Blue Bird Blog

Canada to launch Open Work Permit stream for U.S. H-1B visa holders today

As of today, those who hold a United States H-1B specialty occupation visa may be eligible to apply to work and live in Canada.
Note: This is a developing story. CIC News will update it as the Canadian government releases more information.
The measure was announced by Canada’s Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, on June 27 and aims to improve labour mobility in North America. It may impact thousands of workers in high-tech industries in both Canada and the United States, as well as their immediate family members.

Canada expands work permit agreement with the United Kingdom

Today, Canada and the United Kingdom announced the signing of a new Canada-United Kingdom (UK) Youth Mobility Arrangement.

Anticipated to take effect in 2024, the new arrangement includes a number of improvements on the existing youth mobility agreement between the two countries:

Canada unveils first-ever Tech Talent Strategy

On June 27th, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced measures that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be implementing to attract global tech talent to Canada.These measures are referred to as Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy.

IRCC to provide more flexibility for work permit holders to also study in Canada

On June 27th, 2023, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced a new temporary measure that will remove the limit on the length of study programs that temporary foreign workers can enrol in without a study permit. Through this measure, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is recognizing that foreign workers can face barriers in the types of study programs they are allowed to pursue to get additional training and education that will help them in their careers.

Open-work permits available for spouses, partners and children of sponsors

During the processing of a family class sponsorship application, some sponsored spouses, partners, and their dependent children, will come to Canada as temporary residents to be with their sponsor. Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced at the end of May a temporary public policy allowing these individuals to work in Canada while their application is being processed.