Doing flagpole this weekend! Will let you know

[fistillarte]

So, I'm traveling this weekend to the US by car (I live in Calgary) with my wife, will stay one night and come back to do the flagpole thing for both in order to get our permits extended.

Will let you know once I come back how did it go, and why did they asked.

I have my AINP nomination already and submitted my application for PR, but no AOR (Who has AOR these days anyway?).

Probably closed for me and open for my wife, we'll see.

 

[liisa227]

Good luck with your flagpoling!

Just to add my two cents in case this helps you or anyone else here - I flagpoled this past weekend at Peace Arch (BC) to get my closed WP extended. Details on my PR process on the left. I applied online for a WP in January (processing not started), but chose to flagpole anyway, because my old permit expires this week and I wanted to avoid going on implied status.

My friend drove me to the border, where we parked and walked to the pedestrian access. There I got a simple sheet from the US border officer that just had my name, his name and the word "flagpole" on it. Then he turned us around and told us to go back to our car, and follow the signs to "Return to Canada". At the customs booth, I told the officer what I was doing and she gave us some additional papers and told us to park on the side of the lane. There another officer told us to go inside to the immigration desk.

I had with me
- passport
- PNP certificate (already expired)
- original PNP support letter (dated a year ago)
- written job offer from employer
- company profile sheet
- proof that I've already taken a medical exam
- copy of my PR AOR email
- resume

The officers (2 of them, the other one seemed to be in training or something) wanted to see all my documents but didn't spend much time reading them, so I'm not sure if some of these were "unnecessary" or not. Anyway, they went through my file and saw that I already had a WP application pending, so I explained why I was asking them for another one. They said they've heard about the slow processing times at Vegreville and said they understand why I want to expedite the process. They also confirmed how long of a permit I was asking for - they offered 2 years, but I said 1 year should be enough (also, my 4-year temporary worker max is up in 1.5 years).

They then spent a bit more time typing things on the computer, and then I was asked to pay the $155 fee. Then they called me back and went through the specifics of my new WP, which are exactly the same as in my old one, and sent us on our way.

So it was pretty quick and easy - the thing that took the longest was to get our car out of the US-bound lane to return to Canada. The traffic going down to the US was really slow because it was a long weekend Sunday here in BC. Having the permit issued only took about 15 minutes.

So good luck everyone!

 

[fistillarte]

Posted this already in another thread, but since this was the original one, here I go again:



Well, it's done! I went to the US on Saturday, stayed for a night and went back on Sunday trough roosville border crossing. Officers were really nice, although they weren't exactly sure on how to deal with it, and had to check a couple things on internet. Me and my wife stayed for an hour and a half because of that, since I don't have the Aor so they didn't know if my wife had applied already. But they were really good with us, and even said I was smart by doing that instead of waiting.

The checked the documents that I had, didn't ask for any "support letter" (and that border is not even in alberta, but bc), and my wife (who had until now a study permit) got an open work permit.

For me, well.......... I GOT AN OPEN WORK PERMIT AS WELL !!!! Ask me how.... They told me at first "yeah it's gonna have to be a closed one", they checked the nominations which said I had no restrictions, then said that I didn't had the AOR meaning no BOWP for me, and then went back and forth 20 times about it. At the end, open work permit for me valid for one year

As I said many times, to everyone, just go to the border. Is was easier when you can actually talk with somebody, explain your situation and actually talk with a human being, rather than filling confusing and contradictory forms.

 

[mfwpg]

Good stuff, man! Congrats!

I have to travel to the US for work sometimes and on my way back last time (Emerson, MB) they told me that they can't extend WPs there, just provide new ones.

Weird.

 

[mfwpg]

I'll try to extend my WP on my way back from the US this Friday, at the airport.

I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Did you guys have had this experience, at the Winnipeg airport?

 

[fistillarte]

Do you think that maybe is different to fly than to drive? I think it's the same thing, but I'm not sure.

Anyway, good luck with that !!!

 

[mfwpg]

Do you think that maybe is different to fly than to drive? I think it's the same thing, but I'm not sure.

