Biometrics not required for Canada temporary residence applicants

The biometrics requirement has been temporarily removed by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for applicants for temporary residents who are already in Canada.

This means that applicants in Canada who wish to apply for, extend, or restore their study permits, work permits, or visitor visas can do so without fulfilling the biometrics requirement. This is also true for applicants who wish to apply for a temporary residence permit.

The collection of biometric data consists of taking fingerprints and a photo of all applicants for a visitor visa, work permit, study permit, permanent residence, refugee status or asylum, extend their stay in Canada or extend their study or work permit.

This change will take effect for all new and ongoing applications, even if the application form is for applicants outside of Canada. This is also true even if the system indicates that biometrics fees are required. In this case, the candidate still does not have to pay the fees.

However, this change does not apply to applicants who are not currently in Canada. These applicants are still required to provide their biometric data. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, IRCC has taken special measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone.

Applicants previously had to submit their biometric information to a local Service Canada office. However, due to the pandemic, IRCC initially decided that requests would not be refused if an applicant was unable to provide their biometric data until they were able to do so.

The new change sees IRCC ditch the biometric requirement altogether, which will likely give peace of mind to people in Canada who have implied status.

Implied status means that a candidate can legally stay in Canada as long as they wait for an IRCC decision to be made.

Residents of Canada who will benefit from this exemption may also benefit from the economic and labor market recovery. Canada has expanded the wage subsidy program which helps eligible businesses to earn wages for employees.

The lifting of the biometrics requirement, the extended wage subsidy program, as well as an economy that has created more than 1.2 million jobs in the past two months, all, represent a positive turn of events after a few months. difficult due to COVID-19.

What if you are applying for a visa from Canada?

Make sure you don’t pay your CAD $85 biometric fee, even if you are prompted to do so.

If you are in Canada, you are currently not required to provide your biometrics, even if you have received a biometric instruction letter.

What if you are waiting for a final decision but have already paid the biometric fees?

If you have already paid for the biometric data, you will receive a refund of CAD $85 after your request is processed.

Reference is taken from CIC News