Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has abruptly halted the peer review process for the Start-Up Visa program. Effective August 1, 2024, all ongoing peer reviews have been cancelled, and no new requests will be accepted. This decision shifts the responsibility of validating Start-Up Visa applications solely to IRCC officers, raising concerns among stakeholders about potential litigation due to officers’ expertise levels in complex business matters. The suspension, announced on August 22, marks a significant change in the program’s evaluation process, potentially impacting its integrity and the influx of business-minded immigrants to Canada.
