administration; the so-called Muslim ban.

Though this is not enforced currently, a decision from the Supreme Court is expected this month or very soon on the matter. So your plans to flagpole if you are a citizen or holder of a passport of certain nations could be jeopardized.

Actually Not. There is (NOT) always a no man land between two borders of the countries. In my understanding there is a no man land between Canada and US borders. So you cross the Canada borders and US territory starts in few meters. They have secured that territory and this is where they stop you to enter. Before that point you are in no man's land. So You are already out of Canada (the reason you will enter again to complete the landing) and you have not entered USA and they refuse your entry, show you the gate to other country, which accepts you.

So you were never under the jurisdiction of either of the two countries !

 

[Hercaz]

This is strange from the US Officer. I have said the purpose of visit to complete PR landing but wants to avail this opportunity to see Niagara from other side and they let me in.

Not sure why officer said that to you :/

This. I went to US side to see the falls from the other side, came back an hour later and did the landing, no issues. Had to pay 6 dollars to U.S. border service though as some sort of travel document handling fee. They clipped a white label into my passport and told to give it back to Canadians on my last exit from U.S. Anyway, if you are as me and don't want to get an administrative refusal as a result of flag polling procedure, just tell the officer you are a day visitor and all will be fine.