2. Parental Sponsorships will no longer be lottery based but again “first come, first ” 20,000 applications will be accepted.  The interest to sponsor form will be available at noon EST on January 28, 2019.

To learn more about parental sponsorships click here.

3. Biometrics  were introduced effective July 31^st 2018 in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and now introduced in December 31^st 2018 for Asia, Asia Pacific and American region, for all persons between 14 to 79 years of age who are:

• applying for a Temporary Resident Visa, Temporary Resident Permit, work permits or study permits (except American citizens)
• claiming refugee protection
• applying for permanent residence
• renewing permanent residence (PR) Cards for persons who were under 14 when they obtained their initial PR Card
• Once the Biometric fee is paid, applicants await instructions from IRCC

4. Medical inadmissibility – In June 2018 IRCC implemented a temporary public policy tripling the excessive demand threshold for medical inadmissibility costs from $6,604.00 to $6,839.00 respectively to 3 times that average $19,812 to $20,517 in 2019. IRCC also removed special education services, social and vocational rehabilitation services and personal support services as social service costs that would factor into a medical inadmissibility assessment.

To learn more about medical inadmissibility click here.

5. Beware… American Citizens whom are permanent residents of Canada may now require their PR Card to board an airplane destined for In many instances US citizens travelling to Canada are now required to scan their US passports and are asked the question (through the scanning device) “Are you a permanent resident of Canada?” Answering yes will result in the denial of a boarding pass in the absence of a PR card or permanent resident travel document.

To learn more about permanent residency cards click here.

The next five updates in Part II will address – Impaired Driving Now Constitutes Serious Criminality, Improved processing times, Changes to Visa Application Centres and short term work permit exemptions.

Thank you for reading.

For more information please contact us.

The post 10 Important Updates in Canadian Immigration Law, Policy and Processing Part I first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

In order to accommodate the expected increase in demand in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, new Visa Application Centres (VACs) are being opened in 2018, with more planned for 2019:

• Kigali, Rwanda (September 2018);
• Stockholm, Sweden (September 2018);
• Tel Aviv, Israel (September 2018);
• Athens, Greece (November 2018);
• Berlin, Germany (November 2018);
• Lyon, France (November 2018);
• Vienna, Austria (November 2018);
• Antananarivo, Madagascar (December 2018);
• Cape Town, South Africa (December 2018).

Visa Application Centres (VACs) are not operated by the Government of Canada. They are operated by private owned companies which the government contracts with to provide administrative services in various countries around the world. This is more efficient as the government does not have expertise in operating in different jurisdictions.

Applicants who need to provide biometrics between now and the time that the VACs listed above become operational can go to certain Canadian embassies in Europe. Applicants from Sweden and neighbouring countries will be able to provide biometrics at the Embassy of Canada to Sweden in Stockholm from 31 July to September 2018. The Canadian embassies in Athens, Greece; Berlin, Germany; and Vienna, Austria will serve applicants from Greece, Germany, Austria and neighbouring countries. Finally, applicants from France and neighbouring countries will be able provide biometrics at a commercially leased space in Lyon, France from 31 July to November 2018. It is crucial to note that these locations will only collect biometrics; applications will not be accepted.

For more information, please click here.

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The Government of Canada has expanded the collection of biometrics because it is recognized as an excellent tool to confirm an individual’s identity. Thus, it will allow Canada to more effectively manage the individuals coming inside its borders and help to deter, detect and stop the entry of those who pose a risk to the health, safety and security of Canadians.

In order to achieve a balance between convenience for travellers and the need for information, biometrics will only need to be given once every 10 years. They will be valid for 10 years from the date they were given. If an individual has already given biometrics for a previous application within the past 10 years, they do not need to give them again. However, note that this 10-year validity period only applies to applicants for a visitor visa, study permit, or work permit. All other applications will require the submission of biometrics each time.

