diff --git a/lib/build/validation-utils.ts b/lib/build/validation-utils.ts
index c145a1a3..ae7f1861 100644
--- a/lib/build/validation-utils.ts
+++ b/lib/build/validation-utils.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import {
 } from '../shared/input-parser';
 
 export type ElementType = {
-  type: string;
+  type?: string;
   isMandatory?: boolean;
   isArray?: boolean;
   properties?: Record<string, ElementType>;
diff --git a/lib/processImport.ts b/lib/processImport.ts
index ed22fdd8..09f08fb9 100644
--- a/lib/processImport.ts
+++ b/lib/processImport.ts
@@ -189,7 +189,6 @@ function addProcessTypes(
   const attributesName = fqn(serviceName, 'ProcessAttributes');
   const instanceName = fqn(serviceName, 'ProcessInstance');
   const instancesName = fqn(serviceName, 'ProcessInstances');
-  const statusName = fqn(serviceName, 'ProcessInstanceStatus');
 
   definitions[inputsName] = buildTypeFromSchema(
     inputsName,
@@ -241,12 +240,6 @@ function addProcessTypes(
     name: instancesName,
     items: { type: instanceName },
   };
-
-  definitions[statusName] = {
-    kind: 'type',
-    name: statusName,
-    items: { type: csn.CdsBuiltinType.String },
-  };
 }
 
 // ============================================================================
@@ -263,7 +256,6 @@ function addProcessActions(
   const outputsType = fqn(serviceName, 'ProcessOutputs');
   const attributesType = fqn(serviceName, 'ProcessAttributes');
   const instancesType = fqn(serviceName, 'ProcessInstances');
-  const statusType = fqn(serviceName, 'ProcessInstanceStatus');
 
   // Start action — three tiers:
   //   1. No input properties:       start() with no params
@@ -311,7 +303,7 @@ function addProcessActions(
     name: fqn(serviceName, 'getInstancesByBusinessKey'),
     params: {
       businessKey: { type: csn.CdsBuiltinType.String, notNull: true },
-      status: { type: statusType },
+      status: { items: { type: csn.CdsBuiltinType.String } },
     },
     returns: { type: instancesType },
   };
diff --git a/lib/types/csn-extensions.ts b/lib/types/csn-extensions.ts
index 97b0d2be..9de4c4ff 100644
--- a/lib/types/csn-extensions.ts
+++ b/lib/types/csn-extensions.ts
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ export interface CsnAnnotation extends CsnBaseDefinition {
 // ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 //
 export interface CsnElement extends CsnAnnotations {
-  type: CdsTypeRef;
+  type?: CdsTypeRef;
   notNull?: boolean;
   key?: boolean;
   virtual?: boolean;
diff --git a/tests/bookshop/package.json b/tests/bookshop/package.json
index e47e47bf..18ddd8c9 100644
--- a/tests/bookshop/package.json
+++ b/tests/bookshop/package.json
@@ -59,10 +59,6 @@
           }
         }
       },
-      "eu12.bpm-horizon-walkme.sdshipmentprocessor.ShipmentHandlerService": {
-        "kind": "process-service",
-        "model": "srv/external/eu12.bpm-horizon-walkme.sdshipmentprocessor.shipmentHandler"
-      },
       "eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.Annotation_Lifecycle_ProcessService": {
         "kind": "process-service",
         "model": "srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.annotation_Lifecycle_Process"
diff --git a/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.annotation_Lifecycle_Process.cds b/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.annotation_Lifecycle_Process.cds
index d2785ea8..02198360 100644
--- a/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.annotation_Lifecycle_Process.cds
+++ b/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.annotation_Lifecycle_Process.cds
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* checksum : 2365826f2b0b2661a4f9ebd32c09fc28 */
+/* checksum : 2d9b04f7d100bb10cefeaa255ec0b188 */
 namespace eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest;
 
 /** DO NOT EDIT. THIS IS A GENERATED SERVICE THAT WILL BE OVERRIDDEN ON NEXT IMPORT. */
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@ service Annotation_Lifecycle_ProcessService {
 
   type ProcessInstances : many ProcessInstance;
 
-  type ProcessInstanceStatus : many String;
-
   action start(
     inputs : ProcessInputs not null
   );
@@ -47,7 +45,7 @@ service Annotation_Lifecycle_ProcessService {
 
   function getInstancesByBusinessKey(
     businessKey : String not null,
-    status : ProcessInstanceStatus
+    status : many String
   ) returns ProcessInstances;
 
   action suspend(
diff --git a/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Attributes_And_Outputs.cds b/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Attributes_And_Outputs.cds
index b6bb0afc..c11851f6 100644
--- a/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Attributes_And_Outputs.cds
+++ b/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Attributes_And_Outputs.cds
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* checksum : 06cf8c9d9e2f98deda3afc8c9105860c */
+/* checksum : b2be28c9da2617d511526b2f68e5e6b0 */
 namespace eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest;
 
