Flagpoling Permanent Residence Canada – Landing

Coronavirus travel restrictions: CBSA has resumed flagpoling.  However, there is still a chance they do not process your application for validating your COPR (permanent resident landing paper) or receive a work permit, a study permit or renewing your stay in Canada. Consequently, at this stage, beware of potential complications at the port of entry.

flagpoling for permanent residence CanadaJoena is a citizen of Vanuatu. She applied for immigration to Canada about three years ago. Subsequently, Joena applied for a study permit and started her studies two years ago. Lucky for her, IRCC recently approved her immigration application. They asked Joena to mail her passport to the Case Processing Centre in Ottawa.

Consequently, she sent the passport and received a PR visa attached to her passport and the Confirmation of Permanent Residency (COPR) paper. Thus, Joena wants to validate her COPR. She wonders if she could flagpole to make this happen.

Sometimes you receive your permanent residence approval while you are inside Canada. In these situations, you have two potential options to validate your permanent residence:

  • Book an appointment with an IRCC inland office.
  • Flagpole!

The term flagpoling means you go to a Canada-US land crossing. However, you do not travel to the US. Instead, you inform the US border officer you intend to change your status in Canada. Consequently, they usually deny your entry to the US and return you to Canada. Upon entering Canada, you apply for the new status. If you are not familiar with flagpoling at all, consider reading the following article first:

Flagpoling could occur for several reasons. For example,

This article focuses on landing in Canada.

What is landing?

Landing is the first entry to Canada as a permanent resident. If the immigration authorities approve your permanent residency application, you will receive the following:

  • If you are from a visa-exempt country, a COPR paper.
  • A combination of the COPR and a visa counterfoil in your passport for other people.

You are almost a permanent resident upon receiving the document(s). However, you need to validate your COPR. As soon as you have a valid COPR, you are a permanent resident or, rather, a landed immigrant. Of course, the landing either happens at a port of entry or an inland office in Canada.

What is COPR?

COPR stands for Confirmation of Permanent Residence.  It is a piece of paper that contains some important information about your immigration to Canada. For example,

  • Personal identity:
    • Family name or last name
    • Given name(s) or first name(s)
    • Date of birth
    • Sex
    • Citizenship at the time of landing
  • Immigration information:
    • Unique Client Identification (UCI)
    • Application number or immigration file number
    • COPR document number
  • Personal details:
    • Marriage status
    • Place of birth
    • Country of birth (COB)
    • Height
    • Eye colour
    • Country of residence (COR)
  • Other information about your immigration to Canada

COPR is an essential piece of document. You may need it from time to time for matters such as receiving a Social Insurance Number (SIN), applying for a PR card and Canadian Citizenship. Consequently, make sure to keep it safe. Of course, the date on a COPR is when you officially become a permanent resident of Canada.

Who may flagpole for landing?

If immigration authorities have sent you a COPR and a PR visa, you may need a flagpole for landing. Of course, if you are from a visa-exempt country, you only need a COPR.

Do not flagpole for landing if you have not received these document(s). If unqualified, you could face one of the following problems:

  • The officer allows you to enter Canada but does not land you
  • The officer issues a removal order for you
  • In rare cases, you may face detention

What kind of documents do you need for landing?

If you are eligible for flagpoling for landing, you need to have all the necessary documents with you at the time of application, namely:

  • Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), and
  • passport or travel document, and
  • proof of legal status in Canada, such as a work permit or study permit.

Although not mandatory, I highly recommend the following documents:

  • Another government-issued ID, and
  • two immigration photos, and
  • any other documents that support your immigration to Canada.

If you have implied status, you need to take proof of your implied status to the port of entry, namely:

  • Confirmation of receipt of the extension application, and
  • receipt of payment, and
  • any other documents that show you have implied status.

If any of the documents are not in English or French, make sure to translate them to one of them. Of course, use the services of a certified translator only.

NOTE: This is not an official document checklist. Before entering Canada, you need to consult with your immigration consultant or the IRCC website.

What costs are involved with the application?

This service is currently Free. However, have at least $100 per person in cash and a valid credit card or debit card, just in case.

Where do I need to go for flagpoling?

For a list of locations and potential limitations, read the following article.

Related Posts

Understanding the BC PNP Skilled Worker Stream: A Guide

Nov 27, 2023

Crafting Refugee Claim Narratives: Your Guide & Template

Nov 25, 2023

RCIC Competency with Co-counselling and Peer Review

Nov 21, 2023

PR Pathway for Ukrainians with Family in Canada

Nov 19, 2023

Would you please fill out our free assessment form if you wish to visit or move to Canada? We will review it for free, but we will contact you only if we find an opportunity for you. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session. Consultation sessions are not free, but you will receive formal immigration advice from a licensed practitioner.

Al Parsai, LLM, MA, DTM, RCIC
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Adjunct Professor – Queen’s University – Faculty of Law
Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada

Fill our Free Canada Immigration Assessment Form in your language!

Disclaimer:
This article provides information of a general nature only. Considering the fluid nature of the immigration world, it may no longer be current. Of course, the item does not give legal advice. Therefore, do not rely on it as legal advice or immigration advice. Consequently, no one could hold us accountable for the content of these articles. Of course, if you have specific legal questions, you must consult a lawyer. Alternatively, if you are looking for immigration advice, book an appointment.

The characters and places in the articles:
All the characters and locations in the articles are fictional, unless otherwise clearly stated. Therefore, any resemblance in names, dates, and places is coincidental.

Important Notes:
For our official addresses, trust this website only. We currently do not have offices outside Canada. Therefore, anyone who claims to be our agent is committing fraud. Also, note that we do not issue any work permits or study permits or similar documents. The government of Canada has the sole authority to issue such material.

Click to read the disclaimer.

Al Parsai

This article has been expertly crafted by Al Parsai, a distinguished Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (L3 RCIC-IRB – Unrestricted Practice) hailing from vibrant Toronto, Canada. Al's academic achievements include an esteemed role as an adjunct professor at prestigious Queen's University Law School and Ashton College, as well as a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from York University. A respected member of CICC and CAPIC organizations, Al's insights are further enriched by his experience as the dynamic CEO of Parsai Immigration Services. Guiding thousands of applicants from over 55 countries through the immigration process since 2011, Al's articles offer a wealth of invaluable knowledge for readers.