STEM professionals get many immigration and work permit paths if they seek to arrive in Canada. These professionals belong to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics positions.
Canada already provided several permanent residence and work visa paths to international STEM talent prior to recent announcements. However, Canada has worked to widen its doors even more to STEM talent. The country took these initiatives to assist its national economic development and competitiveness on the world stage.
Following are some of Canada’s most well-known permanent and temporary residence options for STEM professionals.
Federal Express Entry – a prominent route to Permanent Residence
The primary method Canada’s federal government uses to accept skilled immigrants is Express Entry.
Sean Fraser, the minister of immigration, declared the beginning of category-based selection draws for Express Entry applicants on May 31. Also, IRCC will provide priority consideration to Express Entry candidates who have good French language skills or job experience in the following fields:
- Trades – Carpenters, Plumbers, and Contractors
- Transport
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
- Agriculture and Agri-Food
- Healthcare
In its first-ever STEM category-based draw on July 5, the IRCC invited 500 people in STEM fields to apply for permanent residency.
Targeted and general Express Entry draws seek top-ranking applicants who can contribute to filling labor and job market gaps in Canada. These draws seek candidates to advance economic objectives.
The Comprehensive Ranking, a points-based mechanism, ranks applicants in the Express Entry pool. Candidates attain ranks using various criteria, including age, education, language proficiency, and work experience.
STEM professionals to get many immigration and work permit paths – Global Talent StreamWork Permits
The facilitated work permit option, Global Talent Stream, serves foreign nationals employed in the IT industry. Furthermore, the GTS establishes a two-week standard for processing work permit applications for highly qualified IT personnel. This is an effort, among other initiatives.
The GTS comprises two categories: Category A and Category B.
- High-growth businesses to prove they need to bring in distinctive, specialized people from outside fall under Category A. Also, a designated referral partner must refer employers in this category to the GTS.
- Employers wanting to fill positions on the Global Talent Occupations List identified as in-demand and for which an insufficient labor supply falls under Category B.
Since many vocations are in the STEM fields, STEM employees may qualify under Category B.
It is significant to remember that Quebec also has access to the GTS.
STEM professionals to get many immigration and work permit paths – Facilitated Processing Stream in Quebec
Employers in Quebec have permission to hire temporary foreign workers under the Facilitated Processing Stream. Moreover, they can take advantage of a procedure that waives some LMIA process requirements. These might include posting the position or making other recruitment efforts.
The Quebec employer must demonstrate the following even though they are not compelled to publicize the post for which they are seeking foreign workers:
- The hourly wage offered to TFWs is comparable to the wage rate of Canadians and permanent residents working in the same occupation and region;
- The foreign worker satisfies the educational and experience requirements of the job as well as the NOC requirements.
- All applications for high-wage LMIA must include a transition strategy. A transition plan is only necessary for a second or subsequent application for an LMIA in the same occupation and area. This is in accordance with the facilitated process in Quebec.
All categories of occupations qualified for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program are present in Quebec’s facilitated occupations list. STEM-related occupations make up a large portion of these jobs.
H1-B Open Work Permit program
All categories of occupations qualified for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) are included in Quebec’s facilitated occupations list. STEM-related occupations make up a large portion of these jobs.
The new H1-B open work permit program will begin accepting applications on July 16, 2023, according to IRCC. Criteria for program eligibility and other specifics are still being established.
What is known is that some Americans on H1-B specialist occupation visas will be qualified for an expedited work permit to enter Canada. Those qualified for the program and given approval will be given an open work visa good for three years, allowing them to work for nearly any employer in Canada.
IRCC is certain that this action will increase the prospects for qualified professionals to continue pursuing careers in the high-tech industry while fostering economic expansion in North America.
The applicants’ spouses and dependents may also apply for a temporary resident visa with the appropriate job or study permission.
This policy will be in place for a year or until the IRCC receives 10,000 applications, whichever comes first. The application cap only applies to major applicants; accompanying family members are omitted.
