Can an US H-1B Visa holder work in Canada?

An US H-1B visa holder can work in Canada with an Open Work Permit. The visa holders can work for up to three years in Canada under this permit. Canada welcomes 10,000 applicants every year through the Open Work Permit pathway. The applicants can move to Canada along with their family as their dependents. However, the dependents can enter Canada through a work permit, visitor, or student visa.

 

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Who can apply for Canada Open Work Permit?

People who are applying for Canada Open Work Permit as a US H-1B visa holder must meet the following criteria:

• A valid US H-1B visa
• A passport that is valid for a minimum of 3 years
• Authorization documents of the US H-1B Visa/proof of H-1B Status
• Form No. I-797/I797B (Notice of Action)
• The candidate should be living in the US while applying for the permit.
• Proof of US residency, such as electricity bills, tax receipts, etc.
• Digital Photographs
• Updated CV/Resume
• Educational certificates
• Work Experience Certificate
• US Police Clearance Certificate
• Marriage Certificate (if applying with spouse as dependent)
• Birth Certificate of children (if applying with children as dependents)
• Medical Certificate

 

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Advantages of Canada Open Work Permit compared to H-1B Visa

The advantages of the Canada Open Work Permit over the US H-1B Visa are as follows:

Factors	H-1B’s in the U.S.	U.S. H-1B’s in Canada
Status	Temporary Work Visa	Leads to Permanent Residency
Country	United States	Canada
Validity	For 3 years with an extension for another 3 years	Valid for 5 years and can be renewed for another 5 years as long as it is required
Future	Uncertain	Promising Future, especially for H-1B’s.
Eligibility	Employer sponsorship and job offer required	Must get 67 point on Canada Immigration Points Calculator. Job offer is not required
Job Restrictions	Must work with a specific employer	Can work with employer of their choice and in the desired job role.
Dependents	Spouses and unmarried children can get H-4 visas	Spouses/common-law partners and dependent children can also get PR.
Education for Children	Affordable Education	Free Education
Path to Citizenship	Can lead to a Green Card and eventual citizenship	Eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship after 3 years
Citizenship Timeline	Long processing time	Takes about 3-5 years
Healthcare	Access to a universal healthcare system.	Free Healthcare for the applicant and their family members.
Geographic Flexibility	Limited to working for the sponsoring employer and location	Live and work anywhere in Canada under any employer.
Cost	7000$ – 9000$	2000$ – 2,300$
Dependence on Job	Loss of employment can lead to visa expiration and potential deportation.	Independent of job, unless PR card renewal requirements are not met. No deportation.

 

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Processing Time and FEE for Canada Open Work Permit

Processing Time:

The processing time for a Canada Open Work Permit for H-1B visa holders is 0 - 2 months.

Processing Fee:

The processing cost for Canada Open Work Permit is:

 

Factor	Cost (in Canadian Dollars)
Applicant work permit	155
Biometrics	85
Spouse open work permit	100
Spouse Biometrics	85
Children	150

 

Want to apply for Canada Open Work Permit as an US H-1B visa holder? Talk to Y-Axis, world’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultancy for end-to-end support.