President Donald Trump’s decision to significantly increase the fee for H-1B visa has prompted an immediate reaction from business world, political leaders and more. The change in H-1B visa has also drawn attention of Canada’s political leadership and industry. Several business experts and industry expert in Canada have urged Canadian government to seize the moment and open its doors to highly skilled professionals.The US announcement late last week to charge $100,000 for new H-1B applications has stunned American technology companies that rely on the program to employ foreign workers. Experts believe the move will severely limit opportunities for highly educated foreigners, particularly recent international graduates of U.S. universities.
Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney on H-1B visa policy
The call to attract and retain the talent left stranded by the H-1B changes appears to have the attention of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. In a recent speech before the Council of Foreign Relations in New York City, Carney highlighted Canada’s homegrown research and AI talent, noting that “unfortunately, most of them go the U.S.”
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He then addressed the US policy change directly, quipping, “I understand you’re changing your visa policy. Maybe we can hang on to one or two of them.”
“Wonderful Opportunity” for Canada
Immigration lawyer Evan Green stated that the situation presents “a wonderful opportunity for the Canadian government to take advantage of.”His sentiment is echoed by the non-profit group Build Canada, which has released a memo urging the country “to move fast.” The group argues that Canada is the natural landing spot for professionals left behind by the H-1B overhaul.“Hundreds of thousands of highly skilled and highly paid H-1B professionals are now seeking a new home,” the memo stated. “Canada, with its world-class research institutions, similar timezones, proximity to the U.S., and high quality of life, is the natural destination.”The impact of the H-1B changes affects even Canadians, who accounted for 1% of all applicants in 2019 before the fee hike. While the White House stated that the change doesn’t affect current H-1B holders and is expected to face legal challenges, the uncertainty is already driving workers to look elsewhere.Canada immigration challengesDespite the clear opportunity, some industry observers caution that those looking north for an alternative may find that Canada’s immigration system presents its own set of challenges.
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