The National Post this morning published an article stating that the practice of flagpoling, which is when foreign nationals in Canada approach the US border, ask for a withdrawal letter, and immediately return to Canada to process a visa, has been curtailed. Pressure is coming from U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, who held a press conference to request that the Canadian government shut down the flagpoling practice. He stated, correctly, that it causes increased waiting times for trade and tourists entering the U.S. and also takes up the CBP’s processing bandwidth.

That said, we advise clients to use flagpoling in response to IRCC’s unacceptable long in-land office processing times.

IRCC’s website states that flagpoling will be limited to the following days and times at these ports of entry:

Quebec region

Armstrong
Monday to Thursday, from 12 pm to 7 pm

Saint Armand/Philipsburg
Monday to Thursday, from 9 am to 3 pm

Saint Bernard-de-Lacolle
Monday to Thursday, from 12 pm to 7 pm

Stanstead Route 55
Monday to Thursday, from 8 am to 5 pm

Southern Ontario region

Fort Erie (Peace Bridge)
Tuesday to Thursday, from 8 am to midnight

Niagara Falls Rainbow Bridge
Tuesday to Thursday, from 8 am to midnight

Queenston-Lewiston Bridge
Tuesday to Thursday, from 8 am to midnight

Pacific region

Abbotsford-Huntingdon
Monday to Thursday, from 10 am to 4 pm

Aldergrove
Monday to Thursday, from 10 am to 4 pm

Boundary Bay
Monday to Thursday, from 10 am to 2 pm

Douglas
Monday to Thursday, from 10 am to 4 pm

Pacific Highway
Monday to Thursday, from 10 am to 4 pm

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