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Flag-pole Experiences (Parents' Landing)

Rossei

Champion Member
Jun 6, 2010
2,662
443
Canada
Category........
PNP
Visa Office......
Buffalo
NOC Code......
2133
Job Offer........
Yes
Pre-Assessed..
Yes
App. Filed.......
18-Jan-2011 (Buffalo)
Doc's Request.
N/A
Nomination.....
26-Nov-2010
AOR Received.
21-Jul-2011 (Email)
IELTS Request
N/A
File Transfer...
N/A
Med's Request
25-Jul-2011 (Reg. Mail)
Med's Done....
03-Aug-2011
Interview........
N/A
Passport Req..
08-Sep-2011 (Email)
VISA ISSUED...
20-Sep-2011 (Buffalo)
LANDED..........
20-Sep-2011 (Niagara)
I wanted to collect the landing experiences from different forum users who opted to "flag-pole" for their parents/grandparents. Flag-pole refers to crossing Canada-US land border without US Visa, getting administrative refusal from US border office and turned around to Canada. While coming back, parent(s) get the opportunity to land with PR Visa and become PR.

I will start with my own experience first (you can share yours so that others can learn from them):

User: Rossei, Flag-pole: Mom (PGP), Border: Sarnia-Port Huron (Bluewater Bridge), Date: 15-Oct-2016
Original post: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/sponsoring-parents-in-2015-t248893.0.html;msg5514073#msg5514073



We went to our Sarnia/Canada - Port Huron/US border (Bluewater Bridge) in Saturday morning, flag-poled and my mom became PR officially.

Well, this is the 2nd time I experienced flag-polling. I must say the latest was much pleasant than the first one which I did back in 2005 to get my co-op work permit from Windsor-Detroit border.

Anyway, we started driving at 7:45 am on Saturday towards Bluewater Bridge border (it's less than 10 min drive from my home). Paid the toll at toll booth, crossed the bridge and lined up with the car at US border side. It wasn't busy at all, perhaps had 20 cars in 3~4 open lines. Anyway, at our turn, I explained everything to the CBP officer that my mom is here to flag-pole so that she can land at Canadian side. We were handed over the yellow slip with which I parked my car and went inside their office. I crossed border on numerous occasions, so I was familiar with the process. BY the time I signed the visitor log book, it was 8:20 am.

One of the CBP officers took my case voluntarily right way. He sighed once seeing a flag-polling case :p. But he was very friendly towards me and my mom. He said that it may take some time to enter all data as the computer doesn't act fast everyday. After the computer work was done (few guys were helping him to do that), the officer came out of his desk to help my mom to do the finger prints. When we were ready to leave, the officer walked with us towards my car, gave us a white paper slip and explained everything re: flag-polling. He showed us the way out and we were again at the toll booth. It was probably just after 9:00 am.

The CBSA officer at the booth was the most unfriendly type I found for that day. He asked me twice how I know about flag-poling. I said "well the term "flag-poling" wasn't used in our PR instructions; but it said we could cross the border and complete landing procedure" (in my mind I was like why the h*** you care if US granted it). Anyway, I parked my car at CBSA office and we went inside. As there was no line-up at that time, we straight went to a lady officer and gave our passports and CoPR (#2 copies, 1 with my mom's photo and the other one didn't have photo attached). We were told to take seats. 15-20 minutes later, the officer called us back and asked few routine questions to my mom, As my mom doesn't understand English that well, the officer asked me to translate to her. At the end, my mom had to sign and initial on both CoPR's. She kept the photo one and handed over the other to us. She said the PR card would take 6 - 8 weeks to come. She congratulated my mom and we were on our merry way to home.

We were back in Sarnia at 10:00 am, so the whole process took around 2 hours. We stopped by Timmy's and brought breakfast for the whole family, a little celebration for my mom. :D
 

Rossei

Champion Member
Jun 6, 2010
2,662
443
Canada
Category........
PNP
Visa Office......
Buffalo
NOC Code......
2133
Job Offer........
Yes
Pre-Assessed..
Yes
App. Filed.......
18-Jan-2011 (Buffalo)
Doc's Request.
N/A
Nomination.....
26-Nov-2010
AOR Received.
21-Jul-2011 (Email)
IELTS Request
N/A
File Transfer...
N/A
Med's Request
25-Jul-2011 (Reg. Mail)
Med's Done....
03-Aug-2011
Interview........
N/A
Passport Req..
08-Sep-2011 (Email)
VISA ISSUED...
20-Sep-2011 (Buffalo)
LANDED..........
20-Sep-2011 (Niagara)
Here is another positive one:

