Canada immigration to introduce new biometric system next year

Canada, 24th September: Canada is going to introduce new biometric system for screening of all Canada visa holders wanting to enter Canada by next year.  

To make this possible, Canada border and police officials are working closely and overtime.

The state-of-the-art biometrics 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 part of the new biometrics system, all applicants shall be required to provide fingerprints along with a picture of them for the digital visa application.

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 aim of biometric verification by Canada immigration department is to cut down the number of mistakes in terms of another person posing in place of the individual who had actually applied and received Canadian visa, the official spokesperson Shadd added.

And this will certainly help in tightening the security around Canadian borders, asserted Shadd.

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.

Sgt. Greg Cox of RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) stated in an e-mail that the digital fingerprints usage will fight identity fraud and increase screening of criminality by law enforcement office. It will also help in processing of all legitimate and genuine candidates seeking Canada immigration, Cox added.  

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.