Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser recently announced that Canada will create an open work permit stream, allowing 10,000 US H-1B visa holders to come and work in the country.
This move aims to support workers in high-tech sectors and strengthen ties between Canada and the US.
Open Work Permits and Family Benefits
The Canadian Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship revealed that the program will not only grant work permits to H-1B visa holders but also provide study or work permits for their family members.
This means that accompanying spouses and dependents can join the visa holders in Canada and have the opportunity to work or study.
Flexibility and Opportunities
Under this new initiative, approved applicants will receive an open work permit for a duration of up to three years.
The permit allows them to work for any employer across Canada, offering flexibility and a wide range of job opportunities.
Future Developments
In addition to the open work permit stream, the Canadian government plans to introduce an immigration stream specifically tailored for highly skilled individuals working in the tech industry.
This stream aims to attract talented individuals from around the world, regardless of whether they have a job offer or not.
However, specific eligibility criteria and the number of individuals allowed in this stream have yet to be announced.
Explaining H-1B Visa:
The H-1B visa is a temporary work visa that allows foreign nationals to work in the United States, primarily in occupations related to the technology sector.
During the pandemic, many tech companies initially increased their recruitment efforts but later faced layoffs, leaving a significant number of H-1B visa holders struggling to secure new employment opportunities.
