On June 21, 2024, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that international students can no longer apply for post-graduation work permits (PGWP) at the Canadian border. This change puts an end to the practice known as “flagpoling,” where students would visit the border to get their work permits processed more quickly.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) explained that flagpoling consumes significant resources at the border, diverting officers from their main duties, causing delays for travelers, and slowing down the movement of goods. Between March 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024, about 20% of PGWP applicants tried to flagpole, according to IRCC.
Minister Miller emphasized that while Canada values the contributions of international graduates to the labor market, flagpoling is unnecessary and takes officers away from important security tasks. This new measure aims to prevent the practice and maintain the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.
Typically, a study permit expires 90 days after a student completes their program. If an eligible student applies online for a PGWP before their study permit expires, they can work full-time while waiting for their work permit approval. The approval is then sent directly to the student by mail.
In addition to banning flagpoling, IRCC has reduced same-day immigration services at 12 Canadian border crossings to help border officers manage peak travel periods and focus on high-priority tasks, such as screening high-risk travelers and facilitating trade.
To offset the impact of these changes, IRCC is working to speed up PGWP processing times for applications filed within Canada. They are also simplifying the online application process for foreign graduates and allowing PGWP holders to start working for a new employer immediately, without waiting for a new work permit to be processed.
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