SAN FRANCISCO, March 16: An exodus of Pakistanis seeking to leave the United States has overwhelmed Canadian immigration authorities and swamped shelters, mosques, churches and aid agencies along the US-Canada border.

The surge of Pakistanis seeking safe haven in Canada came as the deadline for their registration with the US Immigration authorities ends on March 21.

The Canadian government says it is unable to process the surge in claims. Already this year, at least 1,665 Pakistanis fleeing the United States have applied for refugee status at Canadian crossings. There were 2,140 all of last year.

To relieve their backlog, the Canadians in January began sending hundreds of Pakistanis back across the border. The asylum seekers were given appointments to return to Canada, sometimes a month or more in the future.

More than 500 Pakistanis are awaiting entry into Canada at the Buffalo checkpoint along the US-Canadian border as the Canadian authorities slow down asylum seeking process, according to Ms Samina Faheem, coordinator of the hotline established by the Pakistan American Democratic Forum (PADF) to help non-immigrant Pakistanis in the registration.

Unfortunately for the Pakistanis, when they arrive at US border posts, those who do not have valid visas are subject to arrest by US immigration officials as illegal entrants.

Immigration advocates generally view the Canadian system as more liberal than its US counterpart. Applicants are less likely to be detained and are eligible for free health care and other benefits.

In addition, most of the Pakistanis are not eligible to seek political asylum in the United States. A 1996 US law mandated that asylum aspirants file within one year of their arrival — or in the case of longtime residents, by early 1998.