New Biometric System To Be Introduced By Canada Immigration

25 Sep 2010

A new biometric system will be introduced by Canada to screen all Canada visa holders wanting to enter Canada by next year. Canada border and police officials are working closely to make this possible. This is a five year project to heighten the security around Canadian borders and is the result of the collaborative ongoing efforts between Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP.

As per the new biometrics system, all applicants should provide fingerprints along with a picture of them for the digital visa application. This aims at reducing the number of mistakes in terms of another person posing in place of the individual who had actually applied and received the Canadian visa. This is expected to tighten the security around Canadian borders.

As per Karen Shadd, official spokesperson of Canada immigration, all Canada visa holders will have to verify themselves before the officer at their port of entry in Canada to ensure that the visa holder happens to be the same person to whom the Canadian visa was actually issued.

The biometrics information system to be introduced by Canada immigration from next year onwards till 2013 will bring the country in line with other nations using this technology including the UK and the US, she maintained.

The initial phase of the biometric information program will be for those seeking Canada visitor visas, Canada work permits and Canada student visas and will be a measure for ensuring utmost security for Canadians.

Apart from Canada, Gambia, India and Costa Rica also have announced their intentions to make use of biometrics information program for protecting their borders from criminals wanting to sneak illegally. New Zealand is also establishing fingerprint policy for immigrants entering the nation.