Canada Plans to Fast-Track Immigration for US H1-B Visa Holders in New Talent Drive

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Matina Stevis-GridneffDecember 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

In December 2025, Canada announced a plan to aggressively recruit highly skilled researchers, including US H-1B visa holders. The Canadian government will invest over $1 billion to attract and retain scientists at universities and hospitals. An "accelerated pathway" will be created to fast-track immigration for H-1B visa holders, who are often employed in technology and medicine. The initiative aims to reverse Canada's "brain drain" and capitalize on restrictive US immigration policies and research funding cuts. Canada is promoting itself as a stable and supportive environment for researchers seeking to relocate.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Melanie Joly ×240% University of Toronto 50% M.I.T. 60% United States ×370% Canada ×480%

Keywords

h-1b visa 90% canada 90% immigration 90% researchers 80% talent drive 70% science funding 60% brain drain 60% academic institutions 50% accelerated pathway 50%