Canada to use biometric scans for immigrant visas
Canadian officials have confirmed that the government plans to introduce a biometric screening system for travellers seeking visas to Canada, but details on which countries will be enrolled in the system and when it will be implemented have been sparse; Last Friday, it was reported that the Canadian government had planned to launch the first phase of its $200 million electronic fingerprinting program in India due to concerns of rampant fraud on applications from that country; but a spokeswoman for the Immigration Ministry said the report was false and that the government was still discussing which countries would be a part of the program; the government expects to reach a decision in early fall or sometime in early 2012; the announcement comes as part of a government effort, first introduced in 2008, to use biometrics to secure Canada’s borders and minimize fraud
Canadian officials have confirmed that the government plans to introduce a biometric screening system for travellers seeking visas to Canada, but details on which countries will be enrolled in the system and when it will be implemented have been sparse.
“There hasn’t actually been a decision yet on which countries are going to be involved in biometrics,” said, Celyeste Power, a spokeswoman for the Federal Immigration Ministry.
She added, “There are countries in discussion right now … No one’s being leaned towards.”
Power expects immigration officials to reach a decision in early fall or sometime in early 2012.
Last Friday, it was reported that the Canadian government had planned to launch the first phase of its $200 million electronic fingerprinting program in India due to concerns of rampant fraud on applications from that country.
Power said that the story was incorrect and maintains that the government has yet to reach a decision on which countries the system will target.
The announcement comes as part of a government effort, first introduced in 2008, to use biometrics to secure Canada’s borders and minimize fraud.
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In a statement on the immigration ministry’s website on the 2008 budget, the ministry stated, “Border security remains a priority for Canadians. Criminals are increasingly more sophisticated and well funded, including those who engage in document fraud to illegally move people or goods across borders.”
It went on to say, “Further to biometric field trials in Canada that were successfully completed in 2007, the government will introduce the use of biometric data, such as fingerprints and live photographs, in its visa-issuing process to accurately verify identity and travel documents of foreign nationals who enter Canada.”
