Recently, the Canadian government made an announcement regarding the provision of 10,000 visas to foreign workers currently in the United States on H-1B visas. Mr. Sean Fraser, the Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, stated that by July 16, the government will establish an open work permit stream that allows US H-1B visa holders to reside and work in Canada.
Upon approval of the application, the applicant will be permitted to stay in Canada for up to three years and work for any employer. Additionally, spouses and dependents of the visa recipient can apply for temporary resident visas, along with the necessary work and study permits.
The composition of the 10,000 visa quota remains uncertain, as it is unclear whether it includes only H-1B visa holders or both H-1B workers and their family members. Nonetheless, one significant advantage is that H-1B workers coming to Canada can freely choose any employer, providing greater flexibility than in the United States.
Furthermore, transitioning from non-immigrant status to immigrant status is expected to be considerably easier in Canada than in the US, where individuals born abroad, particularly those from India and China, often face years of waiting to obtain immigrant status.
*Source: cis.org
