To: Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canadian Ministry of Immigration, Government of Canada

I am one of many immigrant entrepreneurs who came to Canada with a dream—to build a meaningful business, create jobs, pay taxes, and contribute to the economy. I co-founded a venture under the Canadian Start-up Visa (SUV) program, which was globally promoted as a fast-track path for high-potential entrepreneurs.

But that promise has turned into a prolonged struggle.

Despite building real companies, generating export revenue, hiring Canadian talent, and even representing Canada on global stages—we, the founders, have now waited over 4 years for our Permanent Residency (PR) applications to be processed.

❗ The Problem:
The advertised PR processing time for the SUV program is under 12 months.
Many of us have crossed 40+ months without updates, stuck in prolonged security screening with no timelines or transparency.
Peers from our SUV cohorts—some not even active on their startups—have already received PR.
These delays are not just bureaucratic—they disrupt lives:

Repeated visa, work permit, and health card renewals
Denied internships, scholarships, and co-ops for our children
Lost business opportunities due to travel uncertainty
Emotional and financial stress for entire families
🚨 Why This Matters:
Canada’s SUV program was meant to attract top entrepreneurial talent, but long PR delays are damaging its credibility and discouraging genuine founders from choosing Canada.

Entrepreneurs, especially those building globally competitive businesses in AI, fintech, healthcare, and education, need stability to grow and thrive.

We are not asking for special treatment—we are asking for a fair, timely, and transparent process that honors the commitment we made to Canada.

✅ Our Ask:
We call on IRCC and the Government of Canada to:

Expedite long-pending PR applications under the Start-up Visa program
Provide clear timelines and transparency for files in security screening
Implement case escalation options for founders with proven business contributions
 
If you or someone you know is still waiting for PR under the Start-up Visa program, or if you believe in a fairer system for global entrepreneurs—please sign and share this petition.

Let’s raise our voices so Canada continues to be a beacon of innovation, not bureaucracy.

✍️ Sign now to support real innovators—and demand action!