We work with H-1B holders, EB-2 and EB-3 backlogged applicants, and US-based tech workers considering relocation. Canada’s points-based system has no country-of-birth penalty. For candidates eligible for Express Entry, processing typically runs 6-12 months from Invitation to Apply through landing, substantially faster than the EB-2/EB-3 wait for Indian and Chinese nationals. We coordinate with US tax counsel as needed.
Free 15-min eligibility check · Cross-border calls accommodated
Canada’s 2025 federal budget committed to launching an “accelerated pathway” for H-1B visa holders. Prime Minister Carney reinforced this in a November 2025 speech. The 2023 pilot proved demand: 10,000 spots filled in 48 hours. The 2026 program is expected to be larger and may include a direct PR pathway, particularly in healthcare, research, and advanced industries.
For skilled workers with eligible NOC TEER 0-3 work experience. CRS-based federal PR system; six federal programs feed into the same pool. General draws cut at 514-518 in Q1-Q2 2026, but category-based draws are far more accessible.
Announced in Budget 2025; details pending from IRCC. Expected to relaunch in 2026 with possible direct PR component. Historically the 2023 program offered 3-year open work permits with no Canadian job offer requirement.
An LMIA-supported work permit with 2-week processing for eligible tech occupations on the Global Talent Occupations List. Used when you have a Canadian employer ready to hire and a job that fits the eligible occupation list.
An LMIA-exempt work permit for employees transferring within the same multinational company to a Canadian branch, subsidiary, or affiliate. No labour market test. Requires one year of continuous employment with the foreign entity in the past three years.
Indian or Chinese national on H-1B, employer has sponsored I-140, country-of-birth backlog means 10+ years to green card. Express Entry typically completes in 6-12 months. Most common single profile we work with.
Software engineer, data scientist, or product manager with US tech sector volatility (layoffs, the $100K H-1B fee announced Sept 2025, AI-driven role changes). Wants optionality. Canadian PR keeps the option open without forcing a move yet.
Couple where one spouse is on H-1B and the other on H-4 (sometimes without EAD). Kids approaching 21 will “age out” of H-4 dependent status. Canadian PR gives the whole family permanent status, child stays a dependent until 22, both parents can work freely.
In September 2025, the US administration announced a $100,000 fee for certain new H-1B visa petitions. Most existing H-1B holders and in-country renewals were eventually exempted, but the announcement created a wave of uncertainty among foreign workers and their employers. Canada explicitly positioned itself as the stable alternative.
For us, this isn’t a marketing angle, it’s the operational reality of our weekly intake. Most US-based clients we speak to in 2026 are not panicking. They’re hedging. They want Canadian PR as a permanent option they can activate when it makes sense, not necessarily an immediate relocation.
Canadian PR gives durable options: you can land at any time within the validity of your Confirmation of Permanent Residence, you can travel between Canada and the US once landed (subject to residency obligation), and after 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada within a 5-year period you can apply for citizenship. US tax and cross-border financial planning are separate from immigration work and we refer clients to qualified US tax counsel for those questions.
If you’re a US resident with Canadian family, see citizenship by descent under Bill C-3, you may already be a Canadian citizen retroactively. If you speak French at intermediate level, the Francophone Express Entry draws may give faster access than general pool draws. For category-specific Express Entry strategy (Physicians at CRS 169, Healthcare, Trades, etc.), see our breakdown of 2026 category draws.
15-minute eligibility check tells you whether Express Entry, the H-1B pathway, or a work permit route fits your situation. We do this across time zones, book a slot that works for the US East, Central, or Pacific.