Over 6,000 H-1B visa holders have already taken advantage of Canada’s program, which is now closed for further applications.
Over 6,000 H-1B visa holders have already taken advantage of Canada’s program, which is now closed for further applications.
H-1B visa holders who were laid off by their US employers are now moving to Canada, taking advantage of a work permit scheme introduced earlier this year.
The Canadian government initiated a three-year open work permit program on July 16, targeting up to 10,000 H-1B visa holders in the US and offering them employment opportunities.
Over 6,000 H-1B visa holders have already taken advantage of this program, which is now closed for further applications.
The H-1B visa is a sought-after pathway for international students to work in the United States after completing a higher education degree.
It allows them to stay and work for a sponsoring company for three years, with the option to extend for an additional three years after the initial period.
Many MBA and business master’s graduates utilize the H-1B visa scheme to secure positions with leading companies, especially tech firms like Apple, Meta, and Google.
H-1B visa holders faced challenges earlier this year as layoffs affected the tech industry in the US. Major companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, announced significant staff reductions, directly hitting them in the process.
The layoffs left H-1B visa holders with a 60-day window to either leave the country, transfer to a new visa, or secure a new employer for sponsorship.
The Canadian work permit scheme provided a fourth option for those affected by the layoffs, offering them the opportunity to relocate to Canada and pursue employment within the country.
The scheme reached its capacity for applications the day after its launch. As of October, the Canadian government has confirmed that over 6,000 H-1B visa holders who were laid off have been granted permits to move to Canada and seek employment.
The open work permit scheme for H-1B visa holders laid off in the US is part of Canada’s broader Tech Talent Strategy, aiming to bolster the technology sector and attract international talent to the country.
Canada’s technology sector has experienced notable growth, with Vancouver leading in tech job growth among North American cities, according to a CBRE study published in July. Calgary and the Waterloo Region also demonstrated significant growth in tech employment.
Between 2020-2022, Canada experienced tech talent growth that outpaced the United States by more than 11 percent, according to the study.
As laid-off H-1B visa holders seek opportunities in Canada, it coincides with proposed changes to the H-1B visa scheme by the US Department of Homeland Security that aim to streamline eligibility requirements and enhance integrity measures.