User: vnexpress, Flag-pole: Mom (PGP), Border: Coutts (AB), Date: 17-Sep-2016
Original post: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/sponsoring-parents-in-2015-t248893.0.html;msg5455679#msg5455679


After being approved by Singapore and got visa stamping done in Ottawa, I took my mom to Coutts land border in Alberta this afternoon to complete landing. The process was so quick and seamless. Since we wanted to avoid busy weekend we decided to go Friday afternoon and both sides were pretty much quiet, even though it is the biggest border crossing in Alberta. We were one of very few passenger vehicles, the rest were cargo trucks at the time.

Quite different from others' experience, it took us longer at the U.S office than on Canadian side. On the U.S side, we were told to park the car and came inside the building. Officer was nice, after about 20 minutes doing some paperworks on computer he came back and gave my mom refusal of admission into the U.S. Without being asked, he told us that this has nothing to do with our entry records to the U.S as it is an administrative refusal to do the landing on Canadian side tonight. He said you guys can declare "no" if later on being asked if ever refused into the U.S. Then he drove his car to escort us back to the U-turn into Canada.

Once on Canadian soil, the frontline officer asked what we were there for and took my Canadian passport and my mom foreign passport. He asked typical custom questions about items or cash to declare to which we responded no. He then gave us a yellow paper, asked us to pull over to the front building and come inside with all other paperworks to finish landing. Friendly, quick and professional.

We went inside, there was nobody we were the only people (actually just my mom) there for landing at 8pm Friday afternoon. One male officer greeted us warmly and asked if mother can speak English, if not I will need to translate. He was the only immigration officer on duty at the time I guess. He asked mom 2 questions on COPR which are "ever been arrested" and "any other dependent children". He didn't bother to ask anything else. Then he asked me to write down address to send PR card. Mom initialed on the 2 COPR copies for those 2 questions and signed at the bottom. He then told us to sit and wait. After 5-7 minutes of entering data in the system, he called us back and very nicely and warmly smiled and said to us "Please tell your mom I congratulate her for becoming a PR today. It's all done now. Expect PR Card within 90 days". He stapled her COPR to the passport and told us this paper is her temporary proof of PR. He gave us a paper instruction on how to get SIN and Health Care. By the way make sure you bring any immigration permits you had since they do ask you to surrender at the time of landing.

Our own experience about landing at land border was quite pleasant, quick and easy. The whole process for both US and Canadian side was just about 30 minutes. I guess we came during less busy hours so the officers from both sides were nice and helpful, though I heard some people had very bad and scary experiences with officers at border crossings in Alberta when they try to validate their COPR during busy hours, especially at the Carway POE.

So the journey is complete after 1 year and 9 months (actually the real processing just took 3 months from SA assessment to PR Visa because for 1 year 6 month the file just sat idly at CPC-Mississauga). We drove back to home in Calgary which is 3 hours away from Coutts border.

Good luck to the rest of you here. I can tell CIC is doing their best to help reunite parents to their Canadian children as quickly and easily as they possibly can. It's hard to remain patient, I wasn't a patient person myself, but your day will come eventually.
 

Rossei

Champion Member
Jun 6, 2010
2,662
443
Canada
Category........
PNP
Visa Office......
Buffalo
NOC Code......
2133
Job Offer........
Yes
Pre-Assessed..
Yes
App. Filed.......
18-Jan-2011 (Buffalo)
Doc's Request.
N/A
Nomination.....
26-Nov-2010
AOR Received.
21-Jul-2011 (Email)
IELTS Request
N/A
File Transfer...
N/A
Med's Request
25-Jul-2011 (Reg. Mail)
Med's Done....
03-Aug-2011
Interview........
N/A
Passport Req..
08-Sep-2011 (Email)
VISA ISSUED...
20-Sep-2011 (Buffalo)
LANDED..........
20-Sep-2011 (Niagara)
User: cic2015, Flag-pole: Mom & Dad (PGP), Border: Pacific Highway (BC), Date: 19-Oct-2016
Original post: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/sponsoring-parents-in-2015-t248893.0.html;msg5522978#msg5522978


My parents landed yesterday at the Pacific Highway border in BC. Here is overview of the experience:

We went around 7:00pm as it showed online that the wait was less then 5 mins. When we reached at the border..there was bit of queue getting to the US side as there was only one lane open (probably took us 30 mins).

