Canada imposes fingerprint checks for Sri Lankans

published by asingh on Wed, 09/25/2013 - 17:10

Canada is to introduce the biometrics requirements for several countries including Sri Lanka from the end of this year, the Canadian media reported.

Under the system, travellers must submit their fingerprints and photographs when applying for a Canadian visitor, student or work visa.

Starting October 23, travellers from Albania, Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Tunisia must submit biometrics information and from December 11 it will apply to Sri Lanka and several other countries as well.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada had released a country list, following the imposition of the biometrics requirement earlier this month on Colombia, Haiti and Jamaica, the Star reported.

Visitors from these countries must pay an extra $85 for Ottawa to collect their fingerprints and photos in their visa applications, as part of Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act passed last year to tighten border entry to the country.

Officials said the countries were selected for their volumes or rates of visa refusals, removal orders, refugee claims, and nationals arriving without proper documentation or attempting to travel under false identities, as well as their relevance to Canada’s foreign and trade policy objectives.

About 20 percent of the 300,000 visa-required applicants – visitors, students or temporary foreign workers – would have to submit their biometric information in the first year. Children, the elderly and diplomats are exempted.

The applicants must present themselves at a biometric collection service point, a third-party visa application centre contracted by Ottawa, to provide “all available fingerprints and have a photograph taken.”