Biometrics – Information update
As you may know, starting from the summer of 2018, it is required to provide fingerprints and a photo (Biometrics) when you apply for a visitor visa, study or work permit or permanent residence.
Due to the COVID-19, however, many biometrics collection sites are closed or are not offering biometrics collection. Those sites include Visa Application Centres (VACs) outside of Canada and Service Canada locations in Canada.
Recently there are numbers of news relatied to the biometrics service. The following is the summary of recent updates.
Temporary exemptions for certain PR applicants
As of September 22, 2020, foreign nationals who have previously given their biometrics in support of an immigration application within the last 10 years are exempt from the requirement to give their biometrics in support of their pending or new application for permanent residence.
Opening of two temporary VAC locations in USA
Applicants needing to give their biometrics in the United States (US) will have more opportunities to do so, following the opening of two temporary VAC locations in Seattle, Washington and San Francisco, California on November 23, 2020.
The two new VACs will be offering biometric collection services only and opening for one year temporarily. All other VAC services can continue to be accessed via the Los Angeles and New York VACs.
Reopening of VACs in India
After temporary closures due to COVID-19, VACs in India are offering limited biometrics appointments for specific, eligible clients as of November 25, 2020. With significant demand in India, those who are coming to Canada to permanently reunite with family, and those who are coming to study at one of the approved designated learning institutions (DLIs), are being prioritized.
Reopening of Service Canada online booking
The Service Canada appointment system for scheduling biometrics appointments will reopen online on November 30, 2020. Since mid-September, Service Canada officers have been calling clients to schedule biometrics appointments.
Public policies exempting temporary residence applicants in Canada, and permanent residence applicants who have enrolled their biometrics in the last 10 years, continue to be in effect.
When the online booking system was first introduced, it was chaotic as the system often went down.
Due to limited avaialablities at some popular locations, our clients had to go to a different location far from thier home in order to book the appointment before the due date.
We assume they continue the exemptions for many applicants in order to avoid such extreme congestions.
There are still uncertainties in the world in relation to the COVID-19. Despite the situation, Canada continues to accept a lot of PR applicants. If you are interested in, please submit your entry form from here.
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