I just wanted to share my unsuccessful experience of flagpoling at the Coutts/Sweetgrass border crossing on 11/13/2017. The goal of flagpoling was to remove the conditions that prevent me from working in health care.
I applied for PR through the spousal sponsorship program as my wife is canadian and I am a US citizen. I had applied for an open work permit at the same time. As a US citizen, i am not required to get a medical exam, but I am in the health are field, so one would be needed eventually. I submitted a letter from the optometry governing body of Alberta to support my legitimacy to practice optometry in Alberta. However, I did not know that a medical was required, so I waited 14 weeks to receive my open work permit after submitting my complete application. I should also add that I did not have the help of a lawyer and that I have a current job offer/contract that has been signed by myself and employer.
I had gotten my medical exam/blood work/x rays done last week and had gotten confirmation that the eMedical records were uploaded to my immigration file. I brought my marriage cert, work contract, proof of medical, passport, current work permit, and optometry practice permit with me.
I drove the 3 hours to Coutts and explain that I would like the conditions removed in order to work in the health care field. The officer there did not seem to be completely familiar with the process of issuing new work permits, but another woman was there who seemed to have more knowledge of how this process works. Ultimately, I was told that they cannot issue me a new work permit without conditions because I had applied for a work permit through the spousal sponsorship program. Also, I was told that since I was issued a work permit within Alberta, I am not able to get a new work permit at the border.
Before I had tried to flagpole, I was under the impression that the border officers are able to change the conditions of an open work permit provided all of my papers are in order. Does anyone have any feedback as to whether or not I was rightfully rejected? I cannot really afford to wait another 10 weeks for a new work permit as I have student loans to pay, and my employment opportunity might be at risk.
note: an LMIA is NOT required for any job (ie. you are exempt from an LMIA) if you apply via the spousal sponsorship program.