Understanding Processing Days for Canada Tourist Visa Biometrics: A Comprehensive Guide

When you submit your biometrics as part of the Canada tourist visa application process, it's important to understand how the processing timeline is calculated, especially in terms of weekends and holidays. This article provides a detailed explanation of what constitutes a processing day and offers practical advice for individuals like yourself who have submitted your biometrics and are awaiting a decision.

Do Saturdays and Sundays Count as Processing Days?

When you submit your biometrics for a Canada tourist visa, you might wonder if the weekends play a role in the processing timeline. The answer lies in the definitions of working and non-working days.

Weekends do count as calendar days but not as working days. While the Government of Canada follows a typical Monday to Friday work schedule, the calendar days, including weekends, contribute to the overall count of days from the submission date until the decision is made.

What Are Working Days?

Working days, also known as business days, refer to the days when the Government is operational and can process applications. This means that any submissions made on a weekend or holiday will still count toward the total days until a decision is made but won't contribute to the actual processing time.

Factors Affecting Processing Times

The processing time for your Canada tourist visa biometrics can vary significantly depending on several factors. For instance, the average processing times listed on the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) website do mention the term "business days" but do not explicitly list these days.

When to expect delays? There are certain scenarios where you might experience significant delays:

Complex Cases: If there are questions about your application or if it comes from a country perceived as hostile or suspect by customs. Hostile Countries: Countries such as India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Russia, and others may face additional scrutiny, leading to prolonged processing times.

My Specific Case

Your original submission of biometrics on November 24, 2023, and the current date as you read this is near the end of June 2024, indicates you're still awaiting a decision. It's important to monitor your online portal for updates, as this will provide the most accurate timeline for your specific application.

You can check your online portal or file a webform to get more information. While the Government of Canada typically takes weekends off, the calendar days including weekends count toward the overall timeline.

Encouragement: It’s important to remain patient and keep monitoring the portal. There is no set processing time, as it can vary based on the complexity of the case and other external factors.

Conclusion

In summary, when you submit your biometrics for a Canada tourist visa, it’s crucial to understand that weekends count as calendar days but not as working days. Only business days count in the actual processing timeline. While the average processing times don’t explicitly mention this, they do refer to business days, making it clear that weekends and holidays do contribute to the overall timeline.

Stay informed through your online portal and keep an eye on any updates. Every individual's case is unique, and while there are no guarantees, patience and persistence will help you navigate the process.