When the visa scheme changes, highly skilled H-1B workers move from the United States to Canada

Numerous highly qualified foreign employees with H-1B visas in the US are choosing to work in Canada instead of the US. This adjustment follows modifications to the H-1B program implemented by the former president Donald Trump, which made it more difficult to attract highly educated immigrant workers.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services handled an astounding 758,994 qualified requests for the H-1B program, according to a CNBC report. But because of the strict modifications made, only 188,400 applications were chosen for licenses in the final drawing.

H-1B specialty occupation visa holders in the United States, as well as members of their immediate family, will be able to apply to work in Canada starting of July 16, 2023. The chosen candidates will be issued an open work visa that allows them to work for any employer in Canada for a maximum of three years.

Due to concerns about possible abuses, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decided to take action regarding the H-1B visa program. Measures include law enforcement referrals for criminal prosecutions against violating corporations and fraud investigations into organizations suspected of conspiring to affect employee selection.