Biometric Scanning: A Step Forward

On December 3, 2019, the provision on mandatory biometric scanning for all applicants who filed applications inside Canada came into force for the following categories of applicants:
– foreign workers (including an extension of a work permit)
– foreign students (including an extension of a study permit)
– temporary residents / visitors of Canada (applying for an extension of stay in Canada on a visitor visa)
– Permanent Resident Applicants applying from Inside Canada

Despite the fact that the legislation on mandatory biometric scanning came into force in July last year, the above categories of people to this day should not have provided their biometric data (fingerprints and photographs). This requirement applied only to those candidates who submitted immigration applications from abroad (students, tourists, temporary foreign workers, candidates for permanent residence, as well as refugees). Now, the Canadian biometric scanning system is technically equipped to enter information about those who are inside the country, and many biometric centers are now open for this purpose throughout Canada.

Fingerprints and a photographs of each candidate are entered into a common fingerprint database and facial recognition system. This database is used and collaborated with each other to exchange information of 5 states: Canada, the USA, England, Australia and New Zealand, and man y other countries are already joining them.

Who is not covered by this legislation:
– citizens of Canada, applicants for citizenship of Canada (including applicants for Canadian passports)
– people with a permanent resident status in Canada;
– citizens of countries of a visa-free regime with Canada crossing the Canadian borders with a valid electronic travel authorization (eTA);
– children under the age of 14;
– applicants over the age of 79 (except for those applying for refugee status);
– heads of state and heads of government;
– ministers and accredited diplomats of other countries and the United Nations arriving in Canada on official affairs;
– people with American visas traveling in transit through Canada;
– refugee applicants who have previously submitted their biometric data and applied for study or work permits in Canada while waiting for a refugee case decision;
– for PR applicants who have already passed biometric identification as part of the immigration process.

Particular attention during biometric scanning will be given to people with passports of the following 29 countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia
Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine Autonomy, Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Vietnam, Yemen.

That is all news for today.
Respectfully,
Emily

Photo credit: canada.ca