flag polling
Jun 27th 2008, 2:43 pm
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: manchester, UK
Posts: 11
flag polling
Hi;
I'm new here, and I wanted to know when people talk about flag polling US/Canada, what does this mean?
Can someone provide me with a typical scenario please?
thanks
I'm new here, and I wanted to know when people talk about flag polling US/Canada, what does this mean?
Can someone provide me with a typical scenario please?
thanks
Jun 27th 2008, 2:56 pm
#2
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,483
Re: flag polling
This refers to persons who are in Canada when they receive their PR visas and must exit and re-enter Canada for landing. There is a procedure worked out with US Border Service whereby they issue a document to someone seeking to "out and back" at the US border for landing. The document shows that they actually left Canada and so may be landed.
Jun 27th 2008, 2:58 pm
#3
Now on Vancouver Island
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 6,935
Re: flag polling
Hello, Sarah, and welcome to the BE forum.
A trip around the flagpole means driving from a starting point in Canada to the Canada-USA border, turning around, and re-entering Canada so that you can have a visa issued and/or activated. This may be a permanent residence (PR) visa, a temporary work permit (TWP), or whatever.
It's the procedure you would go through if you flew to Canada, landed at an airport, and went through the immigration procedure there. However, if you're already in Canada as a visitor when you receive approval for a PR visa or TWP, you have to create an artificial situation in which you enter Canada in order to get the necessary stamps, etc.
I've never done it myself, but both Canadian and American border officials apparently are familiar with the procedure. I've seen reports here that the American officials even let you turn around without actually entering the USA (although you could enter the USA if you wanted to do so).
In all other respects, the same thing happens at the land border as would happen if you landed at an airport.
x
A trip around the flagpole means driving from a starting point in Canada to the Canada-USA border, turning around, and re-entering Canada so that you can have a visa issued and/or activated. This may be a permanent residence (PR) visa, a temporary work permit (TWP), or whatever.
It's the procedure you would go through if you flew to Canada, landed at an airport, and went through the immigration procedure there. However, if you're already in Canada as a visitor when you receive approval for a PR visa or TWP, you have to create an artificial situation in which you enter Canada in order to get the necessary stamps, etc.
I've never done it myself, but both Canadian and American border officials apparently are familiar with the procedure. I've seen reports here that the American officials even let you turn around without actually entering the USA (although you could enter the USA if you wanted to do so).
In all other respects, the same thing happens at the land border as would happen if you landed at an airport.
x
Jun 27th 2008, 3:02 pm
#4
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: manchester, UK
Posts: 11
Re: flag polling
Hello, Sarah, and welcome to the BE forum.
A trip around the flagpole means driving from a starting point in Canada to the Canada-USA border, turning around, and re-entering Canada so that you can have a visa issued and/or activated. This may be a permanent residence (PR) visa, a temporary work permit (TWP), or whatever.
It's the procedure you would go through if you flew to Canada, landed at an airport, and went through the immigration procedure there. However, if you're already in Canada as a visitor when you receive approval for a PR visa or TWP, you have to create an artificial situation in which you enter Canada in order to get the necessary stamps, etc.
I've never done it myself, but both Canadian and American border officials apparently are familiar with the procedure. I've seen reports here that the American officials even let you turn around without actually entering the USA (although you could enter the USA if you wanted to do so).
In all other respects, the same thing happens at the land border as would happen if you landed at an airport.
x
A trip around the flagpole means driving from a starting point in Canada to the Canada-USA border, turning around, and re-entering Canada so that you can have a visa issued and/or activated. This may be a permanent residence (PR) visa, a temporary work permit (TWP), or whatever.
It's the procedure you would go through if you flew to Canada, landed at an airport, and went through the immigration procedure there. However, if you're already in Canada as a visitor when you receive approval for a PR visa or TWP, you have to create an artificial situation in which you enter Canada in order to get the necessary stamps, etc.
I've never done it myself, but both Canadian and American border officials apparently are familiar with the procedure. I've seen reports here that the American officials even let you turn around without actually entering the USA (although you could enter the USA if you wanted to do so).
In all other respects, the same thing happens at the land border as would happen if you landed at an airport.
x
thanks
Jun 27th 2008, 3:16 pm
#5
Now on Vancouver Island
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 6,935
Jun 27th 2008, 4:38 pm
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: North Vancouver
Posts: 97
Re: flag polling
Just as an additional note to this our experience at the Peace Arch was that US Immigration are familiar with the process and you do not officially have to enter the US. We actually got a white form that had the words "Flagpolling" written on it!
Jun 27th 2008, 5:28 pm
#7
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,483
Re: flag polling
In actuality you did enter the US because the border is at the Peace Arch, but you were not admitted officially.
