Toronto: Indian H-1B visa holders, who were snarled in a decades-long backlog for acquiring an employment-based green card, were increasingly attracted to Canada as a destination. They now find Canada to be even more appealing as the nation prepares to provide an "Open work permit stream for H-1B holders" in the upcoming weeks. This will also include providing accompanying family members of an H-1B visa holder permission to study or work.
Sean Fraser, minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) launched Canada’s first-ever ‘Tech Talent Strategy’, by announcing a plethora of immigration-centric initiatives. Other measures that were announced include development of a new ‘Innovation Stream’ to attract highly talented individuals, promoting Canada as a destination for ‘digital nomads’, a ‘STEM-specific draw’ under the Express Entry programme that offers permanent residency and improvements to its ‘Start-up Visa Program’.
“Going forward, as of July 16, we will have a stream that will allow 10,000 H-1B visa holders in the US to come and work in Canada,” said Fraser. IRCC states that, “Under this openwork permit stream, approved applicants will receive an open work permit of up to three years in duration, which means they will be able to work for almost any employer anywhere in Canada. Their spouses and dependents will also be eligible to apply for a temporary resident visa, with a work or study permit, as needed. ”
Fraser also said Canada will launch a digital nomad strategy, which would allow people having a foreign employer to come and work in Canada for up to six months and interact with local communities here. “Should they get a job offer while they are here, we are going to allow them to continue to stay and work in Canada,” he emphasised.