Managing Lawyer
Ashu (not her real name), an entrepreneur from India, came to us in a state of urgency. Her family had invested heavily in a promising opportunity—a burger franchise in Toronto. But just a few months into operations, it became painfully clear: the business was losing money, and without her on-site leadership, it was unlikely to survive.
Her odds of a work permit approval were not strong. She had no background in the food industry, her ties to her home country were limited (as her whole family sought to relocate), and the business was in a highly saturated fast food market.
Still, Ashu chose to fight rather than walk away. She asked us to help her take one last shot at turning things around—and we committed to giving it everything we had.
Our firm was retained to provide comprehensive legal and strategic support in Canadian immigration. This included:
We were upfront with Ashu: this would not be an easy win. However, we would present the best possible case with complete transparency and a carefully executed strategy.
Ashu’s case included nearly every red flag the IRCC warns about:
Each of these could have led to a refusal on its own.
Despite these obstacles, our team carefully crafted a narrative of business credibility and regional benefit. Here’s how we addressed the key challenges:
Our submission was comprehensive and transparent, acknowledging the case’s complexities while articulating why the application met—and even exceeded—the revised C11 work permit threshold for “significant benefit.”
The application was submitted on 14 April 2025 and received a positive decision on 4 June 2025—just days after IRCC’s new C11 guidance came into effect. Despite the higher bar, IRCC found the case compelling and granted Ashu a 2-year work permit under the C11 exemption.
This case succeeded not because it was “perfect” but because it was honest, strategic, and supported by clear documentation. IRCC’s officers, even under the new regime, are still open to well-argued, transparent cases where the applicant demonstrates a genuine business need, operational readiness, and a benefit to Canada.
What made the difference?
If you’re an entrepreneur looking to navigate the evolving C11 landscape, don’t leave your future to chance. IRCC is no longer approving hopeful ideas—it’s rewarding strategic execution.
Let our team help you craft a winning application grounded in reality, impact, and intent.
Contact us today to explore whether the C11 pathway is right for you.
Rather than defending the test scores alone, x ability and real-world performance. We didn’t just claim that Van Minh could communicate effectively. We proved it with:
We also leveraged Federal Court precedents that emphasized functional ability over academic testing:
“The relevant standard is whether the applicant can perform their actual duties—not whether they meet arbitrary language thresholds.” – Singh v. Canada (2022)
The IRCC approved a two-year extension of our client’s C11 work permit. This success preserved 10+ local jobs and sustained a critical food processing business in a rural community.
Related article: C11 Work Permit Renewal as a Business Owner: What You Should Know.
If you’re an entrepreneur worried about:
The C11 program rewards results, not test scores. Business impact, not linguistic perfection. Real-world success, not classroom theory.
The immigration landscape is evolving rapidly. What worked five years ago might fail today. What seems impossible today might be entirely achievable with the right strategy.
Our team specializes in building solid C11 applications that anticipate challenges and turn potential weaknesses into compelling strengths. We’ve mastered the art of showing IRCC exactly what they want to see: entrepreneurs who deliver measurable value to Canada.
Schedule your confidential consultation today
During this strategy session, we’ll:
Analyze your unique business situation
Identify potential application challenges
Design a custom approach for maximum success
Give you honest assessment of your approval odds
Because your business success shouldn’t depend on a language test score.
Legal Fine Print (The Boring But Important Stuff)
This success story is shared for educational purposes and doesn’t constitute legal advice. Every immigration case is unique, with different facts, circumstances, and outcomes. Past results don’t guarantee future success.
Client details have been anonymized to protect confidentiality. Current C11 requirements may differ from those described here.
For personalized legal guidance about your specific situation, consult with qualified immigration counsel. Laws and policies change frequently, so independent verification of current requirements is essential.
This content reflects our understanding of the law at the time of writing and shouldn’t be relied upon without current legal verification.
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