[Written by Don Burgess]
Students attending Canadian universities will once again need to go to New York for the Biometric Identification Process.
A Government spokesperson told Bernews that there is an inability to bring biometric testing to Bermuda, the same as it was last fall.
This is due to there still being a ban on business travel for Canadian public servants, and the Canadian Consulate is unable to facilitate the process for Canadian Visa applicants.
The government said here the steps that residents must take to secure the data.
Biometric enrolment continues to be available, by appointment, through the Visa Application Centre [VAC] network and the 135 U.S. Application Support Centers [ASC].
For students studying in Canada, specific procedures for the Study Permit process are as follows:
Students are advised to apply for a Study Permit using the online process at their earliest opportunity.
Detailed instructions can be found at http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/information/applications/student.asp
Once the application has been submitted and all fees paid, students will receive instructions on biometric enrolment. They can proceed to make a biometrics appointment at a VAC or ASC of their choice.
The timeframe for submitting biometrics usually is 30 days.
If a student needs more time to arrange travel to complete this step, they should contact the Government of Canada office to request an extension. The contact email address is email@example.com.
The Government spokesperson said, “The Department of Immigration continues to closely monitor the situation and will immediately notify the public should circumstances change.”