America’s loss is Canada’s gain: PM Carney set to open doors for H1-B tech talent

Canada is preparing a new immigration initiative aimed at skilled foreign professionals, particularly Indian tech workers, who are expected to be affected by the United States’ steep increase in H-1B visa costs under the Trump administration’s latest policy, as per reports.

Prime Minister Mark Carney reportedly said on Saturday that Ottawa views the US decision to impose a $100,000 fee per H-1B application as an opportunity to attract talent that American companies 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 American visa overhaul has already unsettled technology hubs like Silicon Valley, where companies reliant on overseas talent will face drastically higher hiring costs. The measure, introduced as a jobs-protection move, is expected to hit Indian and Chinese professionals the hardest, as they represent a large share of H-1B applicants.

Several other nations are also moving to court the displaced workforce. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has instructed a global talent task force to explore eliminating visa charges for top-tier scientists, researchers, and digital experts, including graduates of elite universities and winners of international awards.