Will the Entry/Exit Program Impact You?

What is the Entry/Exit Program?

The Entry/Exit Program allows for the exchange of travellers’ information, such as their name and date of birth, between Canada and the United States of America. As of now, all land border crossing will be recorded and as of June 2020, airlines will also be gathering exit information when leaving Canada. This sharing of information assist with record keeping, meaning that the entry of an individual into one country, is also considered a record of exit from the other country.

What is the purpose of the Entry/Exit Program?

Besides having a coordinated Entry/Exit Information System between the Canada and USA, the purpose of this program is also for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to obtain accurate travel information from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). This information will assist IRCC adjudicate the different types of immigration applications, including temporary and permanent residence, citizenship and investigation of potential immigration fraud.

How does this affect you and your travels?

IRCC will now have access to the travel history of individuals, which will assist them in evaluating immigration applications. IRCC will able to see if the applicants have fulfilled their residency obligation, previously exceeded their stay in Canada, or are an overstay, and prompt further police certificate requests. IRCC will be able to utilize this information for citizenship revocation investigations and passport investigations as well. All travellers have a right to a copy of their personal travel history, and a correction request may be made if incorrect information is recorded.

For further information about the Entry/Exit Program or any Canadian immigration matters, please contact pinaz@prmlaw.ca.