South Korean fighter planes inadvertently dropped bombs on houses, wounding 15 people.

 

January 31, 2025, Ottawa — The Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America for the Sharing of Visa and Immigration Information was amended, and new regulations went into effect on January 17. These modifications make it possible for biographical and biometric data on permanent residents of the US and Canada to be automatically shared. Information will only be shared upon request as part of either nation's immigration screening procedure, as when a customer is seeking for a visa, after the necessary mechanisms are in place.

Signed in 2012, the initial agreement permitted the automatic sharing of data on all foreign nationals. As close and reliable security partners, the latest developments enable the United States and Canada to increase their information-sharing capabilities. The goal of these improvements is to increase decision-making and security risk screening across immigration programs.

The pact aids and assists border and immigration authorities.

confirm the customers' identities to reinforce the admissibility screening process.
assist customers who have a track record of immigration compliance in the US in obtaining visas.

Every agreement we have with our foreign partners, including this one, includes privacy protections. These safeguards guarantee that any data that Canada shares is handled properly. We continue to protect personal information because we take our privacy responsibilities seriously.

Under the pact, each nation maintains the right to make its own decisions. Each nation gains knowledge about an applicant's background through this information sharing, which aids in the enforcement of national immigration rules and the making of well-informed immigration judgments.

By strengthening visitor screening and assisting in the identification of fraudulent travelers before to their arrival at Canada's ports of entry, this sharing will promote both Canadian security and a well-run immigration system.

All changes will appear on the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the regulation revisions are available for consultation in Part II of the Canada Gazette.