<div itemscope itemtype=”http://schema.org/Article”>
<h3 itemprop=”name”>
<!–ARTICLE TITLE START–>
Canada as an H-1B Alternative<!–END ARTICLE TITLE–>
</h3><h4><i>by <a href=”http://discuss.ilw.com/articles/articles/393337-article-canada-as-an-h-1b-alternative-by-irfhan-rawji#bio”>
<span itemprop=”author” itemscope itemtype=”http://schema.org/Person”>
<span itemprop=”name”>
<!–AUTHOR NAME START–>
Irfhan Rawji
<!–END AUTHOR NAME–>
</span></span>
</a></i></h4><br/>
<span itemprop=”articleBody”>
<p>
Securing and renewing US work visas has become increasingly difficult for
many talented foreign technology workers seeking opportunities in the US.
In last year’s H-1B visa lottery, USCIS received 201,011 petitions, from
which only 85,000 visas were issued. With this year’s lottery changing to
an online registration process requiring minimal upfront paperwork and a
modest registration fee of only $10, it is reasonable to expect that there
will be many more petitioners this year, while the number of H-1B visas
issued will remain the same. Even for those who are successful in the H-1B
lottery, considerable uncertainty remains, with the number of Requests for
Evidence from USCIS almost doubling since 2017. Those already working in
the US on a STEM OPT visa, who have been previously unsuccessful in the
H-1B lottery and are now facing their last opportunity at obtaining the
required visa to remain in the US, are arguably in the most difficult
position.
</p>
<p>
<a name=”_3uroh2pmwil5″></a>
</p>
<p>
<a name=”_gjdgxs”></a>
Securing temporary work authorization is just the first of a number of
hurdles that foreign nationals must overcome if they plan on making the US
their permanent home. A critical step in the process is securing a green
card. For individuals from certain countries, this is often more of a hope
than an expectation given unpredictable wait times. For example, an Indian
national new to the green card application process could expect to wait
over 50 years, according to a recent article in the Washington Post.
Whether it is an intended consequence or not, often the end result for
those unsuccessful in securing either a US work visa or green card is that
they must make a difficult choice: return home, or seek new opportunities
in a new country.
</p>
<p>
<a name=”_9t5628ox47j”></a>
</p>
<p>
<a name=”_hx9cqpjtd2sw”></a>
America’s neighbor to the north, Canada, is taking a different approach to
immigration. The country has relied on immigrants for population and
economic growth since its founding. Recent decades have shown an even more
open approach, based primarily on furthering Canada’s economic goals. A
landmark change to Canada’s immigration policy came in 1967, when a
points-based system was implemented to rank potential immigrants for
eligibility. Critically, race, nationality, and pure luck are not factors
in this new system, which instead focuses on skills, education, and
language proficiency. Building on this in recent years is Canada’s Global
Talent Stream program, which was put into effect as a pilot in 2017 and
made permanent in 2019. Recognizing a domestic shortage of certain types of
high-skilled workers such as software engineers, the Canadian government
program enables employers to help individuals move to Canada under
expedited timelines. Generally, candidates eligible for this program are
those with experience in software, digital design, mathematics/statistics,
and other technology-related fields. As long as a prospective employer can
substantiate the need for the foreign worker and that the additional
employee will benefit the national economy, immigration can proceed on an
accelerated timeline. A Canadian work permit under the Global Talent Stream
can be secured in as little as four to six weeks, while permanent residency
can be obtained in six to eight months, full Canadian citizenship is
possible in approximately three and a half years (the same amount of time
as a typical H-1B cycle).
</p>
<p>
<a name=”_itiiyxsnyf4h”></a>
</p>
<p>
<a name=”_riz3l3cr0m34″></a>
It is important to note that this open and welcoming approach is just as
important to the average Canadian citizen as it is to the decision makers
in government. Based on a recent survey from the Environics Institute, 80%
of Canadians believe that immigration has a positive impact on the economy
of Canada. Not only are Canadians welcoming towards newcomers, many of
Canada’s cities consistently rank as the most liveable in the world,
according to the Economist’s Liveability Index. In 2019, Canada boasted
three cities in the top ten: Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver. The deciding
criteria in the study were stability, healthcare, culture, environment,
education, infrastructure, and cost of living. For its receptiveness to
immigrants, stability, affordability, proximity to the US, time zone
congruence, similar business culture, and exceptional public services,
Canada has proven itself as a viable and attractive alternative for those
who are seeking a way to build a future in North America. The country has a
long history of welcoming immigrants, which is not expected to change any
time soon.
</p>
</span>
<hr/><h4>
<a name=”bio”></a>
About The Author<br/>
</h4>
<!–AUTHOR BIO START–>
<p>
<b> Katy Murdza</b> is a Director at the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, an
advisor to the Privy Council Office of the Government of Canada, and the
Founder & CEO of MobSquad. MobSquad solves the significant and growing
technology talent shortage faced by US-based start-ups and scale-ups by
enabling its clients to quickly have a turnkey “virtual” Canadian
subsidiary. MobSquad ensures software engineers with US work visa
challenges remain working with their current company, but nearshore from
Canada. This is accomplished via MobSquad’s unique partnership with the
Canadian Government, enabling work visas to be issued for software
engineers and their respective families within four to six weeks, permanent
residency (a Canadian green card) within six to eight months, and Canadian
citizenship in three and a half years. Additionally, MobSquad has
unfettered access to top-tier global talent which it relocates to Canada
and pairs with clients on an exclusive, long-term basis. If you or your
clients are seeking an alternative solution in the face of an increasingly
difficult US work visa environment, contact MobSquad today! For more
information, please visit<a href=”https://www.mobsquad.io/”>https://www.mobsquad.io</a> or e-mail <a href=”mailto:info@mobsquad.io”>info@mobsquad.io</a>.
</p>
<!–END AUTHOR BIO–>
<p><hr/>
<div class=”ilwFinePrint”>The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of <span itemprop=”publisher” itemscope itemtype=”http://schema.org/Organization”>
<span itemprop=”name”>ILW.COM</span></span>.</div></p>
</div>
{$inline_image
