Canada allows foreign workers to skip giving biometrics overseas

The pandemic has put prospective immigrants in a weird situation, and they are no longer sure about their future. The Canadian government is acknowledging the problems and making the process more flexible for applicants. The aim is to help foreign nationals enter Canada and continue with their plans.

What step has the IRCC taken?

The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made an announcement letting everyone know that a temporary policy measure has been enforced that will exempt all temporary foreign workers belonging to specific sectors from submitting their biometric details before entering Canada. This measure is important because many biometrics collection sites are closed due to coronavirus-related disruptions preventing applicants from completing this step.

Temporary foreign workers (TFWs) who belong to industries like health-care, agriculture, or agri-food and those who work as truck drivers will benefit from this rule. The IRCC has pointed out that many workers have already submitted their biometric details to the country since they previously worked in Canada. However, they will continue to collect biometrics for TFWs in order to uphold the safety and security of the public.

IRCC is also offering an extension to individuals who cannot submit their biometrics overseas at the moment because of COVID-19 interruptions.  They have said that they will not close any application because of missing documents.

What will happen after arrival?

When the temporary foreign workers arrive in the country, they will have to provide their biometric details at a Point of Entry (POE) in Canada. Moreover, they will have to undergo a screening process at the POE, which will be conducted at the Canada Border Services Agency in order to ascertain whether their arrival serves an essential purpose. The existing guideline state that essential travel includes arriving in the country for work. Temporary foreign workers are required to self-quarantine for up to 14 days once they arrive.