There are some limited exemptions for applicants who will not require biometrics:

• US Nationals applying for a work or study permit
• Canadian citizens, citizenship applicants (including passport applicants), or existing permanent residents
• Visa-exempt nationals coming to Canada as tourists who hold a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
• Children under the age of 14
• Applicants over the age of 79 (there is no upper age exemption for asylum claimants)
• Heads of state and heads of government
• Cabinet ministers and accredited diplomats of other countries and the United Nations, coming to Canada on official business
• US visa holders transiting through Canada
• Refugee claimants or protected persons who have already provided biometrics and are applying for a study or work permit
• Temporary resident applicants who have already provided biometrics in support of a permanent resident application that is still in process
• Temporary exemption: Applying in Canada – If you are applying for a visa, study or work permit, or permanent residence in Canada – you are exempt until the in-Canada service is established

The costs for biometrics are as follow:

• Individual applicants: CAD $85
• Families applying together at the same time: maximum total fee of CAD $170
• Groups of 3 or more performing artists and their staff who apply for work permits at the same time: maximum total fee of CAD $255

For more information, please click here.

The post Canada’s Expansion of Biometrics Collection first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

A: Commencing in January 2013, Citizenship and Immigration Canada introduced new legislation, requiring biometric information (fingerprints and photographs) from foreign national applicants of 29 countries including Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Vietnam, and Yemen who want to enter Canada as temporary residents (visitors, students, workers). Canada is not alone introducing this requirement. Other countries that use biometrics for border security or immigration control include the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia.  The United States Homeland Security also has biometric registration.

The intention of biometrics is to reduce fraud.  The Government of Canada website reads:

Canadian visa officers use biometrics to confirm your identity. Biometrics also helps to:

• make it more difficult for someone to forge, steal or use your identity,
• resolve problems or errors that may happen if your name, date of birth and/or place of birth are similar to those of someone else, and
• confirm your identity the next time you apply, so it is easier for you to re-enter Canada.

How does it work?

An applicant must attend in person, and officers will verify identity, so that no one else could impersonate that same applicant in future applications. There are Visa Application Centres (VAC) or other Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada offices outside of Canada that can assist applicants with this procedure. Of note is that an applicant may submit the biometrics after the submission of their application.  Once an applicant obtains a multiple entry visa for example, biometrics is not required for each entry unless an applicant wants to change status from visitor to student or worker.

Privacy issues have been raised as a concern and the list as potentially discriminatory.  Media reports at the time of introduction highlighted the justification for the list:

The list of countries was developed by the CIC after working in 2011 with other governmental agencies such as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. CIC also worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Canada Border Services Agency, among others.

The Gazette explained the countries were selected “following a systematic assessment of immigration patterns including volumes or rates of TRV refusals, removal orders, refugee claims, and nationals arriving without proper documentation, attempting to travel to Canada without proper documentation or under a false identity.”

There are however exemptions to the groups of individuals required to submit an application. Foreign nationals under the age of 14 or over the age of 80 will not be required to submit biometrics. Additionally, those travelling on diplomatic missions or representatives of foreign governments, the United Nations, or intergovernmental agencies involving Canada will be exempt. Foreign nationals will also be exempt if transiting through Canada for less than 48 hours and originating from the United States.

For your purposes as this lengthens the period of time for processing your application, consideration should be given to the list and in your case only Jamaica is on the list.  It is always recommended  an applicant consult an immigration lawyer or regulated consultant before taking any steps on your application.

Good luck!

For more information, click here and here.

The post What Does Dual Citizenship and Biometrics Have to Do With One Another? first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

• It is not possible to get biometrics tests in Canada, applicants need to have them done abroad.

• A citizen of a biometrics requiring country who is living in a third country might not be able to find a VAC to get their screening, therefore  all visa offices will be equipped with “emergency biometrics facilities”

• Biometrics will be required for new entry visas but not for extensions.

The post Latest Information on Biometrics first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.