Vincentians and other citizens of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) seeking visas, work or study permits for Canada may need to visit Trinidad and Tobago in order to provide biometric information from December 31, 2018.
According to information on Canada’s government website, everyone who applies for a visitor visa, work or study permit (excluding U.S. nationals), permanent residence, or refugee or asylum status will need to supply biometric information.
For applicants from the Americas which includes the OECS region, this will be required from December 21, 2018.
A representative from the Canadian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago said that the new measures are part of the Canadian government’s worldwide policy changes.
“Starting from the 31st of December, we’ll have to provide biometrics, that would be fingerprints and (identification) photos. This would be done at the VACS (Canadian Visa Application Centres),” said Jacinthe Binovec.
Binovec said that this information, however, would only need to be renewed every 10 years.
There are nine OECS members: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as the British Overseas Countries and Territories of Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat.
The Canadian government said on its website that biometrics will provide immigration officers with additional information to help make decisions on a person’s admissibility and by simplifying the travel of low-risk individuals.’
Efforts to reach the Minister of Foreign Affairs proved futile. News784 will follow the developments and update.