does the home office close over the xmas period.

applied for a student visa with the a new uni..
application sent out 10/11/2011.
acknowledgement letter 18/11/2011
biometrics letter received 22/11/2011
booked biometrics for 08/12/2011 as it was fully booked.
what are the chances of getting a response before x mas. i understand they close nearer the xmas period. what day do they close for christmas.uni would have started by then.

They will be totally closed only on the Bank Holidays. But as well as that many staff tend to take a few days holiday, so that they are off from just before Christmas to just after the New Year. So not nearly so many staff working between the two Bank Holidays.