I was able to get a PGWP with my friends by doing a flagpole at Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls. The entire process was pretty seamless, just a bit of wait for processing on the Canadian side. We were able to finish the whole process in ~3 hours. Here's how it went:
> From the Rainbow Bridge on the Canadian side there's a door marked "To the US" for pedestrians. There's a fee of 50 cents here to cross the bridge. You go through a turnstile at which point you're out of Canada technically.
> Walked over the bridge to the American side (which was a very nice walk), told the officers at primary inspection there I wanted to apply for a WP in Canada and would like to get a flagpole. They asked for my passport, went through it. Asked if I had a visa (I did have one from previous visits -- though it does not matter I believe, even if you don't have one). They then issue a white paper which is addressed to the CBSA with your details written on it and mentions "Flagpole". After giving me the paper, the officer directed me to walk back the same away and even said that this (flagpole) won't affect potential future entries into the US. All of this took 5 minutes tops since there was no line up.
> Walk back over the bridge to the Canadian side. Tell the officer at the primary inspection that I want to apply for a PGWP. They check the study permit, the white flagpole paper from the US side and issue another paper which says I'm there to apply for a PGWP. Get sent to secondary.
> Wait for about an hour or so at secondary. Name gets called up, officer asks for letter from the university and transcript. Was also asked when I completed school (to make sure I'm within the 90 day mark I guess). Get told to sit again. After a while, they ask you to pay $255 nearby and wait. Eventually after a few minutes, they issued a 3 year open PGWP.
For what it's worth, I'd recommend going in there early (before 9 AM) since the border tends to get pretty busy after that with tourists.
> From the Rainbow Bridge on the Canadian side there's a door marked "To the US" for pedestrians. There's a fee of 50 cents here to cross the bridge. You go through a turnstile at which point you're out of Canada technically.
> Walked over the bridge to the American side (which was a very nice walk), told the officers at primary inspection there I wanted to apply for a WP in Canada and would like to get a flagpole. They asked for my passport, went through it. Asked if I had a visa (I did have one from previous visits -- though it does not matter I believe, even if you don't have one). They then issue a white paper which is addressed to the CBSA with your details written on it and mentions "Flagpole". After giving me the paper, the officer directed me to walk back the same away and even said that this (flagpole) won't affect potential future entries into the US. All of this took 5 minutes tops since there was no line up.
> Walk back over the bridge to the Canadian side. Tell the officer at the primary inspection that I want to apply for a PGWP. They check the study permit, the white flagpole paper from the US side and issue another paper which says I'm there to apply for a PGWP. Get sent to secondary.
> Wait for about an hour or so at secondary. Name gets called up, officer asks for letter from the university and transcript. Was also asked when I completed school (to make sure I'm within the 90 day mark I guess). Get told to sit again. After a while, they ask you to pay $255 nearby and wait. Eventually after a few minutes, they issued a 3 year open PGWP.
For what it's worth, I'd recommend going in there early (before 9 AM) since the border tends to get pretty busy after that with tourists.
We got an update on Jun.6th but that's it......