Increased screening for foreigners travelling to Canada
by Harleen Kaur - December 9, 2011
Canada, 9th December: Foreigners from Europe or nations not requiring visitor visas will have to undergo advanced checks before flying to Canada.
This new step comes as Canada enters into a deal with the US for increasing security checks for curbing terrorism.
ETA—The ETA(electronic travel authorization) system forms part of the process to introduce new security checks under the latest Canada-US border deal. It will be applicable to those wanting to come to North America. The new advanced ETA process will apply to travelers hailing from European and other nations not requiring visitor visas for coming to Canada.
Such foreign travelers will have to fill out an electronic form before purchasing an air ticket. Majority of foreigners will be given authority instantly while those involved in fraud or crime will be denied permission to fly to Canada, Canadian officials revealed.
Risk sharing by Canada and the US--Both Canada and the US will join together in sharing risk and target details regarding potential terrorism threats by using a common approach for screening them. Canada will use similar methods for identifying potential threats and refusing entry as adopted by the US.
Both nations will have the facility to counter-check whether any foreigner making application for getting into the nation has been denied entry, visa, faced deportation earlier by the other nation or not.
For this, new computer systems will be created by Canada and the US to seek details from each other’s database. Meanwhile, Canadians or Americans will not be affected by the new move. Some earlier reports had hinted at US checks for everyone wanting to come to Canada. But, there is no truth in such reports.
New Canada-US border deal to expedite entry of legitimate travelers, businesses—While the main motive of the new Canada-US border deal is to crack down on travelers considered a threat to the nation’s security, it will also facilitate entry of legitimate American and Canadian travelers as well as businesses. It will ease security at the US-Canada border by building a greater wall of protection around the Canada-US perimeter.
Highlights of the US-Canada border deal—
• Greater tracking of foreign travelers in both nations;
• Increased opportunities for travelers from Canada to get NEXUS card for faster entry at border crossings;
• Opening up of more lanes for facilitating faster clearance by land and air;
• Grant of trusted status to firms in the US or Canada involved in shipping goods across the border to facilitate pre-screening at the factories itself rather than at the border.
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