Canada is preparing to launch a new immigration program targeting skilled foreign professionals—particularly Indian tech workers—who are expected to be impacted by the United States’ steep increase in H-1B visa costs under the Trump administration’s latest policy.
According to reports, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Saturday that Ottawa sees the US move to impose a $100,000 fee per H-1B application as a chance to attract top talent that American firms may now struggle to retain.
“Fewer H-1B holders will secure visas in the US. These are highly skilled individuals, and this is a chance for Canada to benefit. We’ll have an offering soon,” Carney was quoted as saying.
The overhaul has already rattled Silicon Valley, where companies heavily dependent on overseas workers face soaring recruitment expenses. Indian and Chinese professionals—who make up the bulk of H-1B applicants—are expected to be most affected by the policy, introduced as a jobs-protection measure.
Other countries, too, are moving to tap into the displaced workforce. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has tasked a global talent panel with considering the removal of visa charges for leading scientists, researchers, and digital specialists, including graduates from top universities and winners of major international awards.