Flag poling, but need to access the Canadian customs office first

[loc213]

Hi,

Does anyone know if it is possible to access the Canadian customs office first coming from the Canadian side?

My situation is this:
1.) Drive from Toronto to Niagara - Queenston Lewiston Border
2.) Hand in a confirmation of departure form to the Canadian office (this form was a condition when I obtained my visitor record, I just need to confirm the date of departure, could be anytime up to my visitor visa's expiry date, which is still a few months away)
3.) Drive to US customs - tell them I'm there to flag pole
4.) Get sent back to Canadian customs with flag pole letter and do PR landing procedures.

2 things that confuse me:
i) if I flag pole, do I actually/technically "leave" Canada?
ii) if I don't actually/technically "leave" Canada, then technically I shouldn't have to hand in the confirmation of departure form?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Tiggilicious]

If you are going to Niagara Falls, and then yes, you can go to Canadian customs before you cross the bridge. We were in Niagara falls on vacation from Nova Scotia, and we walked to Canadian Customs after lunch at the hardrock to see what we needed for my spouse to come back into Canada to visit the US for the day, since hes here on implied status on a visitor extension. Then the US Customs is on the other side of the bridge in the US.

 

[loc213]

Thanks for the information. So rainbow bridge is one option then.

For others in a similar situation, I also called csba and they actually transferred my phone call directly to the peace bridge (Fort-Erie) office. The officer there said that it is possible to follow the QEW towards the peace bridge plaza, go past the duty-free shop, immediately after a concrete barrier and before entering the peace bridge, it is possible to do a U-turn and queue up for the canadian immigration office.

So 2 bridges where one can access Canadian Immigration before "exiting" the country.