Unfortunately it is non of this names, hence does this mean that we are non-priority ?
Startup Visa Program Timeline
- Thread starter deenfae
- Start date
Unfortunately, it is highly likely that the answer is yes. I anticipated this outcome, as applications submitted since 2021 under the priority stream have either received a decision or are currently undergoing the security stage, particularly if they require comprehensive processing.
Dear Fiat@fifo thank you for being so active and helpful on this platform. I think this priority status has been introduced some where in the mid 2023 so IRCC ideally shouldn't have applied this priority condition to the complete applications uploaded before this change was introduced, because the applicants before this were not having the option and awareness to choose between the priority or non-priority DO's. But you said right in one of your earlier posts that we don't have any advocate body and neither we are taking the collective initiative. We can bring some genuine points to their notice by collaboratively preparing and suggesting some way outs to bail out of this deadlock.
Dear K Shah,
Thank you for your thoughtful response. Logically, you make a valid point regarding the introduction of the priority status in (April 2024) and how it should not retroactively affect complete applications submitted prior to this change. However, unfortunately, in practice, it appears that both old and new applicants are being impacted by this system.
Looking back at Canada's history, we remember how tens of thousands of applicants were canceled in 2012 and 2014, which has understandably created anxiety about similar outcomes, especially with the passage of Bill C-12 on the horizon.
I agree that collaboration is essential in bringing these concerns to the attention of the relevant authorities, and I hope we can work together to propose constructive solutions.
I like too much this suggestion and happy to work together and support each other. Do you have any plan?
Guys, I’m not sure you realize what’s happening in Canada right now. Alberta and BC are dealing with massive strikes, not just Canada Post and similar services. Schools aren’t operating because teachers are on strike, and government workers in BC are also on strike, with talk that it might spread to IRCC as well. Alberta’s government employees are already discussing joining in.
On top of that, MPs have basically stopped responding to immigration-related correspondence. The situation here is pretty bad.
If you’re hoping to appeal to the government through the business stream, I’d keep expectations very low. Honestly, if you’re a non-priority and outland startup, you can give up mentally. Even the priority outland ones probably have very little chance. The government has repeated the same message a thousand times, they want to use PR quotas for people who are already inside Canada.
On top of that, MPs have basically stopped responding to immigration-related correspondence. The situation here is pretty bad.
If you’re hoping to appeal to the government through the business stream, I’d keep expectations very low. Honestly, if you’re a non-priority and outland startup, you can give up mentally. Even the priority outland ones probably have very little chance. The government has repeated the same message a thousand times, they want to use PR quotas for people who are already inside Canada.
I have family up there. They’re citizens now, lived more than 30 years in Canada and they know how this stuff works. If IRCC will cancel or suspend applications they will cancel all the stream. They wont choose or pick the ones “inland”. The government is focused on attracting both inland and Outland people but people that will support the economy and integrate in the society. If they choose just to use that quotas for the inland applicants just for the simple fact they’re inland, then they know they are doing the same mistake, and that’s why Canada is in this terrible situation atm. They know that they just need to choose and scrutinise in the applicant not in the region they’re applying.
The last two teams who received their COPRs in this forum were outland applicants, as I noticed. Also, I know a team currently residing in Dubai who obtained their PR about three months ago.
Hi,
I am outland.
I fully agree with @JoseRamon & @Fiat@fifo!
Since @Aces made me very confused. He posted like he would be an IRCC spokesman. I have tracked his previous posts I found out that he was a SUV inland but just about less than 12 months....this means that he applied sometime in 2024. He would be one of the last ones of a very long SUV queue even in or outland, I thought.
Furthermore, I see on the new method "Checking processing time" for SUV modified on 9 Oct by IRCC which is called as "looking forward" method instead of "Looking backward" method as before.
When I jump in to check my processing time...I am only asked to select whether I applied or not as well as asked to enter the "applied month & year". There is also no place to select "outland or inland" or "Inside canada or outside canada" as the other kind of application.
Good luck for all of us
Cheers
Hali
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Change, Not Cancellation. What’s Next for Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program
Insight on the evolving direction of Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program
Many of us have seen headlines or heard speculation about the possible cancellation of Canada’s Start-Up Visa (SUV) program. Here’s what IRCC actually communicated to designated entities on October 24, 2025, and what it means for the future of the program.
On October 24, 2025, IRCC reached out to designated organizations to clarify recent changes in how processing times are reported under the Start-Up Visa program. Many were surprised to see new estimates showing waits of more than ten years. IRCC confirmed that these figures are not permanent; they reflect a new forward-looking model designed to provide greater transparency and predictability for applicants.
What Changed:
Previously, IRCC reported how long it had taken to finalize 80% of complete applications in the previous six months. The new method looks ahead, projecting estimated timelines based on the current number of applications and annual processing targets. This approach is intended to offer a more realistic view of current system pressures, though it appears discouraging in the short term.
Why the Numbers Are So High:
The SUV program’s backlog has grown due to high global demand combined with reduced national immigration targets. To manage this, IRCC introduced measures in April 2024, including a cap of ten start-ups per designated organization and priority processing for applications with committed investment or support from members of Canada’s Tech Network.
