From: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada – IRCC
From December 31, 2018 nationals from countries in Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas will need to give their biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) when applying for a visitor visa, study or work permit, or for permanent residence. This is why the Government of Canada is expanding its worldwide network of Visa Application Centres (VACs) to make services more accessible to a wider audience. On November 2nd, new VACs have opened in the following locations:
• In Asia Pacific: Bali, Indonesia; Melbourne, Australia;
• In the Americas: Mendoza, Argentina; Porto Alegre and Recife, Brazil; Cali, Colombia; Santiago, Chile; and Bridgetown, Barbados;
• In Europe: Lyon, France; and Vienna, Austria.
By December 31, 2018, there will be 152 VACs in 103 countries, including a new VAC in Antananarivo, Madagascar, and Cape Town, South Africa. More VAC openings will be announced at a later date.
To make it as convenient as possible to give biometrics, Canada is allowing applicants to go to any VAC in any country they are legally allowed to enter, or, if already legally in the United States, to one of 135 U.S. Application Support Centers. Canada is also increasing capacity at existing VACs, including the 12 VACs in China, 10
in India and 2 in the Philippines, to ensure they continue to meet the needs of biometrically-required applicants.