As of now, 6,000 highly-skilled international workers with H-1B in the US are heading to Canada for work, according to a report from CNBC.
The highly educated foreign national is really at the mercy of the United States employers. Annie Beaudoin, former Canadian immigration officer
The changes to this program, made by former president Donald Trump, made it more difficult to get highly-skilled immigrant workers into the US.
According to a report from CNBC, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services received a total of 758,994 eligible requests for the H-1B program. However, only 188,400 were picked for the final draw to get these permits.
In July this year, authorities in Canada announced that their H-1B visa program attracted a large number of internationals. Besides, it was closed less than 48 hours after reaching the limit of 10,000.
As of July 16, 2023, H-1B speciality occupation visa holders in the US and their accompanying immediate family members will be eligible to apply to come to Canada. 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.
As for the United States H-1B visa scheme, it was in the spotlight several times for allowing abuses to this lottery.
In May this year, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that several measures would be introduced in order to halt abuses to the program.
Among the measures taken by the DHS were conducting fraud investigations into organisations that are suspected of colluding to improve employees’ chances in the selection process.
Besides, the DHS also announced that it would start making law enforcement referrals for criminal prosecutions to violator companies and intends to amend relevant regulations related to the H-1B visa program.
Known also as the Person in Specialty Occupation Visa, the H-1B visa allows US employers to hire qualified workers for special jobs, such as IT specialists, professors, architects, and doctors, among others.
Previously, an Indian-American presidential candidate from the Republican Party, Vivek Ramaswamy, vowed to abolish the H-1B visa program if voted to power next year.
Besides, the program was called “indentured servitude” by him, and he stressed that the lottery should be replaced by meritocratic admission. Ramaswamy added that those who come as family members are no meritocratic immigrants who provide skilled-based contributions to this country.