SUV PR-application: criminality / security stuck for 10 months, co-founder already got PAL — what can I do?

[Zhandos]

Hi everyone,

I’m the co-founder & CTO of a designated Start-Up Visa business. My timeline:

- Application received: 23 Feb 2024
- Medical passed: 02 Jan 2025
- Eligibility: “All docs reviewed – Ready for PM3” (19 Nov 2024), but still in progress
- Criminality: In progress since 29 Aug 2024 (sub-update 12 Sep 2024)
- Security: block created 29 Aug 2024 – still Not Started
- Biometrics: VAC in my country, 12 Sep 2024 (valid to 2034) marked as poor quality in GCMS notes
- Latest GCMS: 9 Jun 2025

I have some skin disorder (hereditary skin condition), so my fingerprints can be low quality. The VAC officer noted this, and it shows up in the GCMS.

It’s now about 10 months with zero movement on criminality/security (I had two GCMS files), while another co-founder from the same business application already received a Pre-Arrival Letter (PAL) on April. I’m worried my file is stuck because of the biometrics quality.

Questions
- Anyone with poor fingerprints (skin condition, eczema, etc.) — did it actually delay your criminality check?
- Should I proactively offer new prints / alternative ID docs, or just wait?
- Does sending an IRCC web-form with a short explanation and the GCMS help?
- Any other tips to un-stall a file that seems frozen at criminality?

Thanks for any insights!

 

[YVR123]

Hi everyone,

I’m the co-founder & CTO of a designated Start-Up Visa business. My timeline:

- Application received: 23 Feb 2024
- Medical passed: 02 Jan 2025
- Eligibility: “All docs reviewed – Ready for PM3” (19 Nov 2024), but still in progress
- Criminality: In progress since 29 Aug 2024 (sub-update 12 Sep 2024)
- Security: block created 29 Aug 2024 – still Not Started
- Biometrics: VAC in my country, 12 Sep 2024 (valid to 2034) marked as poor quality in GCMS notes
- Latest GCMS: 9 Jun 2025

I have some skin disorder (hereditary skin condition), so my fingerprints can be low quality. The VAC officer noted this, and it shows up in the GCMS.

It’s now about 10 months with zero movement on criminality/security (I had two GCMS files), while another co-founder from the same business application already received a Pre-Arrival Letter (PAL) on April. I’m worried my file is stuck because of the biometrics quality.

Questions
- Anyone with poor fingerprints (skin condition, eczema, etc.) — did it actually delay your criminality check?
- Should I proactively offer new prints / alternative ID docs, or just wait?
- Does sending an IRCC web-form with a short explanation and the GCMS help?
- Any other tips to un-stall a file that seems frozen at criminality?

Thanks for any insights!

Did you read the Startup Visa Program Timeline discussion/thread? Someone just posted timeline and quota of this an new few years:

F

Post in thread 'Startup Visa Program Timeline'

Jul 5, 2025

Hello ,

I came across some information regarding the Start-up Visa Program application inventory, and I believe it's worth sharing with you.

Processing Time for Start-Up Visa Program​

Based on the latest IRCC internal data from October 2024, the Startup Visa program shows significant application volume with 36,577 persons and 11,508 applications currently in the system across all processing stages. With applications in inventory and annual admission targets of 5,000, there’s approximately 6 years’ worth of inventory at current processing capacity, explaining...

• Fiat@fifo

• 

 

[Zhandos]

Did you read the Startup Visa Program Timeline discussion/thread? Someone just posted timeline and quota of this an new few years:

F

Post in thread 'Startup Visa Program Timeline'

Jul 5, 2025

Hello ,

I came across some information regarding the Start-up Visa Program application inventory, and I believe it's worth sharing with you.

Processing Time for Start-Up Visa Program​

Based on the latest IRCC internal data from October 2024, the Startup Visa program shows significant application volume with 36,577 persons and 11,508 applications currently in the system across all processing stages. With applications in inventory and annual admission targets of 5,000, there’s approximately 6 years’ worth of inventory at current processing capacity, explaining...

• Fiat@fifo

• 

Helpful thread, thanks! We applied through Designated Organization, and my co-founder already got a PAL, it's seems we are in priority list, but my case is stuck at criminality check, because of this I have some concerns

 

[Zhandos]

I've sent an inquiry via an IRCC web form, don't know will it help or not. Hope it will.

 

[Fiat@fifo]

Hi everyone,

I’m the co-founder & CTO of a designated Start-Up Visa business. My timeline:

- Application received: 23 Feb 2024
- Medical passed: 02 Jan 2025
- Eligibility: “All docs reviewed – Ready for PM3” (19 Nov 2024), but still in progress
- Criminality: In progress since 29 Aug 2024 (sub-update 12 Sep 2024)
- Security: block created 29 Aug 2024 – still Not Started
- Biometrics: VAC in my country, 12 Sep 2024 (valid to 2034) marked as poor quality in GCMS notes
- Latest GCMS: 9 Jun 2025

I have some skin disorder (hereditary skin condition), so my fingerprints can be low quality. The VAC officer noted this, and it shows up in the GCMS.

It’s now about 10 months with zero movement on criminality/security (I had two GCMS files), while another co-founder from the same business application already received a Pre-Arrival Letter (PAL) on April. I’m worried my file is stuck because of the biometrics quality.

Questions
- Anyone with poor fingerprints (skin condition, eczema, etc.) — did it actually delay your criminality check?
- Should I proactively offer new prints / alternative ID docs, or just wait?
- Does sending an IRCC web-form with a short explanation and the GCMS help?
- Any other tips to un-stall a file that seems frozen at criminality?

Thanks for any insights!

It’s common for team members to receive letters of support a month or two apart. This has happened with us, with a gap of about one and a half months between the first and the last letter.

 

[Zhandos]

It’s common for team members to receive letters of support a month or two apart. This has happened with us, with a gap of about one and a half months between the first and the last letter.

Thanks, yep, I heard that. But my gap is already more 3 months, my co-founder got PAL in April

It's seems my criminality checking holds my application