In welcome news for Indians having American H1-B visas, Canada’s Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, has announced that the Government will establish an open work-permit stream for 10,000 such visa holders. The scheme starts on July 16.
This initiative aims to attract skilled workers from the United States (US) and provide them with employment opportunities in Canada. In addition, the program will also allow for study or work permits for family members of H-1B visa holders. The approved applicants under this new decision will receive an open work permit valid for up to three years. This permit will enable them to work throughout Canada. Indian technical workers, who accounted for nearly 75 per cent of the H1B visas granted in 2020 and 2021 in the US, are expected to be prime beneficiaries of this initiative by Canada. An official release issued by Canada’s Ministry of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship late on Tuesday said, “Thousands of workers in high-tech fields are employed with companies that have large operations in both Canada and the US, and those working in the US often hold an H-1B specialty occupation visa. As of July 16, 2023, H-1B special occupation visa holders in the US, and their accompanying immediate family members, will be eligible to apply to come to Canada.” The release read, “They will be able to work for almost any employer anywhere in Canada. Their spouses and dependants will also be eligible to apply for a temporary resident visa, with a work or study permit, as needed.” Fraser said by the end of this year, the Canadian federal Government will be developing an immigration stream specifically designed for highly skilled individuals worldwide, allowing them to work for tech companies in Canada, regardless of whether they have a job offer or not.
The H-1B visa program in the US grants temporary work permits to foreign nationals in specialised occupations, particularly in the technology and skilled sector. As tech companies experienced a surge in hiring during the pandemic but subsequently faced layoffs, many H-1B visa holders found themselves in need of new job opportunities.