We told the Border agent that my parents where here to flag-pole. He was quite nice... asked couple of questions, gave us the orange slip and directed us to the secondary check building. There was another family ahead of us.... but there seemed to be only one border agents helping that family... looked like a complicated case so we though that were going to be there for a while.

Anyway one of the border agents walked in from outside and asked what were we here for ... and if it is a simple situation he may be able help. He asked if we wanted to enter US or just turn back. We told him that we were turning back immediately ... he filled a form and we were on our way back in 10 mins.

No line-up getting back to Canadian side. We told the border agent that my parents were landing... he looked at their passports asked couple of questions (regarding their current status, whose car we were in and we we live)... he sent us to the Canadian secondary processing.

At the secondary, we told the agent that my parents were here to land. She asked for the paperwork... double checked couple of questions on the paperwork asked my parents to initial at couple of lines and sign. She asked us to take a seat and went to process the documents. We probably waited for 20 mins and she called us back... went over few things and welcomed my parents to Canada.

Overall pretty good experience and all the agents were quite pleasant to deal with.
 

kilamans

Hero Member
Feb 14, 2013
232
15
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Mississauga jan '16
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Credit card charged jan '16
AOR Received.
AOR - Feb '16
File Transfer...
Ottawa Aug '16
Med's Request
Oct '16 & for PCC
Med's Done....
Nov '16 & for PCC
Hi Rossei,

Thanks for creating this new thread, here i come with questions :)

my parents have just(21st Nov 2016) submitted there PCC, RPRF, Medicals Passed in my cic, waiting for passport request, what do you suggest?

Option1
travel based on their supervisa prior to passport request, so that i am there to help them for their landing formalities

Option2
travel based on their supervisa BUT after the passport request, as soon as they reach here, passports are sent to ottawa for immigrant stamping and then help them to do their landing

Option3
just do the landing directly in airport, no need of prior travel
is it possible for me to enter, to help them, once they land directly from india?

fyi
my father is the main applicant, but can't speak english
my mother is dependent but she can speak english
both of them have US tourist visa
my USA tourist visa, expired
if they are travelling in supervisa to canada, theyhave to have medical insurance

So which option do you suggest?

Second question, all the user's info said copr, was there no form which ask about the movable assets, which we are planning to bring and it will not be taxable, like jewelry, blah , blah...
 

Rossei

Champion Member
Jun 6, 2010
2,662
443
Canada
Category........
PNP
Visa Office......
Buffalo
NOC Code......
2133
Job Offer........
Yes
Pre-Assessed..
Yes
App. Filed.......
18-Jan-2011 (Buffalo)
Doc's Request.
N/A
Nomination.....
26-Nov-2010
AOR Received.
21-Jul-2011 (Email)
IELTS Request
N/A
File Transfer...
N/A
Med's Request
25-Jul-2011 (Reg. Mail)
Med's Done....
03-Aug-2011
Interview........
N/A
Passport Req..
08-Sep-2011 (Email)
VISA ISSUED...
20-Sep-2011 (Buffalo)
LANDED..........
20-Sep-2011 (Niagara)
kilamans said:
Hi Rossei,

Thanks for creating this new thread, here i come with questions :)

my parents have just(21st Nov 2016) submitted there PCC, RPRF, Medicals Passed in my cic, waiting for passport request, what do you suggest?

Option1
travel based on their supervisa prior to passport request, so that i am there to help them for their landing formalities

Option2
travel based on their supervisa BUT after the passport request, as soon as they reach here, passports are sent to ottawa for immigrant stamping and then help them to do their landing

Option3
just do the landing directly in airport, no need of prior travel
is it possible for me to enter, to help them, once they land directly from india?

fyi
my father is the main applicant, but can't speak english
my mother is dependent but she can speak english
both of them have US tourist visa
my USA tourist visa, expired
if they are travelling in supervisa to canada, theyhave to have medical insurance

So which option do you suggest?

Second question, all the user's info said copr, was there no form which ask about the movable assets, which we are planning to bring and it will not be taxable, like jewelry, blah , blah...
I can't take a decision for you. But I would perhaps choose Option 3 since it seems much straight forward. Besides, if you mom can communicate in English, it will be fine for both of them. The POE office will ask a series of routine questions (like have you committed a crime, been in a prison, deported out of Canada, height/eye colour etc.). For your dad, he will ask your mom to translate the same questions. They should keep your full address handy as he will ask for it to mail the PR cards. FYI, you cannot enter into Airport Immigration Section from outside.

