{"id":2924,"date":"2025-10-23T19:38:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T19:38:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/?p=2924"},"modified":"2025-10-23T19:38:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T19:38:48","slug":"rising-u-s-h-1b-costs-make-canada-the-go-to-destination-for-it-professionals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/rising-u-s-h-1b-costs-make-canada-the-go-to-destination-for-it-professionals\/","title":{"rendered":"Rising U.S. H-1B Costs Make Canada the Go To Destination for IT Professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"686\" src=\"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/canada-global-talent-stream-h1b-alternative-it-professionals-2-1024x686.jpg\" alt=\"A tech professional working on a laptop with a city skyline and a Canadian flag overlay, featuring the text \u201cExplore Canada\u2019s Global Talent Stream. As U.S. H-1B costs rise, Canada offers better opportunities for tech professionals.\" class=\"wp-image-2929\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/canada-global-talent-stream-h1b-alternative-it-professionals-2-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/canada-global-talent-stream-h1b-alternative-it-professionals-2-980x656.jpg 980w, https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/10\/canada-global-talent-stream-h1b-alternative-it-professionals-2-480x321.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><strong>As the U.S. makes it harder to hire foreign tech workers, Canada\u2019s Global Talent Stream stands out as the best alternative for employers and skilled workers.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On September 19, President Trump announced a <strong>$100,000 USD government <\/strong>fee for H-1B petitions. This applies to the 2026 lottery and all new H-1B petitions submitted after that date.<\/p>\n<p>For years, the U.S. has been the top destination for international tech professionals through the H-1B visa program. However, with higher costs, more risks and growing uncertainty, many employers are rethinking their options and skilled workers are now looking north, specifically to Canada\u2019s <strong>Global Talent Steam (GTS).<\/strong><\/p>\n<h1><strong>Why Canada\u2019s Global Talent Stream Stands Out<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>No immigration pathway is ever simple, but the <strong>GTS<\/strong> offers clear advantages over the H1-B program:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Lower costs:<\/strong> Canadian Employers <strong>pay $1,000 CAD per worker<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Processing:<\/strong> The GTS can be approved within <strong>two weeks.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>No Lottery:<\/strong> If the role qualifies, the application moves forward.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Predictability:<\/strong> Employers and workers know where they stand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Global Talent Stream is an expedited Labour Marker Impact Assessment (LMIA) and part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. \u00a0This type of LMIA does not require extensive advertisement, as long as the employer can show efforts to hire from the local Canadian pool of candidates.\u00a0 The GTS program is suitable for companies that are innovative and require highly unique and specialized talent to help companies scale up and grow or skilled IT workers in a particular predetermined list of occupations. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While the GTS does not directly grant permanent residency, it serves as a strong entry point. Many skilled workers can later secure Canadian Permanent Residency through programs like Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs, which are options the U.S. does not offer.<\/p>\n<p>For employers, this makes hiring simpler and more affordable. For skilled workers, it provides stability and realistic long-term opportunity.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Canadian Cities Competing with Silicon Valley<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Aside from immigration policies, Canadian cities are growing as places where tech workers and companies can thrive.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Toronto<\/strong> has become one of North America\u2019s fastest growing tech hubs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vancouver<\/strong> is internationally recognized in video games, VFX, and clean tech.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Montreal <\/strong>is a world leader in AI and machine learning.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Waterloo, Ottawa, and Calgary <\/strong>are attracting new companies, startups, and investment every year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Together, these cities are positioning Canada as <strong>serious competitors to Silicon Valley<\/strong> and offering skilled workers and employers more options.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Reality and The Opportunity <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>While Canada\u2019s Global Talent Stream offers clear advantages, it is not an <em>\u201ceasy\u201d<\/em> pathway. Employers must meet strict program requirements, and skilled workers must also qualify.<\/p>\n<p>Every application requires careful strategy, thorough preparation, and long-term planning. This is where <strong>experienced<\/strong> Canadian legal guidance makes all the difference. View more details on our site <a href=\"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/canadian-immigration\/work-and-study-permits\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At <strong>Pilkington Law Firm<\/strong>, we work with employers and skilled workers who qualify under Canada\u2019s programs. Our team helps you navigate the process with confidence and clarity.<\/p>\n<h2><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/contact-us\/\">Contact us<\/a> today to book a consultation and find out if you\u2019re eligible under the Global Talent Stream.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/contact-us\/\">CONTACT US<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the U.S. makes it harder to hire foreign tech workers, Canada\u2019s Global Talent Stream stands out as the best alternative for employers and skilled workers. On September 19, President Trump announced a $100,000 USD government fee for H-1B petitions. This applies to the 2026 lottery and all new H-1B petitions submitted after that date. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"<!-- wp:image {\"lightbox\":{\"enabled\":false},\"id\":2815,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"custom\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/City.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of city buildings and streets in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with a setting sun in the background. \" class=\"wp-image-2815\" \/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<p>On April 17, 2025, Manitoba\u2019s Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held a new selection round focused on attracting international talent to meet the province\u2019s labor market needs. This draw targeted skilled worker visa candidates currently living outside of Canada and extended 27 letters of advice to apply under the Skilled Worker Overseas stream.<\/p>\n<p>To be eligible for this draw, candidates had to meet all the standard requirements of the Skilled Worker Overseas stream and receive a direct invitation from the MPNP through a strategic recruitment initiative. They also needed a minimum ranking score of 621. Of those invited, three candidates had valid express entry profiles and job seeker validation codes.<\/p>\n<p>In a related move, the province also extended invitations to individuals already working in Manitoba who had declared themselves fully licensed in regulated professions, reflecting the province\u2019s commitment to retaining qualified talent already contributing to its workforce.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding Strategic Recruitment Initiatives<\/h2>\n<p>Strategic recruitment initiatives are designed to help Manitoba employers address persistent labor shortages by identifying and recruiting international candidates who match their workforce needs. To participate, employers must meet the province\u2019s eligibility criteria for job offers and complete the ABC recruitment process. Once approved, they can submit candidate profiles to Manitoba\u2019s Employer Services.<\/p>\n<p>To qualify for consideration under a strategic recruitment initiative, candidates must:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be between 21 and 45 years old (unless otherwise requested by the employer)<\/li>\n<li>Have post-secondary education relevant to the job, or in some cases, sufficient on-the-job training<\/li>\n<li>Possess at least two years of full-time, relevant work experience in the last five years<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrate language proficiency that meets Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirements: CLB 5 for TEER 0\u20133 jobs and CLB 4 for TEER 4\u20135 roles<\/li>\n<li>Score at least 60 points on the MPNP assessment grid<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Preference is typically given to candidates who plan to settle outside the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region. Applicants with strong ties to other Canadian provinces, such as previous work or study experience elsewhere, may be considered a retention risk and could face additional scrutiny.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Pilkington Immigration Can Help<\/h2>\n<p>Navigating the Skilled Worker Overseas stream and Manitoba\u2019s strategic recruitment initiatives can be complex. The immigration lawyers at Pilkington Immigration can help assess your\u00a0<a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/canadian-immigration\/work-and-study-permits\/?provider=google\">skilled worker visa<\/a>\u00a0eligibility, explain the program requirements, and guide you through the application process if you\u2019re invited to apply. Contact us today for experienced support with your next steps.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-events"],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Staff","author_link":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/author\/brian\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2924"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2924\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2931,"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2924\/revisions\/2931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilkingtonimmigration.com\/aurora-newmarket-on\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}