The Toronto Star ran an article questioning, What is ‘nearshoring’? Is it good for Canada — or is our immigration system just bailing out Silicon Valley? Our Canada business immigration law firm has helped US businesses nearshore, also called outsource or nearsource, tech jobs to Canada for several years. As the Founder and Managing Partner of a law firm that exclusively practices immigration law with offices in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver, my 20 years of immigration law experience says nearshoring IS good for Canada, Canadians and the Canadian economy.
Canada is actively recruiting skilled, foreign high IT workers to move to Canada. Canada employers have been facing a shortage of highly skilled tech workers for years, and Canadian businesses and the government have worked together to create programs and initiatives that attract global technology talent. As Canada faces an aging workforce that is approaching retirement age, Canada's economic growth and maintaining our way of life depends on recruiting and retaining highly skilled tech immigrants who want to make a new life in Canada.
Short-Term Opportunity to Recruit U.S. Foreign H-1B Holders
Canada has a unique and possibly short-term opportunity to recruit U.S. H-1B foreign workers who may lose their visas under the Trump administration's current immigration policies that severely limit foreign work visas. With a presidential election in November, it's highly likely that the next president will update American immigration policy again to meet the needs of America's technology businesses to provide more immigration. Canada should be actively recruiting U.S. foreign workers and foreign workers NOW from the pool of workers who are waiting for a U.S. visa or who fear they will lose their H-1B visa.
In fact, Canadian tech group Communitech has spent $100K on billboards in Silicon Valley asking, What if my visa gets cancelled? to lure anxious tech workers from U.S. to work.
As an immigrant myself, I know first-hand that Canada is a welcoming country full of opportunity. Nearshoring is a good opportunity to create more jobs for talented immigrants who want to move to Canada for tech work, then stay permanently once they realize the many benefits of the Canadian system of education, healthcare and family life.
Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW) is ideal for tech immigrants. Tech immigration is the foundation of Canada's immigration strategy to welcome 1,000,000 newcomers in 3 years, and Canada has been actively recruiting skilled and educated immigrants to help build the Canadian economy and create jobs.
CANADA TECH VISAS: ARE YOU AN IT WORKER WHO WANTS TO MOVE TO CANADA?
Global Talent Stream For Tech Workers
Canada's immigration system IRCC implemented a new program several years ago called the Global Talent Stream Skills Strategy (GTS) to help Canadian employers attract the highly skilled foreign workers their businesses need. The Global Skills Visa was established by IRCC to provide highly-skilled foreign nationals with priority, fast-track visa processing within a target of two-weeks to obtain their work permits. This is a new strategy to help employers recruit the high-skilled workers they require. The GTS delivers three benefits:
- 80% of work permit applications will be processed within two weeks of submission
- Work permit exemptions will be granted to highly-skilled workers on short-term work assignments - these exemptions will also cover researchers involved in short-term research projects in Canada
- Provision of a dedicated service channel for companies intent on large job-creating investments in Canada
Provincial Nominee Program for Tech Workers
Canada's Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows the territorial and/or provincial governments to select immigrants based on the specific economic needs of that territory or province, including:
1. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) supports employers by facilitating the immigration of top technology workers from around the world to meet their labour needs. Technology worker applications will be managed under the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream to become permanent residents of Canada.
2. To ensure that the technology sector can attract and retain much needed skilled workers, a pilot under the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) was established. The BC PNP Pilot allows for a fast-track, permanent immigration pathway for in-demand foreign workers and international students.
Nearsourcing and Tech Immigration to Canada
Immigration law can be challenging and confusing. A mistake on your application, not sending an important document or forgetting to submit an application fee can cost you time and money - and can result in your immigration application being denied. Ackah Business Immigration Law exclusively practices immigration law, our experienced immigration lawyers and immigration consultant can help you make important decisions about your future opportunities.
Read More:
- How An Immigration Lawyer Can Smooth The Way to Your Tech Career in Canada
- How Tech Immigration Is Helping Canada During the Global Slowdown
- Canada Is Winning the Global War for High-Tech Workers
Are you a tech worker who wants to move to Canada? Contact Ackah Law at (403) 452-9519 to talk to our Client Engagement Coordinator or Book A Consultation.
