H-1B visa holders pursuing US green cards can now obtain Canadian permanent residency quickly and easily. There are certain alternatives for US H-1B visa holders moving to Canada.
Well, Canada’s Express Entry system is pool-based, allowing the highest ranking applicants to move to the front of the line for permanent residency. Moreover, many H-1B workers can be competitive applicants in the Express Entry system, which prioritizes skilled foreign workers by awarding points based on higher education, skilled work experience, and strong language proficiency.
In contrast, the US’s H-1B system’s pathway to a green card is much more complicated. Not only is it dependent on external factors, including a lottery system and employer sponsorship, but the wait times are based on the applicant’s country of origin and can vary greatly.
For those US H-1B workers looking for more stability, here are some ways to move to Canada.
| Pathway | Status | Length Of Validity | Summary Of Eligibility Criteria |
| Express Entry | Permanent Residency | Permanent | Workers in skilled occupations who can get high CRS scores |
| Provincial Nominee Program | Permanent Residency | Permanent | Open to workers in both skilled and non-skilled occupations. Moreover, applicants need to meet certain criteria depending on the stream. |
| Intra-Company Transferees | Work Permit | Executives and Managers: up to 3 years, renewable in 2-year increments, with a maximum stay of 7 years.
Specialized Knowledge Transferees: up to 3 years, renewable in 2-year increments, with a maximum stay of 5 years. |
Must be employed as an executive, manager, or employee with specialized knowledge. Must be working for a multinational corporation with a presence in Canada. |
| TFWP | Work Permit | Up to three years, with possibility for extension | Job offer from a Canadian employer with an LMIA. |
| Free Trade Agreements | Work Permit | Depends on the agreement | Must be a citizen of a country with an FTA, and meet the requirements for that FTA. |
| International Experience Canada | Work Permit | Usually up to two years | For young adults (usually 18-35 years of age) from specific countries. |
Note: PR cards should be renewed every five years but can be renewed indefinitely as long as you have lived in Canada for three of the previous five provinces.
Moving To Canada As A Permanent Resident
Under its latest Immigration Levels Plan, Canada is looking to welcome over 360,000 immigrants annually in the coming years.
Express Entry
One of the top and most popular alternatives for US H-1B visa holders moving to Canada is Express Entry.
Express Entry is an online application management system that ranks applicants based on factors like their age, education, work experience, and language proficiency.
Periodically, the federal government also invites the highest-ranking applicants to apply for PR through Express Entry.
That implies that well-qualified applicants go to the front of the immigration line. Moreover, once you submit an application for PR through this system, the standard processing time is just six months.
In order to be eligible for Express Entry, you should meet the requirements of one of Canada’s three federally-managed immigration programs:
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
If your score in the Express Entry system is high enough, you may be able to apply for PR before moving to Canada.
Moreover, if you have a lower score, you may be able to increase your chances by moving to Canada on a work permit first, as you can obtain additional points in Express Entry for Canadian work experience.
The score you need to be successful may lower if you qualify for category-based selection, which prioritizes applicants with in-demand professions such as those in healthcare, trades, and STEM.
If you obtain PR through Express Entry, your spouse and your dependents on your application will also obtain PR.
Provincial Nominee Programs
If you do not qualify for Express Entry or have a low score, your best option for pursuing Canadian PR may be the Provincial Nominee Program.
In order to get PR via PNP, you must demonstrate an intent to reside in the province/ territory from which you seek a nomination.
To pursue PR through the PNP, determine which streams you are eligible for, and then follow the PNP’s process to be considered for nomination.
Moreover, obtaining PR through the PNP is a two-step process: first, you should get a provincial nomination, and second, you must apply to the federal government for PR.
Canada presently has over 80 provincial immigration streams.
In addition, for some of these streams, you can apply for nomination directly to the PNP, provided you meet the requirements, which may include having a qualifying job offer from an employer in the province.
Moreover, for other streams, you should be invited by the PNP to apply for nomination out of the provincially managed expression of interest (EOI) pool.
Many provinces have immigration streams tailored to attract highly skilled workers in professions such as healthcare and tech.
If you obtain PR through a provincial nomination, your spouse and your dependents on your application will also obtain PR.
Moving To Canada As A Temporary Foreign Worker
Another one of the top alternatives for US H-1B visa holders moving to Canada is to move as a temporary foreign worker.
Due to a surge in demand and a vast number of qualified applicants in Canada, the country’s PR pathways have become increasingly competitive.
If you don’t have enough CRS score for Express Entry and are not able to get a provincial nomination, you can move to Canada temporarily on a work permit.
Moreover, working in Canada on a work permit can allow you to gain Canadian work experience, which can increase your points for Express Entry or even provide you with a job offer that allows you to qualify for nomination by a PNP.
Below are some options to move to Canada as a foreign worker:
Intra-Company Transferees
This immigration option is available to foreign workers employed by companies outside of Canada that have a parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate in Canada.
