Canada has unveiled a new accelerated immigration pathway aimed specifically at US H-1B visa holders, signalling a major policy move to attract highly skilled professionals affected by tightening immigration rules in the United States. The initiative, part of Canada’s 2025 federal budget, comes in response to the Trump administration’s decision to impose a $100,000 visa fee on new H-1B applications, a move that has made it harder and costlier for foreign workers—especially from India—to secure or renew their visas in the US.
The new Canadian pathway is designed to draw global talent, particularly in critical sectors such as technology, healthcare, research, and advanced manufacturing. Ottawa views this as both a humanitarian and economic opportunity, as thousands of skilled Indian workers on H-1B visas face uncertainty in the US job market, where companies have increasingly been directed to prioritise hiring Americans. With this step, Canada hopes to strengthen its innovation ecosystem and fill persistent labour shortages.
Prime Minister Mark Carney described the move as a “strategic opportunity” to attract professionals displaced by changing US policies. Speaking earlier this year, he said that not as many H-1B holders would be able to stay in the US, adding that these skilled individuals represented a vital chance for Canada to boost its workforce and economy. The plan falls under the country’s broader International Talent Attraction Strategy, which will simplify work permit procedures, ease credential recognition, and help foreign professionals transition smoothly into Canadian industries.
The Canadian government has committed roughly 1.7 billion Canadian dollars to support this initiative. This includes one billion dollars over thirteen years for the country’s main research councils to create an Accelerated Research Chairs programme, 400 million dollars over seven years for infrastructure through the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and 133.6 million dollars over three years to help international PhD students and postdoctoral researchers relocate. Another 120 million dollars will go toward helping universities recruit international assistant professors.
Additionally, Ottawa has announced a Foreign Credential Recognition Action Fund worth 97 million Canadian dollars over five years. This will allow provinces to integrate foreign-trained professionals more rapidly, with particular emphasis on healthcare and construction sectors where demand is highest.
The new pathway reflects a broader global realignment of skilled migration. As the United States tightens visa costs and conditions, Canada is positioning itself as a more welcoming and stable destination for global talent. For thousands of Indian professionals facing layoffs, visa uncertainty, and rising costs in the US, this development represents not just a backup plan but a new beginning—one that offers professional growth, long-term residency prospects, and a more inclusive approach to innovation and opportunity.
