The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has always closely collaborated with the Immigration Department of Canada. For many years, the border service has handled a significant portion of the Immigration Department's work by issuing or extending work or study permits at the U.S.-Canada border. This process is known as flagpoling.
I have often shared the schedules of border crossings for issuing these permits, and it was generally known that you could go to any border crossing between the U.S. and Canada.
As of May 30, 2024, the border service has limited the authority to issue work or study permits and has restricted this right to only 12 border crossing points at a definite time (4 in Quebec, 5 in British Columbia, and 3 in Ontario). Border points in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are not designated for this procedure at all.
Therefore, save and share the following border points where it is still possible to activate a work or study visa.
The list of border points follows below:
Онтарио:
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
Квебек:
Armstrong – Monday to Thursday, from 12 pm to 7 pm
Saint Armand/Philipsburg – Monday to Thursday, from 9 am to 3 pm
Saint Bernanrd-de-Lacolle - Monday to Thursday, from 12 pm to 7 pm
Stanstead Route 55 – Monday to Thursday, from 8 am to 5 pm
Британская Колумбия
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
Activation of a permit at the border involves a technical exit from Canada, but you do not enter the territory of the United States and return directly back to Canada. Upon your return, you activate your status. In some cases, it becomes impossible to activate it:
- There is no CBSA immigration officer to handle your request.
- The border only accepts applications on certain days of the week or during specific hours of the day.
- CBSA has reached its daily quota and will not accept any additional applications.
- You do not meet the application’s requirements or possess all of the relevant documents.
- A CBSA officer finds you inadmissible to Canada.
