← Canada · 2020

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Suspension of Non-Essential Visitor Visa Processing and Biometrics Extension

Validated finding · five-country-2010-20260922-v118-evidence-presentation-fix

CountryCanada
Operative dateApril 29, 2020
CategoryProcessing time
Policy toolProcessing time
Affected groupNew applicants

Policy effect

IRCC suspended processing for non-essential visitor visa and eTA applications to prioritize critical services. Additionally, the deadline for biometrics submission was extended from 30 to 90 days due to widespread facility closures.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

… most foreign nationals are prevented from entering Canada, with some exemptions. With these restrictions, Canada is [suspending processing](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/apply-visit-work-student.html) of non-essential visitor visa applications. This allows Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to focus resources on critical services. This suspension also applies to some electronic travel authorization (eTA) applications. Processing of visa and eTA applications for those [who are allowed to come to Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html) will continue. This includes all temporary foreign worker applications, with a particular focus on essential services, such as those in medical fields and food supply chains. The processing of study permits for students will continue in anticipation of the fall study term. IRCC will continue to process applications to the extent possible. Study permit applications require biometrics, and many visa application centres that normally provide this service are closed. As a special measure, due to COVID-19, applicants are now being given 90 days instead of the standard 30 days to give biometrics. It should be noted that only students who have a valid study permit or were approved for a study permit on or before March 18, 2020, can currently travel to Canada. Workers, students and visitors (who qualify for an exemption to travel restrictions) must apply online. Permanent residence applications continue to be processed. Only permanent residents who received approval on or before March 18, 2020, can currently travel to Canada. IRCC will continue to provide updates on any further changes, …
Government of CanadaCanada.ca. Suspension of Non-Essential Visitor Visa Processing and Biometrics Extension. Effective 2020-04-29.Open official source
Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/trv-processing-covid.html

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Automated source validation is not independent human legal review. The finding should not be treated as legal advice. Record fcp-fd863f47a91516af50cb. Something wrong? Flag this record.

Other Canada changes operative in 2020