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Posted on December 29 2011

More Green Cards, Not H-1B Visas, Is the Real Fix

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By  Editor
Updated April 03 2023
U.S. News & World Report asks: "Should H-1B visas be easier to get?" It's the wrong question. A bit of historical perspective may help. I was the chairman of the immigration subcommittee in 1990 when we defined the basic structure of the H-1B category in the Immigration Act of 1990, including the original 65,000 annual cap. I'm proud that I was the author and floor manager of that legislation, particularly because it also increased the number of green cards available for employment-based immigrants from 57,000 to the current 140,000, while shifting the focus toward higher-skilled immigrants. That was the last time Congress approved an actual increase in legal immigration. Our goal in creating the H-1B cap was to limit temporary visas for filling permanent jobs in favor of the use of permanent immigrant visas—"green cards." Much of today's debate over H-1B echoes what was said in the '80s. But it's even more important that, like the 1980s, the visa categories for skilled employment-based immigrants are again backlogged. It is clear from the debates over H-1B during the past 15 years that there will be continuing controversy over the "right" contours for that category. But while the H-1B controversy drags on, there is a more pressing problem: facilitating green cards for the many advanced-degree graduates of STEM programs in America's top universities. We need these highly skilled graduates because they create jobs in America for Americans—and they help keep them here. Whose welcome mat will be most attractive? Globalization has made it easier for multinational companies to go where the talent goes, rather than insist that the talent stay in America. With our unemployment rate so high, we desperately need to hold on to these jobs—those filled by Americans and those that can be filled by foreign-born graduates on their way to becoming Americans—as well as the jobs that their work will create. That is what the H-1B is designed to do, some might say. No, not really. As a temporary, nonimmigrant category that ties employees to particular employers, it is not America's most effective welcome mat. In fact, it is increasingly clear that relying on the H-1B instead of welcoming with green cards drives away exactly the job creators we want to keep. What has made America unique in the world over the centuries has been turning newcomers into Americans. These STEM graduates, like generations before them, do not want to be "temporary workers" valued only as economic factors. Rather they are skilled individuals, often with families, who seek a secure place in a competitive workplace and a welcoming community. They're not just workers. They're people. They want to stay permanently in America and become Americans. This "Ellis Island" model of immigration is what sets us apart in the global competition for talent. I represent the IEEE-USA, which is a wide range of electrical and electronics engineers. Many are native born, others are immigrants. Student chapters abound, with their mixture of "grown-up here" and "came from abroad" students. We represent the Americans who compete most directly with skilled immigrants. So it is significant that there is a consensus among our membership. Our members do not want to be part of a system that uses "temporary visas" to advantage or disadvantage some employees over others. We want a workplace where the competition is fair because the playing field is level. With "green cards," you don't need endless rules of regarding portability and prevailing wage. The job market sorts all this out. Employers keep their workers by providing an attractive employment opportunity. Employees keep their working conditions up by having options. That is the better way to attract and keep foreign-born talent without unfairly competing with American workers or exploiting the foreign born. In short, there are no problems that advocates for the H-1B imagine it can solve for which green cards are not a better solution. And there are no problems with the H-1B program itself that a system built on green cards will not help to fix. So we suggest the participants in this online debate help us change the subject—from the H-1B to green cards. Bruce A. Morrison 28 Dec 2011 http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-h-b-visas-be-easier-to-get/more-green-cards-not-h-1b-visas-is-the-real-fix

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Study in Canada

What is the process to get a work permit after studying in Canada?

What is the process to get a work permit after studying in Canada?

In Canada, you need a work permit to work and stay as legal resident after completing your studies. International students who completed their graduation from certain DLI or designated learning institutions are eligible for a Canada post-graduation work permit. Canada PGWP allows graduate students to stay and work temporarily in the country. However, if you are not eligible for a PGWP, you can still work in Canada after graduation by applying for a Canada work visa.

