I used the term most because other than not having a criminal record or being a failed refugee claimant, an individual might be a special interest case in terms of terrorist affiliation, gang affiliation etc....something that singles a person out. I attempted to report myself to the CBSA at my provinces border crossing to St Pierre et Miquellon because I felt it would expedite my case and after showing them I had a application in process (my AOR) and letting them know I was out of status, they simply told me it's CIC's job to make a decision on my case. They did let me know if I intended to make the crossing to St Pierre, it'll be a different story as I would not have a visa to come back to Canada (I was born in a non-visa exempt country to Canada)
I did ask my neighbor about the change in wording on the CIC website and even he found it confusing. You can't have a policy of accepting out-of-status applications in principle and have wording that contravenes that. In truth, everyone is confused by it but as far as i know a lot of out-of-status folks are still getting AIP after waiting and people without status have applied after the wording changed and still get AOR. On the Facebook group, an individual that sponsored her out of status partner after the wording changed not only got AOR but an OWP! (that individual reported applying for a restoration of status and had it refused proving they where indeed out of status but still got OWP....please note, this is the only case reported).
About the CBSA policy that ended November 2011, I know nothing about that and will definitely ask (you guessed it, my neighbor
). I do know that in my province, the CBSA office actually has to deal with drug traffickers on the sea's, illegal fishing and smugglers and would rather spend their time doing that than chasing people who arent criminals but want to live in peace in canada. In many jobs, personal preference for tasks usually prevail and my CBSA agent neighbor says a lot of his colleagues will rather not be chasing non-criminals that are the responsibility of CIC.