On Tuesday, Canada’s immigration minister introduced a new strategy for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that creates a streamlined work permit for H1B visa holders in the US to apply to seek employment and live in Canada.
Starting July 16, 2023, H1B visa holders and their accompanying dependents in the US can begin applying for open work permits that will allow them to stay and work in Canada for up to three years. As these are open work permits, they will allow approved applicants to work for almost any employer in the country. Spouses and dependents of approved applicants can be eligible to apply for a Canadian temporary resident visa.
This IRCC program is set to remain in place for one year or until the program receives 10,000 applications, whichever comes first.
The reason for this IRCC program is to create a way to attract more global tech talent to Canada. Currently, many H1B visa holders in the US work for companies that have operations both in the United States and in Canada. IRCC is designed to improve labor mobility for these workers, and allow them to continue to pursue their tech careers outside of the United States.
If you are an H1B visa holder and are interested in applying to work in Canada, visit the Canadian government’s official website for additional information on the program.
