The Trump administration’s decision to slap a $100,000 US fee on new H-1B visa applications has rattled the U.S. tech sector — and created what many in Canada see as a golden opportunity.
The H-1B has long been a key gateway for international talent recruited by American giants like Apple, Amazon, and Google. But the new fee could make hiring foreign workers prohibitively expensive for many U.S. firms, forcing them to seek alternatives. Immigration lawyers, recruiters, and executives say Canada is well-positioned to benefit.
“Every time the U.S. closes the door on global talent, Canada gains,” said Becky Fu von Trapp, an immigration lawyer in Vermont. “This is almost a gift.”
Already, Canada has attracted skilled workers turned away by the U.S. lottery-based H-1B system. The new fee could accelerate that trend, with smaller American firms even considering opening Canadian offices to keep workers nearby without the cost or red tape.
Toronto lawyer Andres Pelenur predicts a “net benefit effect across the board” for Canada, particularly in tech. And Martin Basiri, CEO of Toronto-based Passage, likened the shift to “a massive game of musical chairs” in which Canada can offer new seats to top players.
But observers warn the gains could be fleeting if Canada doesn’t improve its own environment for tech growth. Critics point to limited venture capital and policy hurdles that make it harder for companies to scale and retain talent. There’s also the risk that workers who land in Canada will still see it as a stopover, waiting for a chance to move south again.
“In recent years we’ve been making it harder in Canada to bring tech talent here,” said Ilya Brotzky of recruiting firm VanHack. “We should definitely be leaning in. We could bring great software engineers who are going to add their skills and create jobs in Canada.”
Canada has already capitalized once: in 2023, a special program offering work permits to H-1B holders hit its 10,000-applicant cap in just 48 hours. Advocates say that success shows the demand is there — and that Canada must move quickly to secure a lasting advantage while the U.S. closes its doors.