For H1B Visa Holders

On an H1B? Get Canadian Permanent Residency in 6–12 Months.

Skip the green card backlog. As an H1B-skilled worker, you're a strong candidate for Canada's fastest immigration pathways — Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs. Our Canadian immigration lawyers find your fastest route and prepare your full application.

23+ years of experience 4.6/5 on 700+ reviews

From H1B to Canadian PR in 3 Steps

01

Free Eligibility Assessment

We review your education, work experience, age, and language ability — then calculate your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and identify which Canadian programs you qualify for. Most H1B holders score highly under the Federal Skilled Worker stream.

02

We Build Your PR Strategy

Our lawyers select the fastest route for your profile — Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program with tech-specific streams. We prepare and submit a complete application with the rigour Canadian PR demands.

03

Land in Canada as a PR

Once approved, you arrive in Canada as a Permanent Resident — with the right to live, work, and study anywhere in the country, access universal healthcare, and qualify for Canadian citizenship after three years. No employer dependency. No lottery. No backlog.

Two Pathways to Canada for H1B Holders

Most H1B workers qualify for more than one program. The right choice depends on your profession, employer, and how quickly you need to move. Our lawyers identify the fastest path for your specific profile.

FASTEST PR

Express Entry

Best if you have a degree + skilled work experience

Canada's flagship economic immigration system manages three federal programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades. H1B holders typically score well under FSW.

  • Permanent Residence in approximately 6–12 months
  • No Canadian job offer required for FSW
  • CRS score boosted by education, English, and skilled experience
TARGETED

Provincial Nominee Programs

Best if you have specialized skills or a province in mind

Each Canadian province runs its own immigration streams tailored to local labour needs. Tech-specific pathways like BC PNP Tech and the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway are particularly strong for H1B workers in technology roles.

  • +600 CRS points if nominated under an EE-aligned PNP
  • Tech-focused streams in BC, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec
  • Often the fastest path for in-demand occupations

Why H1B Holders Choose Canada

For Indian and Chinese H1B holders, the green card backlog can stretch decades. Even for other nationalities, EB-2 and EB-3 timelines remain unpredictable, and your status depends on your employer keeping your case active. A single layoff resets the clock.

Canadian Permanent Residency takes about 6–12 months through Express Entry — and unlike the H1B, you are not tied to a specific employer. PR status is yours.

Canada actively recruits the same skilled professionals the H1B program targets: software engineers, data scientists, healthcare workers, engineers, financial professionals, and researchers. The Comprehensive Ranking System rewards exactly the credentials that brought you to the U.S. in the first place — strong education, professional experience, and English proficiency.

Once you're a Canadian Permanent Resident, you can live and work anywhere in Canada, access universal healthcare, sponsor your spouse and children, and apply for Canadian citizenship after three years. Many H1B holders maintain their U.S. job remotely while building their Canadian life.

Why Choose Canadim?

With over 23 years of experience, Canadim is one of Canada's leading immigration law firms. Our team has helped thousands of skilled professionals — including hundreds of H1B visa holders from the U.S. — secure Canadian Permanent Residence through Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, and employer-driven work permit pathways.

We understand the H1B context: the green card backlog, the employer dependency, the uncertainty around renewals. After a thorough review of your profile, we build a strategic, personalised submission designed to maximise your CRS score, secure provincial nomination if applicable, and avoid the costly delays or refusals that come with weak applications.

AQAADI Barreau du Québec Ontario Bar Association
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 700+ REVIEWS

What Our Clients Are Saying

"Canadim is a great law firm consisting of an organized, helpful and professional team. They take their time to check all details of your case with you and will give you the best options to achieve your objectives. You will have constant communications with them, while reviewing your documents, which helps creating a flawless application. I had the opportunity to work with Jasmine, a very nice and professional member of the team, who was always available to answer my questions during the process. I would recommend this firm to anyone, without a doubt. I would like to thank Canadim, and specifically Jasmine, for all their support."

