Pycap Event - Discussion with a Director of the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association (CILA) about Startup Visa Policy Changes & Guidance for Applicants
The Canadian Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program, designed to attract global entrepreneurs, is undergoing a significant policy adjustment driven by increased application volume. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is enhancing its scrutiny, placing a crucial new focus on the genuineness and activity of applicant businesses.
This briefing, hosted by Ontario Startup Studio (OSS) in partnership with Pycap, is essential for any team or agent currently involved in the program.
The IRCC's New Priority: Demonstrating "Genuine Engagement"
Historically, an approved Letter of Support (LOS) from a Designated Organization (D.O.) was a major milestone. Now, IRCC is focusing heavily on the operational reality of the startup. The primary shift involves prioritizing evidence of active connection and progress between the SUV project and the D.O.
IRCC is tightening requirements for several key reasons, including a rise in applications that may lack proven feasibility or active operations. As a result, founders must now clearly demonstrate:
Active Business Development: Submitting documentation that proves the startup is actively working on its product, market, and scaling strategy, beyond just the initial idea phase.
Genuine Engagement with the D.O.: Providing proof of regular, meaningful communication, mentorship sessions, milestones achieved, and accountability to the D.O. that issued the LOS. This is a move to ensure the D.O. is truly supporting and monitoring the venture.
Operational Viability: Establishing that the business has a realistic path to generating employment and contributing to the Canadian economy.
This change signals that the assessment process is moving from a focus on potential to a requirement for demonstrable operational progress from the earliest stages.
Context on Application Timelines
The increased volume of applications, combined with IRCC's enhanced due diligence on genuine business activity, has naturally contributed to longer processing times for many applicants. In this environment, a flawless, well-documented application that anticipates IRCC's higher standards is the best strategy for expediting review. The shift to prioritizing demonstrable engagement is fundamentally about increasing the quality of applications submitted, which is intended to streamline future processing.
Expert Guidance: Key Takeaways from the Update Session
To assist teams in meeting these rigorous new standards, this exclusive session will feature two leading experts:
Mr. Stuart Browne (CEO of Pycap): He will provide the Designated Organization's perspective on best practices. His insights will cover how D.O.s are adapting their monitoring processes and what tangible documentation teams must provide to satisfy the "genuine engagement" criteria.
Dr. Thanh Phan (Immigration Lawyer): Dr. Phan will offer a crucial legal analysis of the policy changes. This will include practical advice on the specific evidence required for submissions and how to professionally mitigate risks associated with the heightened scrutiny on documentation.
This event is a necessary policy briefing for all startup teams and agents working within the Start-Up Visa program framework.
Contact Pycap for more information… info@pycap.com
