Potential errors during a biometrics collection session

During biometrics collection, a number of errors can occur. These instructions will help officers solve the problem.

On this page

• Biographic data errors
• Biometrics collection errors – Biometrics matched with wrong identity
• Biometric enrolment errors

Biographic data errors

Biographic data errors include but are not limited to the following:

• misspelled names or switched family names and first names
• incorrectly recorded date of birth
• incomplete data fields (such as a truncated name or missing country of birth)
• misreading of biographical information by the machine-readable travel document reader

If a biographical data error occurs during the session, the officer must do either of the following:

• Correct the error
• Cancel the entire session and start a new session

If a biographical data error occurs after the session is complete but before the final application decision has been entered in the Global Case Management System (GCMS), the officer must do all of the following:

• Mark the incorrect name record as “entered in error”
• Create a new name record with corrected information
• Set the new name as the primary record

The change to the biographical data will automatically trigger an amendment to the record in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) database when the application is finalized.

If the final application decision has been entered in GCMS, the officer must not attempt to amend the record.

An amendment to the record in the RCMP database will not be triggered.

The erroneous data will remain with the RCMP until the applicant submits a new application.

If the error is made in a mobile setting, using the mobile biometric collection system (MBCS), the officer must do the following:

• Make note of the error
• Take the appropriate action, as outlined above, upon return to an office with GCMS access

Biometrics collection errors – Biometrics matched with wrong identity

Collection of biometrics against an incorrect identity may include but is not limited to the following:

• collecting an applicant’s fingerprints against another applicant’s name or photograph
• collecting fingerprints of someone other than the applicant (for example, a third-party representative)

Biometric enrolment errors

Before the biometric enrolment session is completed

If a biometric enrolment error occurs before the biometric enrolment session is completed, the officer must cancel the entire biometric enrolment session and start a new session.

After the biometric enrolment session is completed

If a biometric enrolment error occurs after the biometric enrolment session is completed, the biometric enrolment operator must do all of the following:

• Purge the request
• Immediately begin another biometric enrolment session or, if the applicant is no longer present, contact the applicant to return for another biometric enrolment session
• Enter a note in CIBIDS (or send a note to the BOSU) to record and explain the error