 /** DO NOT EDIT. THIS IS A GENERATED SERVICE THAT WILL BE OVERRIDDEN ON NEXT IMPORT. */
@@ -67,8 +67,6 @@ service ImportProcess_Attributes_And_OutputsService {
 
   type ProcessInstances : many ProcessInstance;
 
-  type ProcessInstanceStatus : many String;
-
   action start(
     inputs : ProcessInputs not null
   );
@@ -83,7 +81,7 @@ service ImportProcess_Attributes_And_OutputsService {
 
   function getInstancesByBusinessKey(
     businessKey : String not null,
-    status : ProcessInstanceStatus
+    status : many String
   ) returns ProcessInstances;
 
   action suspend(
diff --git a/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Complex_Inputs.cds b/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Complex_Inputs.cds
index 42de0286..93483826 100644
--- a/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Complex_Inputs.cds
+++ b/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Complex_Inputs.cds
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* checksum : c03cdf2e606ab17a35b5c033564432b3 */
+/* checksum : b0ced28bb4d1bef714f6714bff14642e */
 namespace eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest;
 
 /** DO NOT EDIT. THIS IS A GENERATED SERVICE THAT WILL BE OVERRIDDEN ON NEXT IMPORT. */
@@ -59,8 +59,6 @@ service ImportProcess_Complex_InputsService {
 
   type ProcessInstances : many ProcessInstance;
 
-  type ProcessInstanceStatus : many String;
-
   action start(
     inputs : ProcessInputs not null
   );
@@ -75,7 +73,7 @@ service ImportProcess_Complex_InputsService {
 
   function getInstancesByBusinessKey(
     businessKey : String not null,
-    status : ProcessInstanceStatus
+    status : many String
   ) returns ProcessInstances;
 
   action suspend(
diff --git a/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Simple_Inputs.cds b/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Simple_Inputs.cds
index 36380ee5..d26fccaf 100644
--- a/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Simple_Inputs.cds
+++ b/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Simple_Inputs.cds
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* checksum : 0f35e7076c73088aa94343c24de08931 */
+/* checksum : 7e054e53e107a7f5c8375eb51a454e7f */
 namespace eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest;
 
 /** DO NOT EDIT. THIS IS A GENERATED SERVICE THAT WILL BE OVERRIDDEN ON NEXT IMPORT. */
@@ -36,8 +36,6 @@ service ImportProcess_Simple_InputsService {
 
   type ProcessInstances : many ProcessInstance;
 
-  type ProcessInstanceStatus : many String;
-
   action start(
     inputs : ProcessInputs not null
   );
@@ -52,7 +50,7 @@ service ImportProcess_Simple_InputsService {
 
   function getInstancesByBusinessKey(
     businessKey : String not null,
-    status : ProcessInstanceStatus
+    status : many String
   ) returns ProcessInstances;
 
   action suspend(
diff --git a/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.programmatic_Lifecycle_Process.cds b/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.programmatic_Lifecycle_Process.cds
index b90535ed..177eecb0 100644
--- a/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.programmatic_Lifecycle_Process.cds
+++ b/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.programmatic_Lifecycle_Process.cds
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* checksum : 0a304afe8e7feed2939e6a02b72700f2 */
+/* checksum : 721729e92c5456fb13b5e792ac205215 */
 namespace eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest;
 
 /** DO NOT EDIT. THIS IS A GENERATED SERVICE THAT WILL BE OVERRIDDEN ON NEXT IMPORT. */
@@ -33,8 +33,6 @@ service Programmatic_Lifecycle_ProcessService {
 
   type ProcessInstances : many ProcessInstance;
 
-  type ProcessInstanceStatus : many String;
-
   action start(
     inputs : ProcessInputs not null
   );
@@ -49,7 +47,7 @@ service Programmatic_Lifecycle_ProcessService {
 
   function getInstancesByBusinessKey(
     businessKey : String not null,
-    status : ProcessInstanceStatus
+    status : many String
   ) returns ProcessInstances;
 
   action suspend(
diff --git a/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.programmatic_Output_Process.cds b/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.programmatic_Output_Process.cds
index 7793aa21..8a937cd8 100644
--- a/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.programmatic_Output_Process.cds
+++ b/tests/bookshop/srv/external/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.programmatic_Output_Process.cds
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* checksum : 485333e131f4ed3e5a2f2b623a290f1e */
+/* checksum : 5d4deaa24aac52f7afcf274a034ff450 */
 namespace eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest;
 
 /** DO NOT EDIT. THIS IS A GENERATED SERVICE THAT WILL BE OVERRIDDEN ON NEXT IMPORT. */
@@ -40,8 +40,6 @@ service Programmatic_Output_ProcessService {
 
   type ProcessInstances : many ProcessInstance;
 
