News Release
Commissionaires BC Selects Surrey for Digital Fingerprinting Site
New immigrant population biggest draw
December 2, 2008, Surrey, BC – In response to where they see the biggest need, Commissionaires BC opened their second Lower Mainland office in Surrey on December 2. The main function of the office is to provide Surrey’s growing new immigrant population with the fastest digital fingerprinting services in Canada. Immigration applicants, citizenship applicants, and permanent residence applicants all need to submit fingerprints to the RCMP.
Between 2001 and 2006, Surrey had the fastest growing number of foreign born persons in the country and in 2006 nearly half (47.6%) of recent immigrants living in Surrey were born in South Asia (Source: City of Surrey).
“It came down to a choice between Richmond and Surrey,” says Allen Batchelar, President & CEO of Commissionaires BC. “We chose Surrey for a number of reasons. First, Surrey has a fast growing population with a strong new immigrant sector that needs this service. Secondly, the overall population of Surrey is more than double Richmond’s. And it’s a good central location, allowing us to accommodate customers in the surrounding communities,” explains Batchelar. “Other communities in the area like Burnaby, Coquitlam and New Westminster all have a high percentage of foreign born residents so it is a perfect choice.”
The office is located in the PICS site at 12725 – 80th Avenue in Surrey. The Progressive Intercultural Community Services, or PICS, provides a variety of programs and services to assist new and recent immigrants with their transition within Canada. “We chose to work with PICS because they are well known in the community. And since we need a fairly small space, it makes sense for us to share office space with a respected organization that is already offering services to new immigrants,” explains Batchelar.
“The digital fingerprinting service is a great addition to what we offer. And having the service available here in our office, really makes it easy for us to help people,” says Charan Gill, CEO PICS.
Going digital makes it faster: fingerprints in 3 days instead of 120 days
As one of only two providers, Commissionaires has clearance from the RCMP to capture fingerprints and submit them directly to the Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services for processing. This reduces the RCMP processing time to as little as 72 hours, which means results will be in the mail in as little as three business days after submission, instead of 120 days.
How digital fingerprinting works & the cost
Digital fingerprinting is the electronic capture of a person’s fingerprints via an optical scanner at a capture station. The scanned fingerprints, along with the application details, are then formatted into a standardized electronic package that is attached and emailed, via a secure link, direct to the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Information System (CCRTIS).
CCRTIS compares the fingerprint package against the RCMP’s criminal record database. If no record is present, the RCMP will issue a certificate indicating a clear record. If the applicant does have a criminal record this will be indicated in the results.
No appointments are necessary. Digital cost is $45 plus GST (plus $25 RCMP fee if applicable). Ink & roll is $30 plus GST (plus $25 RCMP fee if applicable). Commissionaires’ digital process is fast, efficient and clean and normally takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. The traditional ink and roll method take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Who needs fingerprints?
Immigration Applicants: If you wish to immigrate to Canada you may be required to provide a police clearance with fingerprints.
Citizenship Applicants: If you are applying for Canadian citizenship you may be required to provide a police clearance with fingerprints.
Permanent Residence Applicants: If you are applying for permanent residence in Canada you may be required to provide a police clearance with fingerprints.
Security License Applicants: Individuals or groups applying for security licenses are required to submit fingerprints as part of the application process.
International Adoptions Applicants: If you wish to adopt a child from a foreign country you will be required to provide a police clearance with fingerprints
Applicants for Foreign Travel, Passports, Work Permits, Visas and US Waivers: Those wishing to visit or work in other countries may be required to provide a police clearance.
Commissionaires BC
Commissionaires BC is British Columbia’s largest security organization, providing private and public sector clients with complete security solutions. Commissionaires protects air and sea ports, border crossings and government facilities. They work in hospitals, schools and commercial enterprises. Every security solution or professional service that Commissionaires provides, draws on the proven experience of highly trained former military and police personnel, who are the mainstay of its team of more than 1,600 professionals. More information at www.commissionaires.bc.ca ca or call 877 322 6777.
-30-
Media Contacts
Allen Batchelar, President & CEO, Commissionaires BC
T 604 646 3331
C 604 219 0733
ceo@commissionaires.bc.ca
Patricia Robitaille, PR Strategies Inc.
T 604 873 0080
C 604 230 0530
probitaille@shaw.ca
Return to News Releases