On June 21, 2024, IRCC issued a new announcement marking a significant change in post-graduation work permit (PGWP) application processing and as part of measures to enhance border security. Foreign nationals can now no longer apply for a PGWP at a port of entry (airport, land, or marine border) when entering Canada, by a practice known as “flagpoling”.
What is Flagpoling?
Flagpoling describes the act where temporary residents of Canada swiftly acquire or renew their temporary resident status (such as a study permit or work permit) by leaving the country, and immediately re-entering without entering the United States to receive same-day immigration services. This approach has been popular for temporary residents to bypass the typical wait times associated with online application processing. According to IRCC’s announcement, from March 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, about one-fifth of foreign nationals who attempted to flagpole were PGWP applicants.
What Does This Mean for International Students and Graduates?
International graduates who wish to apply for a PGWP are encouraged to submit an online application. They can no longer apply for a PGWP at a port of entry when entering Canada. Some people may choose to submit a paper application if they may not be able to apply online.
International students who plan on applying for a PGWP after graduating from a study program in Canada should check IRCC’s website here and their DLI’s website on whether their intended study program is PGWP-eligible. Note that not all designated learning organizations (DLI) and study programs allow international graduates to be eligible for a PGWP.
Number of PGWP Holders Has Been on the Rise
In a study by Statistics Canada and IRCC, from 2008 to 2018, the annual number of new PGWP holders grew more than six times (from 10,300 to 64,700). The study also found that almost three-quarters of all PGWP holders became permanent residents within five years of having obtained their PGWP. Another departmental issue reports that in 2022, there were over 132,000 new PGWP holders in Canada in 2022, which is double the number of new PGWP holders in 2018.
Interested in Applying for a PGWP or Exploring Immigration Options to Canada?
Post-graduation work permits are a one-time opportunity for international graduates who graduated from a PGWP-eligible program at a designated learning institution. It may also allow international graduates to gain work experience in Canada to apply for some permanent residence streams like the Express Entry program. If you are interested in applying for a PGWP, or exploring other immigration options, please contact us at 2868 3780 or email [email protected].
Our professional team is dedicated to assisting clients on a personalized basis based on their individual needs and qualifications with suitable immigration programs towards attaining immigration to Canada. We have represented many candidates in the past and would be delighted to assist you.
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Disclaimer
The information provided above is for general private reference purposes only and is not intended to be a comprehensive explanation of Canadian immigration laws or a substitute for professional legal advice. Rothe International Canada is not responsible for any losses caused by the use of the above information.
If you have any specific questions, you are welcome to contact Rothe International Canada directly at (852) 2868 3780 or fill in our online enquiry form.