Currently, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its biometrics collection policy for PR (Permanent Resident) candidates.
From June 14th, 2023, people applying for the Canadian PR should submit their biometrics even if they have previously submitted the biometrics for a temporary residence permit.
The published policy’s update means that IRCC is returning to pre-pandemic processes for the applications of permanent residents. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, IRCC introduced a rule in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) requiring PR aspirants who have previously submitted their biometrics with a temporary resident application during the previous ten years to forego doing so again.
The new update of the published biometric policy indicates that the IRCC is returning to pre-pandemic actions for Canadian PR applications. Moreover, the IRCC passed a policy in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) throughout the pandemic time that made it needless for PR candidates to resubmit biometrics if they had submitted them along with a temporary resident application within the former 10 years.
Regular Process Resuming Post-Pandemic
IRCC made it possible for newcomers who all already submitted their biometrics to IRCC to apply for the Canada Permanent Residency within the past period in September 2022. This measure was in response to COVID-19 limitations that saw many Visa Application Centres (VACs) required to close provisionally.
At the time, IRCC acknowledged that many candidates for Canadian PR already had, or had in the past, status as temporary residents in Canada and that requiring biometrics prevented candidates from continuing.
As all the pandemic restrictions started to ease, the IRCC has planned to resume the pre-pandemic service standards. Moreover, the PR applications backlog, which is one of the largest blocks, is greatly reduced now, and the immigration division is working at its best for the quick application process.
Moreover, an IRCC official explained that the PR application’s biometric reuse was a temporary measure that was launched during the pandemic. But now the pandemic has ended, and because of that the IRCC resumed the regular biometric process.
Get To Know About The Biometrics
For any kind of Canadian permit that allows them to live and work in the country, the IRCC needs the candidates to submit their fingerprints and a photograph of their face as part of their primary application.
The major reason for getting the biometrics is they will aid to keep Canadians safe and protect the immigration system’s honesty. It is measured non-invasive for candidates while making them easy to recognize. Although there are some exclusions, they are a compulsory part of all immigration applications.
Who All Are Not Required To Submit Biometrics While Traveling To Canada?
Candidates from the below-mentioned categories are not needed to give the biometrics when they come to Canada.
1. Canadian citizens, citizenship candidates (including passport candidates), or current PR;
2. Young people under the age of 14;
3. Aspirants above the age of 79 years old (there is no upper age exclusion for refugee applicants);
4. State and government heads;
5. Cabinet ministers and qualified representatives of other nations and the United Nations, coming to Canada on official business;
6. U.S. visa holders passing through Canada;
7. Refugee applicants or guard people who have already submitted their biometrics and who are applying for a Canadian study permit or work permit;
8. claimants who are now living abroad and who have previously submitted their biometrics in support of a pending PR application.
Hopefully, the above lines can be helpful for you to know about the new policy about providing biometrics. If you also want to apply for Canadian PR, then connect with Aram Visas, one of the Best Consultancy for Canada at present! We will help you during the process including the biometrics.