Anyway, good luck with that !!!

Pretty sure it'll be the same thing

I read that they can't issue an extension at the border but give you a new WP, and some officers will decline to issue a new WP while your old one still valid. But just like you stated: it's easier when you're there, speaking to a human being.

Well, I'll try my best and if they don't give me the extension I'll have to apply online at home on Friday night (20th) before new rule takes place (21st) :

These new rules suck big time :-\

 

[fistillarte]

Yes they are ! Goal here is to apply before the 21st.

And well, the permit extension is technically a new permit. Is a new paper with new rules and everything, I don't see a reason why they wouldn't be able to do it for you. They have everything in there !!! Hopefully you'll have a nice officer helping you (I think that matters. The two guys that took care of me and my wife were really nice, but there was another officer screaming to every other person coming in and giving them a hard time. I'm pretty sure if she had took my case, I wouldn't have a new open permit right now).

 

[mfwpg]

So, things happened as expected.

Got back from the US, asked the gate officer to send me to Immigration and she didn't complain or asked the reason.

At Immigration, the CBSA officer was frowning at the first moment, then later turned into smiles and laughs after he found out I was there to renew the permit.

Gave me a lot of attention, checked my documents and wanted to give me a open work permit. I told him it wasn't necessary, he replied saying that he wanted to improve my bargaining power with the company LOL

A second officer came and we started discussing frugal things like why Canada, why Winnipeg, I talked a little about my old country and such things. At certain point they told me "hope this is the last time you have to pay $155 for the government!", mentioning my ongoing PR application.

After fifteen, maybe twenty minutes, I left the airport with my new two-year work permit and happy to be back home after a few days south of the border. I love this country and this province so much! It's hard to describe, the people's warmth is unbelievable!

 

[fw1234]

I'm gonna drop this here as well in case it helps someone:

I did this this week at the Niagara Falls Border and it resulted in success. I am an ON-PNP Master's Stream, and don't have an AOR yet. I was a holder of a PGWP expiring in 2 weeks, and I was stressed out like everyone else here. I brought a lot of documents with me (including employer letter and all, since I read that I wasn't eligible for BOWP) but all they wanted to see was the PNP Certificate and the letter that came with it. As a result, they gave me the permit. And the best part is it is an OWP! (The only condition on the permit is that I can only work in Ontario)

Best of luck to ones considering doing this!

 

[tinacraigg]

Posted this already in another thread, but since this was the original one, here I go again:



Well, it's done! I went to the US on Saturday, stayed for a night and went back on Sunday trough roosville border crossing. Officers were really nice, although they weren't exactly sure on how to deal with it, and had to check a couple things on internet. Me and my wife stayed for an hour and a half because of that, since I don't have the Aor so they didn't know if my wife had applied already. But they were really good with us, and even said I was smart by doing that instead of waiting.

The checked the documents that I had, didn't ask for any "support letter" (and that border is not even in alberta, but bc), and my wife (who had until now a study permit) got an open work permit.

For me, well.......... I GOT AN OPEN WORK PERMIT AS WELL !!!! Ask me how.... They told me at first "yeah it's gonna have to be a closed one", they checked the nominations which said I had no restrictions, then said that I didn't had the AOR meaning no BOWP for me, and then went back and forth 20 times about it. At the end, open work permit for me valid for one year

As I said many times, to everyone, just go to the border. Is was easier when you can actually talk with somebody, explain your situation and actually talk with a human being, rather than filling confusing and contradictory forms.

Hi! this is really very informative..by the way, can i also do it in the airport? as far as i can remember, i got my 1st close work permit from toronto airport when i first came here in canada. Just wondering if thats possible too

 

[fistillarte]

I'm glad to know to everyone is getting the same result. Congrats to all !!! Let's keep it rolling.

It seems like I'm not th only one who got the OWP without AOR. (My only restriction is Alberta, like each one with their nomination province)

 

[Nisha647]

Hey I just wanted to ask so if you already have an application in process and want to flagpole do you still have to pay the $255???