Canada announces fast-track H-1B programme: Why it could be a game-changer for Indians facing Trump’s $100K visa fee

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With the united States making it harder for skilled workers to stay, Canada is opening its doors wider for skilled workers. The Canadian government has announced a new accelerated immigration pathway for holders of US H-1B visas, part of its 2025 federal budget focused on attracting global talent.

The move comes at a time when many H-1B visa holders, most of them Indians, face uncertainty in the US job market after the Trump administration’s directive that encourages companies to hire American workers first. According to a report by CIC News, the Canadian plan is designed to fill workforce shortages in key sectors while boosting innovation across the country.

A timely move to attract talent leaving the US

Canada appears to have sensed an opportunity. With the US increasing visa costs and discouraging foreign hires, Ottawa is positioning itself as an attractive alternative for high-skilled professionals, especially from the tech industry.

The H-1B visa is one of the most sought-after work permits in the US, particularly among Indian IT and engineering professionals. Now, Canada wants to offer them a new home.

In September, Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Ottawa "sees Trump's $100K (approximately) H-1B fee as an opportunity to attract skilled workers."

"Not as many H-1B holders will get visas in the US. These are skilled people -- an opportunity for Canada," Carney said. "We'll have an offering soon," he declared then.

How the new programme works

The initiative falls under Canada’s International Talent Attraction Strategy and is aimed at professionals affected by recent US policy changes, especially the one-time $100,000 (approximately ₹88 lakh) fee for new H-1B visa applications.

According to the federal budget documents, the goals include:

• Strengthening Canada’s innovation ecosystem.
• Addressing labour shortages in healthcare, research, and advanced industries.
• Speeding up the recognition of foreign credentials.

The 2025 budget commits CA $1.7 billion (about ₹10,370 crore) for a one-time initiative to recruit over 1,000 international researchers. CIC News reported that the government is also allocating:

• CA $1 billion over 13 years to Canada’s main research funding agencies -- the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) -- to set up a new Accelerated Research Chairs programme.

• CA $400 million over 7 years for infrastructure and equipment through the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

• CA $133.6 million over 3 years to help international PhD students and postdoctoral fellows relocate to Canada.

• Up to CA $120 million over 12 years to help universities recruit international assistant professors.

In addition to attracting new talent, Canada also plans to integrate existing skilled immigrants more effectively. The government has earmarked CA $97 million over five years (starting in 2026–27) to establish the Foreign Credential Recognition Action Fund. This programme will help provinces and territories recognise the qualifications of foreign-trained professionals more quickly, especially in healthcare and construction.

A global shift in talent flows

This new immigration pathway marks a turning point in global competition for skilled workers. As the United States raises barriers and costs, Canada is stepping in to present itself as a stable and innovation-friendly destination for professionals looking for long-term opportunities.

For thousands of Indian tech workers in the US on H-1B visas, the Canadian offer could become more than just an option: it could be a lifeline.