JAVAD P.
CANADIM CLIENT

"First of all, I want to thank Canadim for all the help you have done to me. All their staff are very accommodating and approachable. They are patient and always answer all my questions and guided me step by step whenever I have problems or don't know what to do. They are always there to help throughout the processing. Thank you all for your tremendous help. I'm so grateful and thankful! I highly recommend Canadim. You're the best! God bless you always and may you continue helping people."

LIBERTY P.
CANADIM CLIENT

Common Questions and Answers
About Moving from an H1B to Canada

Can I apply for Canadian PR while still on my H1B in the U.S.? +

Yes. You don't need to be physically present in Canada to apply. Most H1B holders submit their Express Entry profile and complete the entire PR process while continuing to work in the United States. You only need to relocate once you receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and choose to land in Canada.

How long does it take to get Canadian PR from an H1B? +

Express Entry typically processes complete applications within 6 to 12 months from Invitation to Apply. Provincial Nominee Programs can take longer overall but often deliver an ITA faster for in-demand profiles. Compared to the EB-2 or EB-3 green card backlogs — which can stretch a decade or more for certain countries — Canadian PR is dramatically faster.

Do I need a Canadian job offer to qualify? +

No, not for the Federal Skilled Worker program under Express Entry. A Canadian job offer adds CRS points but isn't required. Provincial Nominee Programs vary — some streams require a job offer in the province, while others (especially tech streams) do not. Our lawyers identify which programs match your profile based on your existing credentials.

What is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)? +

The CRS is the points-based system Canada uses to rank Express Entry candidates. It scores you on age, education, language ability, work experience, and adaptability factors. The highest-ranking candidates receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in periodic draws. Most H1B holders — typically with a master's degree, several years of skilled experience, and strong English — score competitively for at least one of the category-based or general draws.

Can my spouse and children come with me? +

Yes. Your spouse and dependent children are included on your Permanent Residence application. They receive PR status at the same time you do — with full rights to live, work, study, and access healthcare in Canada. Spouses do not need to qualify independently. In fact, your spouse's education, language ability, and work experience can add CRS points to your application.

I'm a tech worker on H1B — are there special programs for me? +

Yes. Canada has actively recruited tech talent for years. The British Columbia PNP Tech Stream and Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway target IT, AI, software, and data professionals specifically. Ontario and Quebec also operate tech-focused PR streams. Tech workers usually have multiple competing options.

Can I keep my U.S. job while moving to Canada? +

Many H1B holders do. Once you're a Canadian Permanent Resident, you can live in Canada and continue working remotely for your U.S. employer, subject to your employer's policies and tax considerations in both countries. Some clients also use the Intra-Company Transfer pathway to formally relocate within their existing multinational employer.

What happens to my U.S. green card application if I move to Canada? +

Becoming a Canadian PR doesn't automatically affect a pending I-140 or I-485, but the practical impact depends on your specific case and your employer's role in sponsoring you. Many H1B holders pursue Canadian PR as a parallel track or as a backup — securing a permanent immigration status that doesn't depend on continued U.S. employer sponsorship. We recommend coordinating with both Canadian and U.S. immigration counsel.

Do I need a lawyer to apply for Canadian PR? +

It's not legally required, but Canadian PR applications involve precise legal analysis — selecting the right program, calculating CRS accurately, securing supporting documents, and navigating provincial streams. Errors commonly cause delays or refusals, and refused applications make future submissions more difficult. An experienced Canadian immigration lawyer improves the quality of your application and your chances of approval the first time.

Start Your Path from H1B to Canadian PR Today

Find out which Canadian immigration pathway is fastest for your profile. Our free immigration assessment takes about 5 minutes — no retainer required, no obligation.

A Canadian immigration lawyer will review your responses and contact you with a personalised strategy.

Free consultation  •  23+ years of experience