Regulatory amendments for Canada–United States information sharing agreement

On January 17, regulatory changes came into force to implement amendments to the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America for the Sharing of Visa and Immigration Information. These changes enable the automated exchange of biographical and biometric information on permanent residents of both Canada and the United States. Once the required systems are in place, information will only be exchanged in response to a request as part of either country’s immigration screening process, such as when a client is applying for a visa.

The original agreement, which authorized the automated exchange of information on all foreign nationals, was signed in 2012. The recent changes allow Canada and the United States to expand information-sharing capabilities as close and trusted security partners. These enhancements aim to improve screening for security risks and decision making across immigration programs.

The agreement supports immigration and border officials and helps them

• verify clients’ identities
• strengthen admissibility screening
• facilitate visa issuance for clients with a proven history of immigration compliance in the United States

Privacy protections are embedded in all agreements with our international partners, including this one. These protections ensure that any information shared by Canada is treated appropriately. We take privacy obligations seriously and continue to safeguard personal information.

Each country retains its sovereign decision making under the agreement. This exchange of information gives each country insight into an applicant’s history, helping both countries make informed immigration decisions and enforce their respective immigration laws.

This sharing will strengthen visitor screening and help identify non-genuine travellers before they reach Canada’s ports of entry, an approach that supports a well-managed immigration system and the security of Canadians.

The regulatory amendments can be consulted in the Canada Gazette, Part II, and all updates will be reflected on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website.

Source: canada.ca