Last year, certain foreign nationals were exempted by Canada from the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Canada Ends H-1B Work Permit Exemption Early Due to High Demand
Notably, these exemptions are only applicable to those who meet certain eligibility conditions, which include submitting a work permit application for a maximum of three years, permanent residence in the US, and being an H-1B visa holder.
The policy was slated to end on July 15, 2024 since its inception, however, it was discontinued once the cap of 10,000 applications from principal applicants was reached.
The policy that exempted certain American H-1B visa holders from work permit requirements ended on July 17, 2023.
Canada Extends Support for H-1B Applicants – Processing Delays, Family Permits, and More
In order to be eligible for an open work permit in Canada, H-1B visa holders must meet the following criteria:
- Obtain a valid H-1B Specialty Occupations visa
- Must reside in the United States
- Secure a job offer from an employer in Canada and meet its requirements
However, in addition to this, 2 more policies that came into effect last year September 27, 2023 to provide further assistance to H-1B visa holders.
- Process applications received in excess of the 10,000 cap will be considered if they were submitted after the expiration of the initial public policy on July 17, 2023, but before the closure of the online portal.
- Process applications from family members who applied for work permits after the initial public policy expired and before September 28, 2024.
- Exempt minor children (aged 17 and under) of H-1B visa holders from the $150 study permit processing fee if they were issued an H-1B open work permit upon arriving in Canada.
On the sidelines, as per the outlet, the December 16, 2023 policy “aims to facilitate the renewal of work permits for foreign nationals in Canada who were issued a work permit for less than 3 years, following facilitation under the first 2 H-1B public policies, to enable them to benefit from the full 3-year maximum of this work permit category”. The policy is set to expire on December 16, 2026.
