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Ottawa, June 5, 2020 –Temporary foreign workers play a vital role in helping in safeguarding the continuity of Canadian food supply and health security, trade, and commerce.
Due to the ongoing service disruptions related to Corona, if the biometric site closest to foreign workers is closed then the IRCC public policy temporarily exempts foreign workers in certain sectors like agriculture, agri-food, and health-care sectors from having to giving biometric before coming to Canada.
Exempt workers like seasonal agricultural workers will now be giving their biometrics when they arrive at Canadian ports of entry(POEs). Most of the former workers in the essential occupation coming to Canada have already given their biometrics.
To ensure the safety and security of all Canadians security checks are continuously performed.
Workers whose National Occupational Classification(NOC) falls under this category are covered under the public policy are the agricultural and agri-food sector,health-care sector, and truck drivers
Before you travel to Canada you must:
- Plan a quarantine.
After you arrive in Canada quarantine yourself for 14 days. - For instance, some agricultural employers who are responsible for housing their workers need to provide adequate accommodation that allows workers to quarantine.
- This is mandatory and will have serious consequences for anyone who doesn’t follow their quarantine plan.
What happens when you arrive in Canada
- You may be asked to provide your biometrics at a POE in Canada.
- Assess to ensure that you are coming for an essential purpose. For instance, have a letter of introduction for a work permit & a job offer. Can work once you enter Canada only after your 14 days of Quarantine. Before you leave POE your health and quarantine plan will be assessed.
- If you are not covered under this new extension your application is in progress and still can’t give biometrics. If Visa application centers or biometric collection sites are closed.
- Extensions to give biometrics is ending. won’t have to give it until the sites are reopened. Applicable even if your biometric instruction letter (BIL) says that your deadline is 30 or 90 days.
- If documents are missing or No application in progress will be closed or refused due to Corona Make sure VACS and other biometric sites reopen. As soon as it reopens completely the steps which include making an appointment to give biometrics to avoid delay.