For your second question, yes, there are few forms (E311, BSF186 and BSF186a) they should carry with them. Here are the links:
- Crossing the border: documents you need
- CBSA forms repository
- How to fill out B4 form (by qorax) (B4 has been replaced by BSF186)
 

Rossei

Champion Member
Jun 6, 2010
2,662
443
Canada
Category........
PNP
Visa Office......
Buffalo
NOC Code......
2133
Job Offer........
Yes
Pre-Assessed..
Yes
App. Filed.......
18-Jan-2011 (Buffalo)
Doc's Request.
N/A
Nomination.....
26-Nov-2010
AOR Received.
21-Jul-2011 (Email)
IELTS Request
N/A
File Transfer...
N/A
Med's Request
25-Jul-2011 (Reg. Mail)
Med's Done....
03-Aug-2011
Interview........
N/A
Passport Req..
08-Sep-2011 (Email)
VISA ISSUED...
20-Sep-2011 (Buffalo)
LANDED..........
20-Sep-2011 (Niagara)
Here's a not-so-good experience:

User: RoyalNS, Flag-pole: Mom & Dad (PGP), Border: Niagara (Rainbow Bridge), Date: 12-Nov-2016
Original post: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/when-your-parent-sponsorship-2014-application-reached-cpcm-update-here-t179188.0.html;msg5579603#msg5579603


OMG. I had horrible experience on Niagra Rainbow Bridge. We went to border close to 3:30-4pm (Saturday) and US immigration side was so helpful. Took us 15 in car line and once we went to booth it took less than 10 minutes. Very nice and friendly officers and we did not need any fingerprint.

The problem started when we came to Canada side. The Immigration officers (6-8 of them) are so rude, unprofessional, disgusting human being you will ever meet in Canada. After we wait 2 hours they told us to come on weekday because weekend are busy. They said it will take 5-7 more hours. If you already know weekend are busy then you should have more ppl and you guys are not working anyway because I do not see you calling any guys. They chatting with each other, laughing and almost doing nothing unless there are someone need to pay tax (stuff they bought from USA).

They also ask us to try the other bridge but will not give us our refusal letter back (I have to do the whole process again thought it does not take too long). I was already too pissed to leave. So many ppl left when they said it will take 5-7 hours. They will not allow my parents to leave the building for dinner unless we tell them that we are leaving and will come back another day. The way this guys talking like we all are criminals. There are so many students, work permit holder and only 2 family for parents immigration lading. The other family is waiting longer than us.

One hour later they call us again and said my parents still have super visa remaining and we should try in land landing. I said we will wait if necessary all night, they did not like my answer for sure.

At 9 pm there is a new office came and he is good. I forgot his name. He took our passport and finish the whole process in 20 minutes. I have seen most of the ppl had good experience in the morning time. So for future anyone going to Niagara please go in the morning.
 

planningtogo

Hero Member
Aug 1, 2011
318
8
Bacolod, Philippines
Category........
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
This is an interesting post but it's kind of way over my head. Can anyone please enlighten me on this if you know? this is just a hypothetical question as my parents PR are in process now.

- If I was able to bring my parents in Canada with a tourist visa and I would like them to be PR here, can we do this for the process to be faster? Given that I am qualified to sponsor them based on my income.

Thank you!
 

kilamans

Hero Member
Feb 14, 2013
232
15
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Mississauga jan '16
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Credit card charged jan '16
AOR Received.
AOR - Feb '16
File Transfer...
Ottawa Aug '16
Med's Request
Oct '16 & for PCC
Med's Done....
Nov '16 & for PCC
planningtogo said:
This is an interesting post but it's kind of way over my head. Can anyone please enlighten me on this if you know? this is just a hypothetical question as my parents PR are in process now.

- If I was able to bring my parents in Canada with a tourist visa and I would like them to be PR here, can we do this for the process to be faster? Given that I am qualified to sponsor them based on my income.

