Canada’s Immigration Ministry has announced that international students will no longer be able to apply for post-graduation work permits (PGWP) at the country’s borders. This change aims to reduce the bypassing of standard wait times by temporary residents.
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), made the announcement, explaining that the decision is intended to eliminate “flagpoling.” Flagpoling occurs when temporary residents leave and immediately re-enter Canada to receive same-day immigration services, thus bypassing normal wait times.
“Flagpoling uses significant resources at the border, diverting officers from enforcement activities and causing delays for other travelers and goods,” Miller stated. Between March 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024, PGWP applicants made up about one-fifth of those attempting to flagpole, according to Canadian immigration reports.
“While we continue to support and recognize the contributions of international graduates to Canada’s labor market, flagpoling is unnecessary,” Miller said. “The time and effort required to process applications from flagpolers takes officers on both sides of the border away from their crucial role in protecting the safety, security, and prosperity of Canadians and Americans. This measure will help prevent this practice while maintaining the integrity of our immigration system,” he added.
Nigerian students who previously relied on flagpoling will now need to adapt to the new online application process. However, Canada assures that it is improving processing times and moving towards a more modernized and centralized application processing environment to encourage more in-Canada applications.