Canada Eyes H-1B Talent Amid U.S. Visa Fee Hike: PM Carney
Babushahi Bureau
Ottawa / Chandigarh, September 28, 2025 – Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada is preparing a proposal to attract highly skilled professionals impacted by recent changes to the United States’ H-1B visa program.
The U.S. government has imposed a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions, a move expected to reduce the number of foreign professionals entering the country, particularly in the technology sector. Analysts warn that the added costs could slash thousands of approvals each month.
“This is an opportunity for Canada,” Carney said on Saturday. “Not as many H-1B visa holders will get visas in the U.S. These people are skilled, and we will soon bring a proposal on this.”
Canada has historically benefited from Indian immigration, especially in technology and engineering. Between April 2022 and March 2023, nearly 15,000 of the 32,000 tech workers who moved to Canada were from India. In 2024, about 87,000 Indians obtained Canadian citizenship—the largest group among new citizens that year—while in 2022, more than 118,000 Indians became permanent residents, making up close to 30 percent of the total.
Ottawa’s move aligns with similar strategies in Europe. The United Kingdom is weighing visa fee exemptions for top-tier science and tech professionals, while Germany has openly invited Indian workers, recognizing their value to the economy.
Analysts suggest that if Canada succeeds in capturing even a fraction of displaced H-1B professionals, the impact on economic growth could be significant. An influx of highly skilled workers earning six-figure salaries would not only boost GDP but also help address critical labour shortages in Canada’s technology sector.