-  type ProcessInstanceStatus : many String;
-
   action start(
     inputs : ProcessInputs not null
   );
@@ -56,7 +54,7 @@ service Programmatic_Output_ProcessService {
 
   function getInstancesByBusinessKey(
     businessKey : String not null,
-    status : ProcessInstanceStatus
+    status : many String
   ) returns ProcessInstances;
 
   action suspend(
diff --git a/tests/bookshop/srv/programmatic-service.ts b/tests/bookshop/srv/programmatic-service.ts
index dc0f7a3e..bd7961ee 100644
--- a/tests/bookshop/srv/programmatic-service.ts
+++ b/tests/bookshop/srv/programmatic-service.ts
@@ -49,13 +49,12 @@ class ProgrammaticService extends cds.ApplicationService {
     });
 
     this.on('getAttributes', async (req: cds.Request) => {
-      const { ID, status } = req.data;
+      const { ID } = req.data;
       const programmaticLifecycleProcess = await cds.connect.to(
         Programmatic_Lifecycle_ProcessService,
       );
       const processInstances = await programmaticLifecycleProcess.getInstancesByBusinessKey({
         businessKey: ID,
-        status: status,
       });
       const allAttributes = [];
       for (const instance of processInstances) {
diff --git a/tests/hybrid/importedCDS/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Attributes_And_Outputs.cds b/tests/hybrid/importedCDS/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Attributes_And_Outputs.cds
index b6bb0afc..c11851f6 100644
--- a/tests/hybrid/importedCDS/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Attributes_And_Outputs.cds
+++ b/tests/hybrid/importedCDS/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Attributes_And_Outputs.cds
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* checksum : 06cf8c9d9e2f98deda3afc8c9105860c */
+/* checksum : b2be28c9da2617d511526b2f68e5e6b0 */
 namespace eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest;
 
 /** DO NOT EDIT. THIS IS A GENERATED SERVICE THAT WILL BE OVERRIDDEN ON NEXT IMPORT. */
@@ -67,8 +67,6 @@ service ImportProcess_Attributes_And_OutputsService {
 
   type ProcessInstances : many ProcessInstance;
 
-  type ProcessInstanceStatus : many String;
-
   action start(
     inputs : ProcessInputs not null
   );
@@ -83,7 +81,7 @@ service ImportProcess_Attributes_And_OutputsService {
 
   function getInstancesByBusinessKey(
     businessKey : String not null,
-    status : ProcessInstanceStatus
+    status : many String
   ) returns ProcessInstances;
 
   action suspend(
diff --git a/tests/hybrid/importedCDS/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Complex_Inputs.cds b/tests/hybrid/importedCDS/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Complex_Inputs.cds
index 42de0286..93483826 100644
--- a/tests/hybrid/importedCDS/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Complex_Inputs.cds
+++ b/tests/hybrid/importedCDS/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Complex_Inputs.cds
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* checksum : c03cdf2e606ab17a35b5c033564432b3 */
+/* checksum : b0ced28bb4d1bef714f6714bff14642e */
 namespace eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest;
 
 /** DO NOT EDIT. THIS IS A GENERATED SERVICE THAT WILL BE OVERRIDDEN ON NEXT IMPORT. */
@@ -59,8 +59,6 @@ service ImportProcess_Complex_InputsService {
 
   type ProcessInstances : many ProcessInstance;
 
-  type ProcessInstanceStatus : many String;
-
   action start(
     inputs : ProcessInputs not null
   );
@@ -75,7 +73,7 @@ service ImportProcess_Complex_InputsService {
 
   function getInstancesByBusinessKey(
     businessKey : String not null,
-    status : ProcessInstanceStatus
+    status : many String
   ) returns ProcessInstances;
 
   action suspend(
diff --git a/tests/hybrid/importedCDS/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Simple_Inputs.cds b/tests/hybrid/importedCDS/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Simple_Inputs.cds
index 36380ee5..d26fccaf 100644
--- a/tests/hybrid/importedCDS/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Simple_Inputs.cds
+++ b/tests/hybrid/importedCDS/eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest.importProcess_Simple_Inputs.cds
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* checksum : 0f35e7076c73088aa94343c24de08931 */
+/* checksum : 7e054e53e107a7f5c8375eb51a454e7f */
 namespace eu12.cdsmunich.capprocesspluginhybridtest;
 
 /** DO NOT EDIT. THIS IS A GENERATED SERVICE THAT WILL BE OVERRIDDEN ON NEXT IMPORT. */
@@ -36,8 +36,6 @@ service ImportProcess_Simple_InputsService {
 
   type ProcessInstances : many ProcessInstance;
 
-  type ProcessInstanceStatus : many String;
-
   action start(
     inputs : ProcessInputs not null
   );
@@ -52,7 +50,7 @@ service ImportProcess_Simple_InputsService {
 
   function getInstancesByBusinessKey(
     businessKey : String not null,
-    status : ProcessInstanceStatus
+    status : many String
   ) returns ProcessInstances;
 
   action suspend(