Canada makes major push for US H-1B visa holders

Canada has unveiled a sweeping new initiative to attract skilled foreign workers, including those currently holding or previously holding H-1B visa status in the United States, in response to recent U.S. immigration and funding changes.

The Canadian government announced a 1.7 billion Canadian dollar, decade-long investment to bolster salaries, infrastructure and research grants as part of a national effort to recruit more than 1,000 doctors, scientists and researchers in critical fields, with officials outlining a new accelerated pathway for foreign workers and researchers aimed at making Canadian universities more competitive in global hiring over the coming decade.

Why It Matters

While the announcement did not single out the United States, the scale and timing of the initiative suggest it seeks to attract highly skilled foreign talent who may be rethinking their future amid shifting U.S. immigration and research funding conditions.

The move comes as the Trump administration implements stricter immigration measures. In September, the administration introduced a $100,000 fee for applicants selected for the H-1B visa, which lets U.S. employers temporarily hire skilled foreign workers when qualified American workers are unavailable.

What To Know

Canadian ministers and university leaders framed the effort as a response to what they described as growing uncertainty and funding pressure at some U.S. institutions, as well as an opportunity to strengthen Canada’s research capacity and fill shortages in priority sectors.

The package includes commitments to expand postdoctoral positions, expedite visa processing for Ph.D. applicants and families, and provide targeted recruitment funds to universities. It also proposes measures to recognize foreign credentials more quickly.

“What is clear is the opportunity to attract people who previously would have got so-called H-1B visas—and I’m going to simplify one of the big cohorts is in the tech sector,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement on September 27, while addressing reporters in the United Kingdom after the 2025 Global Progress Action Summit.

He continued: “Not as many people are going to get visas to the United States. And these are people with lots of skills, enterprising, and willing to move to work.

“So it’s an opportunity for Canada, and we are going to take that into account, and we are going to have a clear offering on that.”

For many foreign nationals, beginning with a Canadian work permit can serve as a strategic step toward permanent residence, since acquiring skilled work experience in Canada enhances eligibility for economic immigration programs.

Canada is among several countries positioning themselves to attract top international talent as U.S. policies create challenges for universities and high-demand industries. Some European universities have introduced grants and support for American researchers exploring opportunities abroad, emphasizing academic independence. At the same time, China has been actively recruiting scientists from the United States, with a focus on STEM research programs.

What People Are Saying

Sara Seager, a Canadian astrophysicist and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who is leaving the United States to join the University of Toronto, told Reuters: “There [are] many reasons why I’m returning to Canada, and one of them is the budget cuts and also the huge uncertainty in science funding in the U.S.”

Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Industry Minister, said in a statement: “As other countries constrain academic freedoms and undermine cutting-edge research, Canada is investing, and doubling down, on science.”

Melanie Woodin, the president of the University of Toronto, told Reuters: “It’s all part of the Canadian strategy to leverage this once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Marjorie Michel, Canada’s Minister of Health, said in a statement: “Better health care begins with better research. And in Canada, we believe in science. We value our scientists. These investments will attract the best and brightest in the world, including Francophone researchers. This is the exact talent we need to drive better health care outcomes for Canadians and grow the Canadian economy.”

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether more countries will propose plans to attract highly skilled talent away from the U.S.