Post H1-B visa row, Indians make a beeline for Canada

With US President Donald Trump sending shockwaves to H-1B visa holders with his policies; it is Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s Global Skills Strategy that has helped fast-track applications – especially in the tech industry – that has come into the spotlight, enticing Indians living here as well as overseas. Incidentally, the majority of US H-1B visas are issued to India. 

Just under a 1,000 Indians have benefited from this recent recruitment drive, between June 12 and September 30, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Professionals who are fast-tracked can stay on for three years, and apply for permanent residency eventually – India ranks top on the list of workers to benefit, followed by China and France. Last year, Canada also amended its points-based ‘Express Entry’ immigration to award extra points to graduates from Canadian universities when they apply for permanent residency. Vishwanath Narayanaswamy, a Chennaiite, who currently works in Toronto as a banking consultant, attributes this trend to many factors, “For students, it is easier to get admitted into a Canadian university. The biggest factor, however, is that Canada offers work permits valid between one and three years after graduation -sufficient time to get a permanent residency.”

“Free healthcare is also a big incentive,” says Vivek Sankaralingam, another native from Chennai, who works as an Operations Professional in Canada. “There is no uncertainty as with the H-1B US visa, and even the economics while studying in a college are way cheaper when compared to the US,” he adds.