The Canadian federal government has opened new immigration procedures in an effort to lure qualified IT employees from other countries into the country’s digital ecosystem.
This was said by Sean Fraser, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, during the Collision 2023 event on Tuesday.
According to Fraser, the new immigration plan was created to solve the skills gap and talent shortfall in Canada’s technology sector, which is one of the world’s most rapidly developing and imaginative.
He stated that the new pathways will make it easier and more convenient for overseas IT workers and entrepreneurs to come to Canada and contribute to the country’s digital economy.
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“With Canada’s first-ever immigration Tech Talent Strategy, we’re looking for newcomers who can help cement Canada’s position as a world leader in a variety of emerging technologies,” Fraser said. “We’re looking for newcomers who can help cement Canada’s position as a world leader in a variety of emerging technologies.”
The minister also stated that the government is expediting the startup visa application procedure. This follows the government’s allocation of more seats for the year 2023 by extending the period of work permits provided to businesses through the program.
One component of the approach, according to Fraser, was the creation of a “innovation stream.” This stream would grant highly trained employees in “select in-demand occupations” open work permits for up to five years, as well as those employed by enterprises selected by the government as contributing to the nation’s innovation goals. Furthermore, highly trained workers in “select in-demand occupations” would be eligible for open work permits for a comparable period of time.
In addition, he claimed that Canada will actively attract “digital nomads” in the future. As a result, those hired by companies situated outside of Canada will be granted authorization to live and work in Canada for a duration of six months. “If they receive an offer of employment while they are here, we will allow them to stay in Canada,” the statement says.
According to a government statement, applicants will be able to apply for open work licenses that are good for three years rather than one-year permits that are limited to the applicant’s own starting firm. Furthermore, rather than only the most important members of an entrepreneurial team, the visa will be made available to all members of the team.
“We’re also going to issue open work permits for them and their families for three years so they can stay in Canada while their applications are being processed,” Fraser added. “These permits will allow them to continue working in Canada.”
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Furthermore, the new avenues increase opportunities for those in the United States who currently have an H-1B visa for a specialist occupation. They can now apply for Canadian work permits as well as study or work permit alternatives for family members who will be joining them.
Holders of H-1B visas will be able to apply for a work permit in Canada beginning on Sunday, July 16. The application period will last a year, or until Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada receives 10,000 applications, whichever comes first. This was launched despite the fact that there is a “public narrative around layoffs” in the United States, particularly in the technological industry, according to Fraser.
The project will be finished, according to Fraser, with the deployment of a digital nomad strategy that will allow employees working for foreign corporations to stay in Canada for up to six months. Furthermore, if these persons acquire a job offer while in Canada, the government will allow them to remain in the nation and work.
Furthermore, Fraser announced that it has removed the pandemic-related delays in the processing of its Global Skills Strategy program and pledged to finish work permit processing in just two weeks.