Canadian 'Open Work Permit' Quota filled within 48 Hours

By Sanwar Ali:

Canada recently rolled out a new program from 16 July 2023 to invite 10,000 H-1B visa holders from the United States to work and live in the country via an open work permit to work for any employer. There was an overwhelming response — the quota was filled the following day on 17 July 2023!

Understanding the 'Open Work Permit'

The open work permit is a novel initiative by the Canadian government to provide H1B visa holders from the US an opportunity to live and work in Canada for a period of three years. This permit also extends to the permit holder's family members, allowing them to either pursue education or seek employment within the country.

This scheme is a clear demonstration of Canada's commitment to attracting highly skilled workers and enhancing labour mobility between Canada and the US, especially in the technology sector.

The Canadian government stated in an official announcement:

"Thousands of workers in high-tech fields are employed with companies that have large operations in both Canada and the US, and those working in the US often hold an H-1B speciality occupation visa. 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. The applicant's spouses and dependants will also be eligible to apply for a temporary resident visa, with a work or study permit, as needed."

The Impact on Indian Professionals

H1B visas are in significant demand among foreign nationals, specifically those working in specialized fields such as technology. Every year, a substantial number of workers from India and China apply for these visas.

Given that Indians constitute 75% of H-1B visa holders in the US, this new Canadian program is expected to provide significant opportunities for Indian professionals.

Quota Filled within 48 Hours

The Canadian government had announced that this program would either run for a year or until 10,000 applications were received, whichever came first. However, the quota was filled within hours of the program's launch, clearly indicating the immense demand.

The Canadian government's official immigration website, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) portal, announced:

"The temporary public policy for H-1B visa holders is now closed. The intake cap of 10,000 primary applicants was reached and no additional applications are being accepted."

Canadian Open Work Permit a Huge Success

The response to the open work permit scheme highlights the problems with the US H1B visa system. There are tens of thousands, mainly Indian nationals who have applied for the Canadian open work permit scheme as they are unable to stay in the US.

While the US continues to be a much larger economy with more opportunities, Canada is making it relatively easy to obtain work visas. However, the problem for H1B visa holders is that the quota is far too small to make much of a difference.

workpermit.com helps with US Work Visa: L1, H1B, E2, and O1 Visas

There are various types of US visas that individuals can apply for, depending on their circumstances. Some of the most common employment-based visas include:

• L1 visa: This visa is for intracompany transferees who work in managerial or executive positions or have specialized knowledge.

• H1B visa: This visa is for specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields.

• E2 visa: This visa is for investors who have made a significant investment in a US business and, management or essential skills employees.  Only certain nationalities can apply.

• O1 visa: This visa is for individuals with extraordinary abilities in the arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics.

Workpermit.com is a specialist visa services firm with over thirty years of experience dealing with visa applications. For more information and advice, please contact us on 0344 991 9222 or at london@workpermit.com(link sends e-mail)