What to Expect
IRCC has clarified that its Client Support Centre has access only to the same public data available online. Contacting the Department will not accelerate processing. All files will continue to be reviewed under the 2024 prioritization framework, first by eligibility, then by order received.
The SUV Program Is Still Alive, But Evolving:
Despite speculation, the Start-Up Visa program has not been cancelled, and it does not appear that it will be. However, significant reforms are expected as IRCC reassesses the program to align it more closely with Canada’s innovation and economic objectives, manage intake more effectively, and ensure that entrepreneurial immigration delivers a measurable impact. These changes are designed to strengthen, not eliminate, this vital pathway for global founders who see Canada as the place to build and grow their ideas.
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7388564592538546176
Insight on the evolving direction of Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program
Many of us have seen headlines or heard speculation about the possible cancellation of Canada’s Start-Up Visa (SUV) program. Here’s what IRCC actually communicated to designated entities on October 24, 2025, and what it means for the future of the program.
On October 24, 2025, IRCC reached out to designated organizations to clarify recent changes in how processing times are reported under the Start-Up Visa program. Many were surprised to see new estimates showing waits of more than ten years. IRCC confirmed that these figures are not permanent; they reflect a new forward-looking model designed to provide greater transparency and predictability for applicants.
What Changed:
Previously, IRCC reported how long it had taken to finalize 80% of complete applications in the previous six months. The new method looks ahead, projecting estimated timelines based on the current number of applications and annual processing targets. This approach is intended to offer a more realistic view of current system pressures, though it appears discouraging in the short term.
Why the Numbers Are So High:
The SUV program’s backlog has grown due to high global demand combined with reduced national immigration targets. To manage this, IRCC introduced measures in April 2024, including a cap of ten start-ups per designated organization and priority processing for applications with committed investment or support from members of Canada’s Tech Network.
What to Expect
IRCC has clarified that its Client Support Centre has access only to the same public data available online. Contacting the Department will not accelerate processing. All files will continue to be reviewed under the 2024 prioritization framework, first by eligibility, then by order received.
The SUV Program Is Still Alive, But Evolving:
Despite speculation, the Start-Up Visa program has not been cancelled, and it does not appear that it will be. However, significant reforms are expected as IRCC reassesses the program to align it more closely with Canada’s innovation and economic objectives, manage intake more effectively, and ensure that entrepreneurial immigration delivers a measurable impact. These changes are designed to strengthen, not eliminate, this vital pathway for global founders who see Canada as the place to build and grow their ideas.
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7388564592538546176
But referring the undergoing reforms under the framework of MI72; there are growing concerns within the community about reports suggesting the possible return or cancellation of 15,000–25,000 pending SUV applications. We are seeking the official clarification and reassurance that all previously submitted and complete applications will continue to be processed under the existing framework, without risk of cancellation or return during the implementation of MI72-related reforms...
Our concerns are both legitimate and well-founded—they're grounded in credible reports and ongoing public discourse. It's completely understandable to feel anxious given what's being discussed.
However, it's important to note that as of October 28, 2025, Bill C-12 has not been passed into law. Despite rumors spreading rapidly across social media, no parliamentary vote has actually taken place. The bill remains under scrutiny and is facing substantial pushback from multiple quarters: civil society organizations, constitutional law experts, and Members of Parliament across party lines. This opposition could significantly delay the bill's progress, force major amendments, or potentially derail it entirely.
Even in a scenario where the bill does eventually move forward, Canada's institutional framework includes important safeguards. Existing procedural protections and checks on ministerial authority would constrain the scope of discretionary power and help shield applications already in the system from retroactive interference.
While vigilance is certainly warranted, the current situation is more fluid and uncertain than it may appear from social media chatter alone. The legislative process itself provides opportunities for challenge, revision, and democratic accountability.
However, it's important to note that as of October 28, 2025, Bill C-12 has not been passed into law. Despite rumors spreading rapidly across social media, no parliamentary vote has actually taken place. The bill remains under scrutiny and is facing substantial pushback from multiple quarters: civil society organizations, constitutional law experts, and Members of Parliament across party lines. This opposition could significantly delay the bill's progress, force major amendments, or potentially derail it entirely.
Even in a scenario where the bill does eventually move forward, Canada's institutional framework includes important safeguards. Existing procedural protections and checks on ministerial authority would constrain the scope of discretionary power and help shield applications already in the system from retroactive interference.
While vigilance is certainly warranted, the current situation is more fluid and uncertain than it may appear from social media chatter alone. The legislative process itself provides opportunities for challenge, revision, and democratic accountability.
All major Canadian political parties except the governing Liberals have openly expressed strong concerns about the ministerial powers in Bill C-12 that allow mass-cancellation of immigration status under the broadly defined “public interest” clause (IRPA s.87.301–87.305). These concerns center on how the powers could become arbitrary, lack due process protections, and be used to mass-cancel applications, permits, and even current permanent residency with minimal oversight.