Canada Biometrics program expanding for visas

From summer 2018, Canada Biometrics Program will be expanding for visas. Every individual who applies for a Canada Work, Visitor, Study, or PR Visa, asylum or refugee status will have to provide a photograph and fingerprints. This is known as biometrics. It is collected by the Canadian government to manage identity and facilitate processing of the application.

As of now, Canada Biometrics program is applicable only for nationals of select nations. These are required to submit biometrics while applying for Canada Study, Work, or Visitor Visa. From 31 July 2018, the visa applicants from Africa, Middle East, and Europe will have to offer biometrics. The applicants from Americas, Asia Pacific, and Asia will be required to offer them from 31 December 2018.

In order to facilitate multiple travels to Canada, the biometrics will be required to be given by the applicants only once in 10 years. The individuals who have Work, Study, or Visitor visa would have already offered the biometrics. This will have a validity of 10 years from the date of submission, as quoted by the CIC News.

The biometrics from the applicants will be collected through the Canada Visa Application Centers globally. These will also be collected at US Application Support Centers, select port of entries at Canada, and select Service Canada destinations from the beginning of 2019. The fee for collecting the biometrics will be 85$ per individual or 170 $ per family.

Citizens of Canada, current PR holders, children less than 14 years, applicants above the age of 79 and visa waived nationals with ETA are exempt from this requirement. It also includes applicants for Work or Study Visa or PR within Canada till the establishment of service centers.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.