Canada Launches New Program To Attract U.S. H-1B Visa Holders

August 22, 2023

What's New

The Canadian government recently announced a new program that allows holders of H-1B Specialty Occupations visas living in the United States to apply for an Open Work Permit (OWP) in Canada. Canada’s Department of Citizenship and Immigration started taking applications July 16, 2023, and stopped taking them the very next day after reaching its cap of 10,000 applications.

The OWP application fee costs only $155, and the permit lasts for up to three years. The OWP program also makes spouses and dependents of approved H-1B visa holders eligible for work and study permits in Canada. Foreign nationals accepted into the OWP program may apply for permanent residency after one year of full-time eligible work experience.

What It Means

The OWP program makes the attainment of permanent residence in Canada much easier than it is in the United States. The program’s wild popularity underscores the problems with the U.S. H-1B visa program. If Canada retains this new policy and opens more slots to U.S. H-1B visa beneficiaries in the future, the OWP program likely will attract more U.S. visa holders, creating yet another hurdle for U.S. employers trying to meet the demand for highly skilled workers. Indeed, the potential ongoing departure of some highly skilled foreign workers from the United States to Canada could undermine technological innovation and impede economic growth.

What You Should Do

U.S. employers needing highly skilled workers will have to continue to cope with the current system. CWC members who want to discuss this development can register for a Conversation Corner.

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