INLAND SPOUSAL APP USA CITIZEN BIOMETRICS FEE?

[Kimbear]

We did our application with the help of a consultant, and online it said USA does not need to give biometrics. WE just got our aor and medical request this week and now we are being asked to give biometrics fee?

It is impossible to get through to them, anyone else get this request and are from USA? we did not receive a letter just an email saying we needed to pay it and that is the same email message in our GCKEY account.

 

[DimT44]

We did our application with the help of a consultant, and online it said USA does not need to give biometrics. WE just got our aor and medical request this week and now we are being asked to give biometrics fee?

It is impossible to get through to them, anyone else get this request and are from USA? we did not receive a letter just an email saying we needed to pay it and that is the same email message in our GCKEY account.

It seems to me that you need to submit biometrics. Here’s why:

The online tool says if a US citizen applies for PR in Canada they need to submit biometrics.

"As a U.S. citizen or national, you don’t need to give your biometrics.

Exception: If you apply for permanent residence in Canada, you need to give your biometrics."

Source: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/biometrics.asp

Note: There were a bunch of changes to biometrics laws in Dec 2018 and 2019. Any information on this forum or the internet older than that won’t apply. Part of these changes is to require biometrics for ALL permanent residency applicants. US applicants for work, study or other temporary permits are exempt from biometrics. There are also some temporary biometrics measures due to covid that gives exemptions for certain people who gave biometrics in the past 10 years.

Source for biometrics facts: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/campaigns/biometrics/facts.html
Source for covid exemptions for biometrics: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/biometrics.html
Source where you can check if your old biometrics are still valid: https://onlineservices-servicesenligne.cic.gc.ca/extapp/bioStatusQuery?&lang=en

 

[Kimbear]

It seems to me that you need to submit biometrics. Here’s why:

The online tool says if a US citizen applies for PR in Canada they need to submit biometrics.

"As a U.S. citizen or national, you don’t need to give your biometrics.

Exception: If you apply for permanent residence in Canada, you need to give your biometrics."

Source: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/biometrics.asp

Note: There were a bunch of changes to biometrics laws in Dec 2018 and 2019. Any information on this forum or the internet older than that won’t apply. Part of these changes is to require biometrics for ALL permanent residency applicants. US applicants for work, study or other temporary permits are exempt from biometrics. There are also some temporary biometrics measures due to covid that gives exemptions for certain people who gave biometrics in the past 10 years.

Source for biometrics facts: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/campaigns/biometrics/facts.html
Source for covid exemptions for biometrics: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/biometrics.html
Source where you can check if your old biometrics are still valid: https://onlineservices-servicesenligne.cic.gc.ca/extapp/bioStatusQuery?&lang=en

Yes i see the exception down below now. Page has also been updated last year so im guessing it was a change done. When we log into GCKEY at the bottom where it has all the status show it also says No biometrics needed which is weird. I'll just pay it anyway, and can ask for a refund later i guess.

Thanks!

 

[SLCtoYEG]

Hi there. Sorry I might be missing something. My husband is in the same boat - US citizen living in the US and we applied for PR Family Class in December 2021 using the Outland route. When I use the tool from the website for the link you provided the result is that my husband does not need Biometrics. The exception state "only if all of these conditions apply". Do they mean ALL or ANY of the conditions must be met for this to be untrue? This is not clear at all. My husband would clearly not meet the 1st condition therefore should be exempt by the wording on the website. Am I misinterpreting? Here's what I get:

Find out if you need to give biometrics
Select one: (required)
I didn’t give biometrics in the past.
I gave biometrics in the past.

Select the country code that matches the one on your passport. (required)
Make your selection...
USA (United States of America)

Are you applying for a permanent resident card? (required)
Yes
No

Answer: You don’t need to give your biometrics.

Most people who apply for a permanent resident card don’t need to give their biometrics.
Exception: You need to give your biometrics only if all of these conditions apply:

• you were younger than 14 years when we received your application for permanent residence
• you applied for permanent residence on or after December 31, 2018
• you’re now 14 years or older
• you’re applying for a new permanent resident card, a replacement or a renewal

You don’t need to pay the biometrics fee.

I realize that regardless of what I think or how unclear the wording is we will have to comply if we want his application to proceed but I'm thinking my concerns are shared by others who haven't yet applied. Unfortunately for us, this will mean a processing delay considering we didn't pay the biometrics fee with our application because according to this tool, he doesn't need to give them.

Thanks!

 

[armoured]

Hi there. Sorry I might be missing something.

Are you applying for a permanent resident card? (required)

You are missing that you are not applying for a permanent resident card, but PR status (i.e. this should be 'yes' only for those who are already PRs and are replacing or renewing cards).

If you do this correctly, you'll find the footnote (large letters):
Exception: If you apply for permanent residence in Canada, you need to give your biometrics.

 

[SLCtoYEG]

You are missing that you are not applying for a permanent resident card, but PR status (i.e. this should be 'yes' only for those who are already PRs and are replacing or renewing cards).

If you do this correctly, you'll find the footnote (large letters):
Exception: If you apply for permanent residence in Canada, you need to give your biometrics.

Ah, thank you for clarifying. That is not exactly the clearest of questions and I'm sure has tripped up many applicants. Oh well, what's another delay in the decade or so marathon this has been to come to fruition. Thanks for the info though. I guess we will wait until we are told to get them. Though with our luck the app will be outright rejected for not having paid the fee in the first place.

 

[Kimbear]

Ah, thank you for clarifying. That is not exactly the clearest of questions and I'm sure has tripped up many applicants. Oh well, what's another delay in the decade or so marathon this has been to come to fruition. Thanks for the info though. I guess we will wait until we are told to get them. Though with our luck the app will be outright rejected for not having paid the fee in the first place.

mine was not rejected. we got the request for medical and then a day or so later a request to pay the bio fee. you can pay it now and use the webform to upload your receipt.