Hi,
I just want to let everyone know about my flagpole experience because it wasn’t easy as the reviews I have read and want to let others know as well, especially if you’re flying in just for this. When I received my copr I read everyone’s experience on this platform and decided I’ll flagpole at peace bridge or rainbow bridge, which were the two most mentioned places in here.
So I flew from my province to Toronto for this and for sight seeing after so I was staying in town for 4 days. When I arrived on Oct 15th, 2019 on a Tuesday (Rainbow bridge and peace bridge only do Tue-Thurs 8am to midnight) it was around 1.30pm we crossed bridge to states and then came back and they said flagpole is closed for the day because it’s busy. We asked if it will be open the same day or what time next day or if we can call before coming back to check. The officer at the checkout was not happy and we got yelled at.
Because I wanted this done sooner I called rainbow bridge and was told they are closed but will open that day but can’t be sure what time. We went there, crossed the bridge and came back to Canada and said closed and again got yelled at. When I said I called he said they are not going to open that day so told us you can either try Windsor or Kingston bridge which are less busy than the above said bridges.
So we went to Kingston, crossed bridge, came back and was told they are closed but will open in about 4hrs, this time the officer was very nice and gave us more information and said try to come around 6pm or 8am. Because we were too tired we went away and next day came back very early so it won’t be closed.
Arrived around 7.30 and was sent back saying too early and told us to time correctly and come in at 8 and if it’s 7.59 will send back again. So we waited and crossed bridge, this time the officers at the US border were upset over this because there were too many cars to flagpole so got yelled at, however, we needed this to be done before we leave so we bared all the yelling and said thank you to everyone of them and came back to Canada and was asked, where we are from, citizenship, why we are here (work permit,study permit or pr), if we have anything to declare. Then gave a yellow paper and asked to go inside.
When we enter inside, few of the officers weren’t happy about flagpole, didn’t even greet us. Again because this is important we smiled, greeted. Waited 3.5 hours till our name was called and after that it took less than 10 minutes to get it done. The officer who gave our landing papers were really nice though. Just wanted to let others know so you’ll plan ahead and book your flights and hotels for few days. Luckily I had few days because I wanted to roam around in Toronto.
If you really want to flagpole I’ll advice you to go to a less busy port because this was very stressful for me since I paid lot of money for flights, hotels and rental I was worried I’ll have to extend or come back.
Hope this helps someone!
I just want to let everyone know about my flagpole experience because it wasn’t easy as the reviews I have read and want to let others know as well, especially if you’re flying in just for this. When I received my copr I read everyone’s experience on this platform and decided I’ll flagpole at peace bridge or rainbow bridge, which were the two most mentioned places in here.
So I flew from my province to Toronto for this and for sight seeing after so I was staying in town for 4 days. When I arrived on Oct 15th, 2019 on a Tuesday (Rainbow bridge and peace bridge only do Tue-Thurs 8am to midnight) it was around 1.30pm we crossed bridge to states and then came back and they said flagpole is closed for the day because it’s busy. We asked if it will be open the same day or what time next day or if we can call before coming back to check. The officer at the checkout was not happy and we got yelled at.
Because I wanted this done sooner I called rainbow bridge and was told they are closed but will open that day but can’t be sure what time. We went there, crossed the bridge and came back to Canada and said closed and again got yelled at. When I said I called he said they are not going to open that day so told us you can either try Windsor or Kingston bridge which are less busy than the above said bridges.
So we went to Kingston, crossed bridge, came back and was told they are closed but will open in about 4hrs, this time the officer was very nice and gave us more information and said try to come around 6pm or 8am. Because we were too tired we went away and next day came back very early so it won’t be closed.
Arrived around 7.30 and was sent back saying too early and told us to time correctly and come in at 8 and if it’s 7.59 will send back again. So we waited and crossed bridge, this time the officers at the US border were upset over this because there were too many cars to flagpole so got yelled at, however, we needed this to be done before we leave so we bared all the yelling and said thank you to everyone of them and came back to Canada and was asked, where we are from, citizenship, why we are here (work permit,study permit or pr), if we have anything to declare. Then gave a yellow paper and asked to go inside.
When we enter inside, few of the officers weren’t happy about flagpole, didn’t even greet us. Again because this is important we smiled, greeted. Waited 3.5 hours till our name was called and after that it took less than 10 minutes to get it done. The officer who gave our landing papers were really nice though. Just wanted to let others know so you’ll plan ahead and book your flights and hotels for few days. Luckily I had few days because I wanted to roam around in Toronto.
If you really want to flagpole I’ll advice you to go to a less busy port because this was very stressful for me since I paid lot of money for flights, hotels and rental I was worried I’ll have to extend or come back.
Hope this helps someone!
