On Tuesday, Canada's Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, announced the creation of an open work-permit stream that will enable 10,000 American H-1B visa holders to work in Canada. The program will also allow for study or work permits for the family members of H-1B visa holders.
According to an official release from Canada's Ministry of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, many workers in high-tech fields are employed by companies with significant operations in both Canada and the US, and a considerable number of them hold H-1B specialty occupation visas in the US. Starting July 16, 2023, H-1B visa holders in the US, along with their immediate family members, will be eligible to apply to come and work in Canada.
Successful applicants under this new program will receive an open work permit valid for up to three years. They will have the flexibility to work for any employer across Canada, and their spouses and dependents will also be eligible to apply for a temporary resident visa with a work or study permit, as required.
CBC News, a Canada-based news outlet, reported that Minister Fraser stated that by the end of this year, the federal government intends to establish an immigration stream that will enable highly talented individuals from around the world to come and work for tech companies in Canada, regardless of whether they have a job offer or not. However, the specific eligibility criteria and the number of individuals to be admitted through this stream were not provided in the announcement.
H-1B visas allow foreign nationals to temporarily work in the US in specialized occupations, particularly in the technology sector. During the pandemic, tech companies ramped up their hiring, but they have since laid off a significant number of employees. Consequently, many H-1B visa holders have been seeking new job opportunities.