Amid lengthy adjudication times for Canadian work permit renewal applications, the Canadian government has limited access to “flagpoling”. Flagpoling is when foreign nationals who hold temporary resident status in Canada, leave Canada and, after a brief visit to the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon, re-enter to access immigration services and submit a “new” work permit application at the port of entry, thereby usurping the standard “in-country” work permit renewal adjudication processes.  

The current adjudication times for work permit renewal applications filed within Canada is approximately 151 days from the date of submission. This leads some applicants to seek more expedited avenues to obtain a renewed work permit immigration document. However, with the Canadian government’s decision to restrict flagpoling, these options are now very limited. 

While many renewal applicants will be subject to the lengthy inland renewal process without an option to flagpole, the government has listed exceptions for the following: 

• US citizens and permanent residents; 

• Professionals, under certain free trade agreements, from the United States, Mexico, Chile, Panama, Peru, Colombia and South Korea; 

• Spouses/common law partners of professionals, under free trade agreements, from Panama, Colombia and South Korea; 

• Truck drivers required to leave Canada for the purpose of their employment, and who hold maintained status having applied for renewal prior to departure; and 

• Those with appointments already booked with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). 

Employers and their employees are encouraged to contact Foster as early as possible regarding potential renewal applications in Canada to ensure the proper precautions and strategies are considered. 

Foster will provide additional updates regarding travel and visa matters via our firm’s website at www.fosterglobal.com.