 

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Work permit alternatives for international grads ineligible for PGWPs

 

Canada issued more than 105,000 post-graduation work permits in the first half of 2024. In 2025, Canadian government is about to approve more than 430,000 study permits to the international students. There are currently one million+ job vacancies for international students willing to migrate and settle in Canada.

 

*Want to work in Canada? Y-Axis is here to help you with all the support you need!

 

Canada Post-graduation work permit

You can apply for a post-graduation work permit after completing your graduation. To apply for a post-graduation work permit in Canada, you must have graduated from a certain Canadian designated learning institute. The students can be eligible for a 3-year PGWP in Canada. The students who are applying for PGWP in Canada after 1st Nov 2024, must show a proof of language proficiency of CLB7 or equivalent. College graduates should have minimum language proficiency of CLB 5 to be eligible for PGWP. However, the length of the work permit completely depends on the level of the program, the duration of the study program, and the expiration date of the passport.

 

The table below showcases some of the important details about Canada PGWP:

Category

Detail

Eligibility criteria

·Completed a full time program at Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada.

 

·The duration of the program must be 8 months in DLI

 

·After receiving the completion letter, you must apply for PSWP within 180 days

·Must have language proficiency of CLB 7 or equivalent

·College graduates should have minimum language proficiency of CLB 5.

 

 

Duration

·Depends on the duration of the study program

 

 

Work Rights

·In Canada, as long as the permit is valid, you can do full-time work

 

 

Application timeline

·Must apply within 180 days after obtaining the final grades

 

·The processing time usually takes 2 - 3 months

 

 

Application Fee

$255 

 

 

Documents Required

·Proof of study completion

 

·A valid passport and its copy

 

·Previous permit details

 

·Recently clicked passport photographs

 

 

 

Step to apply for the Canada PGWP

The following are the steps to apply for the Canada Post-graduation Work Permit:

 

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Step 2: Collect all the required documents

Step 3: Complete the work permit application form

Step 4: Pay the application fee

Step 5: Await for your approval\

 

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance with Canadian immigration? Contact Y-Axis, the world’s No.1 overseas immigration consultancy, for end-to-end support!

Posted on December 13 2024
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Can my spouse work while I am studying in Canada?

Can my spouse work while I am studying in Canada?

Yes, your spouse is allowed to work in Canada while you are studying. Your spouse can apply for Spousal open work permit before or after arriving in Canada. However, your partner does not need any job offer to register for an open work permit in the country. Spousal open work permit allows the common law partner or spouse of a temporary Canadian permit holder to work in Canada. Every year, around 485,000 international students migrate to Canada to study. The Canadian government allows the spouses to join their families and work in Canada with a SOWP.

 

*Want to apply for a Canada Spousal Open Work Permit? Y-Axis is here to help you with all the necessary assistance!

 

What is Spousal Open Work Permit in Canada?

In Canada, a spousal open work permit is issued to the spouse or common law-partner of a temporary Canadian permit holder. This permit allows the spouse to stay and work in Canada. A dependent spouse or common-law partner can also apply for the open work permit under LMIA exemption code C41 only if the main worker holds a work permit for 6 months and is employed in a job which comes under the National Occupational Classification. It takes around 3 to 5 months to process the spousal open work permit. The fee of the spousal open work permit in Canada is $255.

 

What are the benefits of a Canada Spousal Open Work Permit?

The following are the benefits of Spousal open work permit in Canada:

 

  • Can work while waiting for IRCC on your Canada PR application
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What are the eligibility criteria for Canada SOWP?

The following are the required eligibility criteria to apply for a Canada Spousal Open work permit:

 

  • Must be legally married for at least one year
  • Must be legally married to your partner or have a valid common-law relationship
  • Not criminally and medically acceptable in the country
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What are the steps to apply for a Canada Spousal Open Work Permit?

The steps to apply for the spousal open work permit in Canada are:

 

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Step 2: Collect all the required documents

Step 3: Apply for the work permit and pay the fees

Step 4: Wait for your approval

 

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance with Canadian immigration? Contact Y-Axis, the world’s No.1 overseas immigration consultancy, for end-to-end support!

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