Canada Visa

Hello,

I would like to take a moment to share my experiences with obtaining a Canada visitor visa. The immihelp forum was extremely helpful to learn about the process, timeline and problems other applicants were faced with.

4/25/2019 - Created the GCKey profile and started uploading documents
4/27/2019 - Submitted the online application
4/29/2019 - Received Biometrics collection letter e-mail
4/30/2019 - Scheduled biometrics appointment on 5/9/2019
5/9/2019 - Provided biometrics at the USCIS office. The Biometrics ID was updated on the same day in the online account

5/16/2019 - Received e-mail that my account was updated. Checked online account and noticed the Passport Collection letter request and Biometrics correspondence letter which is a confirmation that Biometrics details of the applicant was updated in Canadian immigration system along with expiry date etc.

5/21/2019 - Shipped the required documents along with self-addressed envelope via UPS 2nd Day Air

5/25/2019 - Received an e-mail with tracking number but the tracking number did not work in the tracking website

5/25/2019 - Passport dispatched to IRCC

5/29/2019 - Passport processed and dispatched from IRCC to VFS. I was notified via e-mail. I could see counterfoil in online account that showed the visa expiry date.

5/30/2019 - e-mail stated that passport was collected from VFS but I interpreted it as shipping confirmation.

6/3/2019 - Received the passports.

During the time the passport was under processing at VFS / IRCC, the tracking website was down. Chat / calls to customer service is not helpful at all as far as tracking the progress is concerned.