Thank you!
just bcoz they are here in tourist visa or on supervisa, you can speedup the process for PR, you still need to apply as per the PR process and then you need to wait.
What helps them is, there is already file with the CA govt that a visa was issue earlier, so the UCI# helps them to track, it may help in few mins which was for creating a profile and entering all the details...

hope it was clear
 

bmramon

Star Member
Jan 4, 2014
59
0
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC-M
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
02/01/2014
AOR Received.
09/06/2014
File Transfer...
14-03-2016
Med's Request
21-11-2016
Med's Done....
26-11-2016
Passport Req..
13-01-2017
VISA ISSUED...
27-01-2017
LANDED..........
01-02-2017
Can I ask a question, sorry if it has been asked before.

Can we flagpole at ANY cbsa border? I looked at the list of borders with "full immigration services" and I dont see any of the BC borders listed.

Does that mean you cannot flagpole in BC?
 

Rossei

Champion Member
Jun 6, 2010
2,662
443
Canada
Category........
PNP
Visa Office......
Buffalo
NOC Code......
2133
Job Offer........
Yes
Pre-Assessed..
Yes
App. Filed.......
18-Jan-2011 (Buffalo)
Doc's Request.
N/A
Nomination.....
26-Nov-2010
AOR Received.
21-Jul-2011 (Email)
IELTS Request
N/A
File Transfer...
N/A
Med's Request
25-Jul-2011 (Reg. Mail)
Med's Done....
03-Aug-2011
Interview........
N/A
Passport Req..
08-Sep-2011 (Email)
VISA ISSUED...
20-Sep-2011 (Buffalo)
LANDED..........
20-Sep-2011 (Niagara)
bmramon said:
Can I ask a question, sorry if it has been asked before.

Can we flagpole at ANY cbsa border? I looked at the list of borders with "full immigration services" and I dont see any of the BC borders listed.

Does that mean you cannot flagpole in BC?
Now I think that "landing" doesn't belong to a task that needs full immigration service. Besides, the most part of "flag-poling" is done at US side (CBP office). Furthermore, I've heard people crossing border from Vancouver to flag-pole.

Being one of the main provinces of Canada, it's almost unimaginable that you cannot flag-pole from BC.
 

CDNPR2014

VIP Member
Mar 1, 2016
3,180
187
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
LANDED..........
2014
bmramon said:
Can I ask a question, sorry if it has been asked before.

Can we flagpole at ANY cbsa border? I looked at the list of borders with "full immigration services" and I dont see any of the BC borders listed.

Does that mean you cannot flagpole in BC?
"full immigration services" isn't specific to PR landings. For the most part, it is referencing processing work visas and such.
Generally, any Border office will do landings when they are open. Like the other poster said, "flagpoling" is done at the us border. This means you are being turned around to go back to canada. it's not technically part of the landing process. You can always call the border your intend to land at and ask if they have specific hours for landing. Most, if not all borders, will do it at any time of the day. There are quite a few borders in BC that process landings 24/7.
 

bmramon

Star Member
Jan 4, 2014
59
0
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC-M
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
02/01/2014
AOR Received.
09/06/2014
File Transfer...
14-03-2016
Med's Request
21-11-2016
Med's Done....
26-11-2016
Passport Req..
13-01-2017
VISA ISSUED...
27-01-2017
LANDED..........
01-02-2017
ok makes sense, thanks so much everyone!
 

Yorkiemum

Full Member
Sep 23, 2015
43
3
We 'landed' at the Queenston Lewiston crossing on 7th December. We did not 'flagpole' as we had spent a few days in the US. The officer at the Canadian Border kiosk was very pleasant and gave us a slip to hand into the office. At the office we were dealt with promptly and the staff were friendly. Approximately 30 minutes later we were on our way.
 

Rossei

Champion Member
Jun 6, 2010
2,662
443
Canada
Category........
PNP
Visa Office......
Buffalo
NOC Code......
2133
Job Offer........
Yes
Pre-Assessed..
Yes
App. Filed.......
18-Jan-2011 (Buffalo)
Doc's Request.
N/A
Nomination.....
26-Nov-2010
AOR Received.
21-Jul-2011 (Email)
IELTS Request
N/A
File Transfer...
N/A
Med's Request
25-Jul-2011 (Reg. Mail)
Med's Done....
03-Aug-2011
Interview........
N/A
Passport Req..
08-Sep-2011 (Email)
VISA ISSUED...
20-Sep-2011 (Buffalo)
LANDED..........
20-Sep-2011 (Niagara)
davidkaren said:
Is there minimum amount of money parents needs to bring while they are landing?
Under PGP, I don't think so as they will be financially dependent on you (the sponsor). The sponsor has undertaken an oath that s/he would meet the basic requirements of sponsored persons for 20 years.