Hi,
From
April 2024 until last December, IRCC effectively operated with
two levels of priority, based on the
designated organization (DO) supporting the Start-Up Visa (SUV) application. Applicants can verify online whether their DO falls under the priority list.
During this period:
- Non-priority files were essentially not moving at all, particularly at the decision stage.
- Priority files were moving, but at a very slow pace, mainly due to multiple constraints—most importantly, the very limited annual quota allocated to the SUV program.
In
December, IRCC introduced an additional layer, often referred to as
“priority within priority.” Under this approach, IRCC began prioritizing
priority applicants who already hold work permits and are residing in Canada. Only after finalizing these cases would IRCC move on to:
- The remaining original priority files, and
- Eventually, non-priority applications.
The core issue is the
quota itself. For this year and the next two years, the total quota is
around 500 cases, shared between
Self-Employed and SUV programs. Even if we assume a generous split—say
70% for SUV and 30% for Self-Employed—this number is insignificant compared to the
massive existing backlog.
If the quota is not increased,
even SUV applicants currently residing in Canada may need several more years to be finalized. This raises a serious question:
what realistic timeline remains for applicants outside Canada or those classified as non-priority?
That said, it is difficult to believe that IRCC will allow the program to remain in its current state indefinitely.
Something will eventually have to change—whether through quota expansion, backlog-clearing measures, or ...... In my view,
the backlog will be addressed one way or another within the next few years, even if it requires a significant reset of how the SUV program operates.
