Canadian immigration policy attracting tech workers should be a warning to U.S., lawyers say | GVS News

The Popularity of Canada’s Tech Worker Program Sends a Warning to U.S. Immigration Officials Canada’s new program aimed at attracting American tech workers north of the border has gained significant popularity, serving as a warning to U.S. immigration officials and lawmakers. The program, launched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, opened up an application portal for immigrants in the United States holding H1-B visas, which allow them to work in the tech industry. The program offers three-year open work permits to draw these visa holders to Canada. Within just two days, the program reached its 10,000-applicant cap, highlighting the demand for alternative opportunities among tech workers. The move by Canada is seen as a smart strategy to fill its own economy with available workers who are not being properly utilized by the United States. Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, head of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, stated that Canada’s policy directly targets the failures of the U.S. immigration program and provides an opportunity for H1-B workers who may not have that same opportunity in the United States anymore. Currently, there are up to 600,000 immigrants in the United States holding H1-B visas. However, these visas are directly tied to employment and provide poor pathways to permanent residency. If an H1-B holder in the U.S. loses their job, they would have to leave the country within 60 days unless they find new employment within that time period. Immigration advocates in the U.S. have been calling for reform of the immigration system for years, but lawmakers have been unable to reach a consensus due to political deadlock. Ashwin Sharma, an immigration lawyer from the Sharma Law Office in Jacksonville, Florida, believes that Canada’s program sheds light on the fact that there are other countries with better immigration policies that value science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. He hopes that the United States will take note and start implementing similar policies. However, there are concerns about whether the tech workers coming to Canada will stay in the country long-term. The open nature of the Canadian work permit, coupled with higher salaries generally offered in the U.S. tech industry, may attract applicants who are looking to temporarily bridge an unemployment period. It remains to be seen how many of these workers will choose to remain in Canada. Despite this uncertainty, the speed at which the program reached its application cap is remarkable. It highlights the demand and interest among tech workers for alternative opportunities outside of the United States. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser believes that Canada’s advantages, such as the opportunity for tech workers on work permits to transition to permanent residency, make up for the lower salaries. He stated that his department will closely monitor the application process and evaluate whether to expand this policy or others as part of Canada’s “digital nomad” strategy. Fraser expects the first applicants to arrive in Canada this summer or fall. However, he has not received any communication from U.S. immigration officials regarding the program. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services did not respond to a CBC News request for comment. The Canadian online portal faced criticism for glitches that prevented some applicants from completing their entries. Fraser assured that the government would address these problems if they decide to relaunch the program. In conclusion, Canada’s tech worker program has garnered significant attention and serves as a warning to U.S. immigration officials and lawmakers. The program’s popularity highlights the need for immigration reform in the United States and showcases Canada’s smart move to attract skilled workers from its southern neighbor. As tech workers seek better opportunities and immigration policies that value their skills, it remains to be seen whether Canada can retain these workers in the long term. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.