Many US workers are considering migrating to Canada due to its welcoming immigration measures, which aim to address labor shortages. In July, Canada launched a pilot program allowing 10,000 H-1B visa holders to apply for a three-year open work permit.
The program reached its cap within 48 hours, and 6,000 US foreign workers have migrated since then. The move can be attributed to restrictions faced by H-1B holders and their families in the US.
Many skilled workers, particularly in tech, were laid off during the “US Tech Wreck,” leading them to seek opportunities in Canada. Canada’s former Immigration Minister Sean Fraser saw this as an opportunity to fill Canada’s STEM shortage, leading to the launch of the Tech Talent Strategy at Collision 2023.
About the Open Work Permit
A work permit is a legally recognized document that enables a foreign national to work in Canada. A work permit that has no limits to a specific employer or location is referred to as an open work permit. It means that a foreign national may work for several employers in various locations across Canada as long as they have a valid open work permit. It should be noted that foreign nationals may be subject to additional requirements or restrictions with certain open work permits. Usually, open work permits get issued under the following immigration programs:
- Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP)
- International Experience Canada (IEC)
- Inland Spousal or Common-Law Sponsorship
- Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWP)
If you’re an H-1B visa holder and planning to immigrate to Canada, Get legal assistance.
Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, launched Canada’s first-ever Tech Talent Strategy on June 27, 2023 at Collision 2023. This new strategy includes new measures as well as improvements to existing measures to help Canadian businesses thrive in an environment of competition. Minister Fraser announced the following aggressive attraction measures as part of Canada’s first-ever Tech Talent Strategy:
- the establishment of an open work permit stream in which H-1B specialty occupation visa holders in the United States can apply for a Canadian work permit, as well as study or work permit options for their accompanying family members.
- the creation of an Innovation Stream within the International Mobility Program to attract highly skilled workers, with options including employer-specific work permits for up to five years for workers destined to work for a company identified by the Government of Canada as contributing to Canada’s industrial innovation goals, and open work permits for up to five years for highly skilled workers in select in-demand occupations.
- a return to the Global Skills Strategy’s 14-day service standard for work permits.
- The promotion of Canada as a digital nomad destination.
- the establishment of a STEM-specific draw under category-based selection to issue additional invitations to apply under the Express Entry program, and
- improvements to the Start-up Visa Program.
If you want to know more details about “US workers showing a growing interest in migrating to Canada” you can contact one of our immigration specialists at Gunness & Associates.
Tel: (416) 604-2669
Email: info@immigrationmatters.info
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