Canada’s New Fast-Track Pathway for H1-B Workers

What Canada Is Planning

Canada is getting ready to launch a new, faster immigration pathway for people working in the United States on H1-B visas.
This pathway will give skilled workers a quicker and more stable way to move to Canada, especially those who have spent years dealing with delays and uncertainty in the U.S.

Additionally, this plan signals a major shift in how Canada wants to attract global talent. It focuses on workers who want a better future for themselves and their families.

Why Canada Is Making This Move

Right now, the United States is bringing in higher fees and stricter rules for H1-B visas.
Meanwhile, Canada wants to position itself as a friendly, stable, and predictable option for skilled professionals.

Canada also wants to fill job shortages in key industries and strengthen its long-term innovation strategy.

What Canada Has Officially Announced

The government has confirmed that a special accelerated pathway for H1-B workers will be launched soon.

Here’s what we know so far:

• Canada wants to fast-track H1-B workers into jobs facing major labour shortages.
• The process will likely be simpler and quicker.
• The program will launch in months, not years.
• It will support Canada’s plan to attract top global talent.
• It targets high-skilled workers currently in the U.S.
• It builds on Canada’s ongoing efforts to compete with the U.S. for global professionals.

In short, this pathway will help bring experienced professionals into Canada’s tech, healthcare, and advanced industries.

What We Learned from Canada’s 2023 H1-B Program

In 2023, Canada launched a special work permit for H1-B holders.

As expected, it was a huge success.
The cap of 10,000 spots filled within just 48 hours, showing:

• Strong interest among H1-B workers
• Readiness to move quickly
• A perfect match between H1-B workers’ skills and Canada’s needs

Because of this, Canada is now creating a more structured and long-term pathway.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

Based on early signals, these groups appear to be top beneficiaries:

Tech professionals

Software engineers, data scientists, AI experts, cybersecurity professionals, etc.

Researchers and scientists

Canada is expanding research labs and needs highly trained experts.

Engineers and advanced industry specialists

Civil, electrical, mechanical, biomedical engineers, robotics and clean energy professionals.

Workers from multinational companies

Those already connected to companies with offices in Canada can move more smoothly.

Overall, Canada wants people whose skills can directly help its economy grow.

Concerns from Tech Workers Already in Canada

However, not everything is positive.
Many tech workers already living in Canada are worried because:

• There have been no STEM Express Entry draws since April 2024
• They have Canadian experience but no clear PR pathway
• They fear new arrivals might be prioritized over them

For H1-B workers, this is important to consider.
They worry they might face the same long waits they saw in the U.S.

Therefore, Canada must balance attracting new talent while supporting those who are already contributing.

What This Means Overall

The new accelerated H1-B pathway is one of the biggest immigration updates in recent years.

On one hand, it shows Canada wants to become a global leader in skilled immigration.
On the other hand, concerns about slow PR draws and lower tech salaries must still be addressed.

Ultimately, for thousands of H1-B professionals stuck in uncertainty in the U.S., this pathway could offer something they’ve been waiting for — a stable, long-term future in Canada.

Get in touch with us

Receive professional advice on any of your questions regarding Canadian immigration. get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).