CCI Statement On U.S. H-1B Changes

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. While the full scope remains unclear, the policy will likely impact highly skilled talent at technology companies in both the United States and Canada.

CCI has a long track record of advocating for immigration policies that strengthen Canada’s innovation economy, including the release of our 2022 national talent and skills strategy. This moment could benefit Canada, but only if we act strategically. In response, CCI President Benjamin Bergen issued the following statement on behalf of Canadian innovators:

"For innovative companies, the commercialization of ideas depends on one thing above all: skilled talent. That’s why a national talent strategy has been at the heart of CCI’s advocacy for nearly a decade.

"Canada is in an ongoing war for the best talent to fuel our fastest-growing firms, and it’s high time that we recognize that the United States is our biggest competitor for global talent. While Canada’s immigration system has long supported tech sector growth, we now need a smarter, more strategic approach. That means targeting the most in-demand skills and ensuring Canadian-headquartered companies are the ones that benefit.

"The proposed $100,000 application fee for U.S. H-1B visas is a moment Canada should not ignore. If implemented, it could trigger a wave of highly skilled professionals looking for alternatives. Many will look north. But without a clear plan, the majority will end up working at the Canadian offices of foreign firms. They will build products tied to foreign IP, report to head offices outside Canada, and contribute little to the country’s long-term innovation capacity.

"In 2023, the government opened up a special immigration stream for US H-1B visa holders, and the program reached 10,000 application capacity in less than a day. The demand is clear. Now we need to re-run that play, but with better targeting. We should tailor criteria to the most sought-after skill sets and create stronger pathways that connect this talent to Canadian scale-ups.

"Canada should not become a back office for displaced American H-1B workers and settle for becoming a branch office economy. Instead, we should be using this moment to reinforce a talent strategy that supports Canadian companies first."

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Media Contact:

James McLeod
Director of Communications
jmcleod@canadianinnovators.org