加拿大边境管理局宣布终止“旗杆移民”政策

什么是“旗杆移民”？| What is Flagpoling?

根据加拿大边境服务局（CBSA）发布的新闻稿，从本周一午夜起，加拿大正式终止了被称为“旗杆移民”（flagpoling）的移民做法。

According to a press release from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Canada has officially ended the practice of "flagpoling" as of midnight on Monday.

CBSA表示，“旗杆移民”指的是持有加拿大临时居留身份的外国人离开加拿大，短暂访问美国或圣皮埃尔和密克隆群岛后，再次入境加拿大以便在入境口岸获得移民服务的行为。

The CBSA defines flagpoling as when foreign nationals with temporary resident status in Canada leave the country for a brief visit to the U.S. or St. Pierre and Miquelon, then re-enter Canada to access immigration services at a port of entry.

过去，这种做法允许申请人在边境口岸快速办理工作许可或学习许可。然而，自12月23日晚11:59（东部时间）起，这项服务已不再对“旗杆移民”开放。

Previously, this allowed applicants to quickly obtain work or study permits at border entry points. However, as of 11:59 p.m. EST on December 23, these services are no longer available to flagpolers.

为何终止这项做法？| Why Was This Practice Terminated?

CBSA在声明中指出：“这一做法占用了边境大量资源，使加拿大和美国边境官员无法专注于更重要的执法活动，并加剧了过境旅客的等待时间。”

In its statement, the CBSA said, “This practice has taken up significant resources at the border, diverting Canadian and American officers away from important enforcement activities and contributing to wait times for cross-border travellers.”

曼尼·古普塔（Manan Gupta），一位来自安大略省布兰普顿的注册加拿大移民顾问表示，这种做法近年来变得越来越流行，尤其是在申请者需要紧急办理签证或延期时。

Manan Gupta, a regulated Canadian immigration consultant based in Brampton, Ontario, noted that flagpoling has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially for those needing urgent visa services or extensions.

“比如有人刚收到工作邀请，需要尽快开始工作，他们通常会通过‘旗杆移民’来当天完成签证服务，”古普塔解释道。“For example, if someone gets a job offer and needs to start work soon, they often resort to flagpoling to get same-day visa services,” Gupta explained.

操作过程 | How Does Flagpoling Work?

在进行“旗杆移民”时，申请者会先离开加拿大并向美国边境官员表明，他们并不打算留在美国，而是会立即返回加拿大。When flagpoling, applicants leave Canada and inform U.S. border officials that they do not intend to stay in the United States and will return to Canada immediately.

随后，当他们返回加拿大的入境口岸时，CBSA官员会处理他们的申请。

When they return to the Canadian entry point, CBSA officers process their applications.

“你只需要告诉美国边境官员你没有美国签证，他们就会拒绝你进入美国。然后你可以返回加拿大，由CBSA处理你的申请，”古普塔补充道。“想象一下，当边境交通因此被阻塞时，美国方面会多么不满。”

“You can simply tell the U.S. border agent that you don’t have a U.S. visa, and they will turn you around. You can then return to Canada, where CBSA officers would process your application,” Gupta added. “Imagine how frustrating this was for the U.S. when border traffic was held up.”

美国压力促成政策改变 | U.S. Pressure Influenced Policy Change

今年5月，美国参议院多数党领袖查克·舒默曾敦促加拿大政府终止这种做法。

In May this year, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged the Canadian government to end this practice.

古普塔认为，申请者选择“旗杆移民”是因为加拿大国内签证处理时间过长，无奈之下的“最后手段”。

Gupta believes applicants turned to flagpoling as a “last resort” due to lengthy visa processing times within Canada.

截至12月17日，加拿大境内办理工作许可的平均时间为170天，而学习许可的平均等待时间为9周。

As of December 17, the average processing time for a work permit in Canada was 170 days, while the average wait time for a study permit was nine weeks.

“在这项政策结束之前，这种做法并不违法，但它反映了系统的运行效率存在问题，”古普塔说。

“This practice wasn’t illegal before this policy change, but it showed the system wasn’t functioning efficiently,” Gupta said.

政策影响 | Policy Impact

根据新规定，尝试通过“旗杆移民”申请工作许可或学习许可的申请者将被要求提交正式的申请，并通过移民部门处理。Under the new rules, those attempting to flagpole for work or study permits will be required to submit formal applications through immigration officials.

古普塔对此政策表示支持。他认为：“这项政策实际上创造了一个双层移民系统。为什么不同人群的等待时间会不同？”

Gupta supported the decision, stating, “This policy created a two-tiered immigration system. Why should wait times differ for different people?”

统计数据 | Statistics

CBSA的数据显示，每年有数千人通过“旗杆移民”在加拿大边境口岸办理移民服务。自2021年以来，这一数字逐年增长。今年截至6月2日，共有32,410人通过“旗杆移民”方式申请移民服务。

CBSA data shows thousands of people use flagpoling at Canadian border points each year, with the numbers increasing annually since 2021. By June 2 this year, 32,410 individuals had used flagpoling.

2022年，这一数字为61,561人，比2021年激增90%。In 2022, the number rose to 61,561, a 90% increase from 2021.

在2021年，由于COVID-19疫情导致非必要旅行受限，“旗杆移民”的数量下降了34%。

In 2021, flagpoling dropped by 34% due to restrictions on non-essential travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.