To qualify, the foreign worker should meet the following criteria:
- Have at least one year of full-time employment with the company in the last three years
- Be transferring to a similar position with the Canadian entity
- And lastly, be employed in a permanent, ongoing role at the Canadian location
This pathway is designed for executives, managers, and employees with specialized knowledge. While there is a maximum duration of stay under this program, it can serve as a stepping stone to permanent residency options.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Work permits under the TFWP, i.e., Temporary Foreign Worker Program can be issued for any profession and for foreign nationals of any nation.
So, no matter your job or your nationality, you can pursue a work permit through the TFWP.
In order to get a TFWP work permit, you need to have a job offer from an employer with a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which requires a good deal of time and effort for the employer to obtain.
If you are successful in obtaining a work permit under the TFWP, you will only be authorized to work in that job for that employer.
To pursue a TFWP work permit, your best bet is to get in touch with a Canadian employer who has either an existing LMIA for an open role, or who is willing to undergo the LMIA process in order to hire you.
Moreover, you can find jobs with LMIAs online in Canada’s job bank.
In addition, LMIAs are issued to employers by the Canadian federal government and demonstrate that no Canadian citizen/ permanent resident is available to fill the position.
Free Trade Agreements
Depending on your country of citizenship and your profession, you might be eligible for a work permit on the basis of one of Canada’s free trade agreements with other countries.
FTA work permits are generally tied to specific employers.
Moreover, to qualify for an FTA work permit, you must be a citizen of the country covered by one of Canada’s FTAs and meet the other specific eligibility requirements based on the FTA.
For instance, under the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement, Mexican and US citizens can apply for a work permit provided that their job is for one of the professions listed, which includes management consultants, scientists, teachers, and medical professionals.
CUSMA Professions
- Accountant
- Agriculturalist
- Animal Breeder
- Animal Scientist
- Apiculturist
- Architect
- Astronomer
- Biochemist
- Biologist
- Chemist
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Dairy Scientist
- Dentist
- Dietician
- Disaster Relief Insurance Claims Adjuster
- Economist
- Entomologist
- Engineer
- Epidemiologist
- Forester
- Geneticist
- Geochemist
- Geologist
- Geophysicist
- Graphic Designer
- Horticulturalist
- Hotel Manager
- Industrial Designer
- Interior Designer
- Land Surveyor
- Landscape Architect
- Lawyer (including Notary in Quebec)
- Librarian
- Management Consultant
- Mathematician
- Medical Laboratory Technologist
- Meteorologist
- Nutritionist
- Occupational Therapist
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacologist
- Physician
- Physicist
- Physiotherapist
- Plant Breeder
- Poultry Scientist
- Psychologist
- Range Manager
- Recreational Therapist
- Registered Nurse
- Research Assistant
- Scientific Technician/Technologist
- Social Worker
- Soil Scientist
- Silviculturist
- Teachers (College, Seminary, and University)
- Technical Publications Writer
- Urban Planner
- Veterinarian
- Vocational Counsellor
- Zoologist
International Experience Canada Program
Another one of the alternatives for US H-1B visa holders moving to Canada is the International Experience Canada Program.
International Experience Canada is a program that gives young adults from specific countries the opportunity to work in Canada for a period of time, generally for up to two years.
Applicants have to be within an eligible age range, most commonly 18-35, but 18-30 for some countries.
There are three different options available under IEC:
- Working Holiday: This is an open work permit.
- Young Professionals: This is for those who have a job offer in Canada. Those applying under this are tied to that employer.
- International Co-op: This is for students at a post-secondary institution with a job offer for a placement or internship in Canada. Those applying are tied to this employer.
There is a fixed number of IEC work permits available each year. The available number depends on the youth’s country of citizenship.
In the case of Young Professionals work permit, there are generally fewer applicants than spots, so you are very likely to obtain a work permit if you meet the criteria.
In the case of the Working Holiday permit, there are generally more applicants than spots, so the government issues work permits using a lottery system.
Spousal Open Work Permits
The last and one of the top alternatives for US H-1B visa holders for moving to Canada is Spousal Open Work Permits.
When moving to Canada as a PR, your spouse will generally get PR with you at the same time, provided that you included your spouse on the application.
On the other hand, if you are moving to Canada on a work permit, you will have to make a specific arrangement for your spouse’s legal status in Canada.
In many cases, like for work permits under FTAs, ICTs, and the TFWP, your spouse might be eligible to apply for a SOWP. As a result, this will provide them with legal authorization to work in Canada.
Moreover, SOWPs are not tied to a specific employer. On a SOWP, your spouse can work with most Canadian employers in most industries in Canada.
Requirements for SOWPs might vary depending on the nature of the primary work permit holder’s work permit.
To apply for a SOWP, refer to the eligibility requirements & follow the instructions of your work permit program.
MakeHomeCanada, a Canadian immigration leader, promises excellence and tailored pathways for your Canadian journey. Get in touch with us at [email protected].
