Canada introduces the Tech Talent strategy. Sean Fraser declared that IRCC would soon be executing the initiatives to invite tech talent worldwide to Canada. The announcement took place on June 27 this year. These initiatives are collectively known as Canada’s Tech Talent strategy.
Canada introduces the Tech Talent strategy
The initiatives of the Tech Talent strategy include the following:
- International Mobility Program’s innovation stream.
- Luring in digital nomads.
- By establishing a streamlined work permit for those with H1-B specialty occupation visas, we can increase labor mobility in North America.
- Enhancements to current IT initiatives, including the Start-up Visa and the Global Skills Strategy.
The IMP’s innovation stream
To address the labor shortages in critical tech vocations and increase Canada’s talent pool, IRCC wants to create an innovation stream under the IMP to entice highly qualified tech workers.
By the end of 2023, the launch is scheduled to take place. With the stream being exempt from the LMIA procedure, firms and employees will be able to support Canada’s priorities for the IT sector.
IRCC is weighing two possibilities:
- Employees who are going to work for a company that the Canadian government has selected as supporting the industrial innovation goal acquire employer-specific work permits for up to five years.
- Highly trained individuals in certain in-demand professions may be eligible for open work permits valid for up to five years.
Bringing in digital nomads
IRCC also intends to market Canada as a destination for digital nomads by working with both public and private partners. This will assess further whether digital nomad-attraction regulations would be advantageous for Canada.
A digital nomad can only stay in Canada for up to six months while working remotely for a foreign company under the country’s current immigration restrictions. Additionally, IRCC hopes that these digital nomads will choose to remain in Canada and look for job possibilities with local businesses.
Canada introduces the Tech Talent strategy through Enhanced Technology Programs
The programs already in place in Canada that can help people in high-skilled tech jobs are in the process of improvement through IRCC.
The Global Skills Strategy came into existence to assist Canadian firms in finding quick access to highly skilled international talent.
Application processing times for work permits under the Global Skills Strategy are back to their pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, ESDC is processing LMIAs for the Global Talent Stream in less than two weeks. Additionally, IRCC is processing work visa applications in less than two weeks.
For foreign business owners who get funding from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, a business incubator for a Start-Up Visa, or an angel investor organization, the Start-Up Visa offers a route to permanent residence.
To solve the lengthy application wait times, more slots became available under this program.
Additionally, this indicates that the number of permanent residents anticipated in the Federal Business category in 2023 has tripled and is expected to rise in 2024 and 2025.
The IRCC is altering the temporary work permit option for SUV applicants. It will now enable them to access an open work permit of up to three years rather than a one-year work permit. This will be in place of the work permit that restricts them from working only for their start-up. This change recognizes the lengthy application wait times due to the interest in the SUV program.
Unlike currently, when only team members who are important and urgently needed in Canada can apply, the work permit will be available to every entrepreneurial team member.
Finally, to expedite processing, the IRCC will give priority consideration to applications that are backed by committed cash or approved by a business incubator.
H1-B specialty occupation visa holders with work permits
Companies with significant operations in Canada and the US employ thousands of workers in high-tech industries. Many of these workers have H1-B specialist occupation visas.
Holders of H1-B specialty visas in the US and their accompanying family members have permission to enter Canada as of July 16. These applicants will attain an open work visa valid for up to three years. Furthermore, it will allow them to work for nearly any employer in Canada.
Also, spouses and dependents are eligible to apply for a temporary resident visa with a job and study permit per requirement.
This policy will be in place for a full year or until the IRCC gets 10,000 applications. This number includes only major applicants. Further, it implies that accompanying family members will not be a part of this number.
Canadian immigration as a tech worker – what are the possible ways?
Other options for tech workers looking to immigrate to Canada
Aside from the H1-B specialty occupation visa and the Global Talent Stream programs included in the Tech Talent Strategy, there are other immigration and work permit options designed especially for foreign tech employees.
Category-based draws under Express Entry
Sean Fraser announced the beginning of category-based selection draws for Express Entry candidates at the end of May. IRCC will offer particular consideration to Express Entry candidates with strong French language skills or professional experience in the following fields:
- Agriculture and Agri-Food
- Carpenters, Contractors, and Plumbers – Trades
- Healthcare
- Transport
- STEM occupations – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
For category-based draws, there are over 24 STEM-related occupations that are eligible. Statistics Canada published a report at the end of 2022 stating that there is a skills shortage in the Canadian STEM labor force.
The first-ever category-based draws for STEM careers occurred on July 5. 500 STEM applicants received ITA for Canadian permanent residence.
In category-based Express Entry draws, the IRCC selects the top-scoring applicants who are eligible for a certain category and can contribute to achieving a given economic objective and fill openings in the Canadian labor and job markets. In addition to other Express Entry draws, these will also take place.
The Comprehensive Ranking mechanism (CRS) works through a point system to rank applicants in the Express Entry pool. Candidates get ranked based on various criteria, including age, education, language proficiency, and work experience. Even if candidates fall into a targeted group, they must still achieve the minimum CRS score. This is the same score IRCC requires to be eligible to get an ITA for that particular draw.
Canada introduces the Tech Talent Strategy – Tech Talent Provincial Nominee Program Streams
The Provincial Nominee Program enables provinces and territories to design their immigration routes. These pathways are by the labor market and economic objectives of their respective jurisdictions. The PNP is a pathway for the provinces and territories to designate skilled foreign workers for immigration to their provinces.
Some regions offer streams specifically for tech employees. Tech workers with a profile in the Express Entry system can access a fast-track immigration program called the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway. A candidate may begin the application procedure under this accelerated pathway. However, it is possible only if an Alberta technology industry employer already employs them or has a job offer from one in a qualified tech occupation.
In 2017, the British Columbia PNP Tech into being in response to the province’s rapidly expanding need for expertise in the technology sector. In 2021, the program became a permanent one. To qualify applicants who have a genuine job offer in one of the 29 relevant tech occupations, the initiative sends invitations once per week. The job offer must be for a full-time position from a province-wide eligible firm for at least a year.
Employers in Quebec may use the Facilitated Processing Stream to hire temporary foreign-skilled employees who qualify under specific target vocations. Employers can take advantage of the stream by getting some LMIA standards that are typically required waived.
