Canada Visa Decisions Delay: Years of Waiting for Applicants
Canada’s Start-up Visa Program was designed to welcome innovative entrepreneurs to our beautiful country, but some concerning delays have come to light. Immigration experts are raising questions about the processing times that applicants face as they seek work permits and permanent residency (PR).
For applicants, there’s a bright side: you can secure a work permit while waiting for a decision on your PR application. However, many who have received work permits encounter challenges establishing their businesses or securing funding compared to permanent residents. Stephen Green, a seasoned immigration lawyer based in Toronto, highlighted these hurdles in a recent interview.
Currently, the Start-up Visa is the only avenue for business entrepreneurs or senior executives aiming to settle in Canada, according to Green. Some provinces offer programs that allow for work permits, but they also present their own obstacles. Green pointed out that banks often hesitate to provide funding to those operating on work permits, making it tough to start a business in a new country.
Adding to the concern, the federal government has limited resources for economic immigration, which has made wait times for the Start-up Visa even longer. “This is affecting the ability of innovative individuals to come to Canada and contribute to our economy,” Green noted.
Understanding the Start-up Visa Program
Launched in 2013, the Start-up Visa Program has successfully facilitated the launch of over 900 start-ups and has helped more than 3,000 entrepreneurs secure PR in Canada. This program targets foreign entrepreneurs who have the backing of a designated venture capital fund (requiring a minimum investment of $200,000), an angel investor group ($75,000 investment), or an accredited business incubator.
Even with the support of a strong business network, the journey can be long. Afeez Moradeyo, who applied to the program while living in Dubai, described his experience as a “fantastic journey,” but the wait time of over two years for his work permit was daunting. As a fintech entrepreneur, he felt the strain of uncertainty. “More priorities should be given to Start-up Visa applicants to enhance the immigration process,” he suggested. Moradeyo emphasized not only the importance of welcoming innovative ideas to Canada but also the financial investments that often accompany them.
Boosting Entrepreneurial Talent
Experts like Judy Han, an assistant professor at McMaster University, advocate for streamlining the program to attract higher-quality start-ups capable of scaling globally. Marvin Ryder, another expert from McMaster, believes that despite the program’s solid design, the number of applicants has surpassed expectations, creating frustration among prospective entrepreneurs due to lengthy validation processes.
Ryder suggests that the solution to these challenges is straightforward: resource the program adequately and tackle the backlog of applications. “If we have the right number of staff to handle processing, it would transform the program into an even more significant success,” he stated.
Addressing Backlogs and Future Prospects
As of mid-July, the program had nearly 42,200 applications on file, with a concerning number awaiting completion for over two years. In response, the federal government has capped the number of start-ups designated organizations can support to just 10 annually. This measure aims to manage the growing wait times and backlog.
The IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) acknowledged the challenges presented by these prolonged processing times, which hinder the competitiveness of the Start-up Visa Program. They are prioritizing returning immigration levels to sustainable numbers, intending to draw in top talent for Canada’s future economic growth.
If you’re exploring job opportunities from overseas, keep in mind that Canada offers numerous pathways for those eager to make a move, whether that’s through the Start-up Visa or other programs. Our website here at VisaJobsCanada.com focuses specifically on Canadian jobs that offer visa sponsorship to international applicants. In every listing, you’ll find details on opportunities that come with the support you may need to start your journey in Canada.
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