The United States has long been a draw for foreign talent, but the Trump administration has slowed this steady stream of the world’s brightest talents to a trickle, putting pressure on most avenues for legal immigration to the US.

Fortunately, however, America isn’t the only option for highly skilled international talent. Canada is now competing against the US for the world’s best and brightest workers.

The tech industry across Canada is booming – over the past five years, Toronto outpaced San Francisco and New York to see the biggest growth in technology jobs of any North American city. Two of the biggest reasons for this tech boom are 1) the increasing difficulty in getting a US work visa and 2) Canada’s Global Talent Stream.

Canada’s Global Talent Stream is a program designed to fast-track the entry of foreign workers with specialized skills.

And so while the Trump administration’s sweeping immigration orders have kept nearly half a million seasonal laborers, students, and skilled professionals out of the country, Canada’s federal government has begun increasing immigration through the Global Talent Stream.

Canada’s Global Talent Stream is a program designed to fast-track the entry of foreign workers with specialized skills. The pandemic has slowed economies around the globe, and yet, the Global Talent Stream continues to bring new talent to the Canadian workforce and promises an acceleration of that once quarantine is lifted.

We can talk about immigration policy and statistics all day, but the best way to understand the Canadian immigration process is through a personal story. Let me tell you how Gaurav Saraswat immigrated from India to Canada with the help of Path to Canada.

Gaurav’s Origin Story

Gaurav Saraswat grew up in India where he completed his bachelor’s in Computer Science at Maharaja Agrasen Institute Of Technology, a well-ranked engineering college in Delhi. After graduating in 2016, he landed a job working as a Salesforce Developer for a subsidiary of Wipro before moving to a company called Vlocity. Years later, it would be a connection he made at Vlocity that would take him to Canada, but we’ll get there.

In 2018, Gaurav got the opportunity to live and work Down Under – in sunny Sydney, Australia, to be precise. There, he worked for a large Australian broadband company as a Salesforce Developer. Gaurav seemed to be moving up in the ranks and continued to get jobs at great companies building out Salesforce solutions, but Gaurav was starting to feel uninspired.

“You know, it’s not easy to get into the US. So we preferred to try to get me into Canada so I’d be in the same time zone and be able to support [ForceIQ headquarters] fully but with a smoother immigration process.”

Part of this lack of inspiration was due to how he viewed the local tech scene. “Their mindset is like, you know, they’re not very adaptive to new technology,” Gaurav explained. “[Australia] has communication and banking industries and some of the pharmacy industry, but other than that, you will not find much innovative work there.”

Then — as if right on time — a former colleague from Vlocity reached out to Gaurav with an interesting offer: come to North America to work at ForceIQ, a Chicago-based tech company. But both Gaurav and ForceIQ management were left wondering how easy it would be for Gaurav to immigrate to the US.

“You know, it’s not easy to get into the US. So we preferred to try to get me into Canada so I’d be in the same time zone and be able to support [ForceIQ headquarters] fully but with a smoother immigration process.”

This is where Path to Canada stepped in to ease Gaurav’s immigration process.

Gaurav’s Immigration Journey to Canada

After accepting the job with US-based ForceIQ, Gaurav moved back to India to start his immigration journey. Rather than apply for an H1B visa to work at ForceIQ’s Chicago office, Gaurav and his new employer instead worked with Path to Canada to get him a work visa in Canada through the Global Talent Stream.

The coronavirus pandemic has closed borders and slowed immigration around the world. But despite COVID-19, The Global Talent Stream (GTS) program in Canada continues to operate. The goal of the GTS program is to expedite and ease the processing time for visa and work permit applications for foreign nationals who possess unique talents or are highly skilled.

The goal of the GTS program is to expedite and ease the processing time for visa and work permit applications for highly skilled foreign nationals.

Gaurav collected all the documentation needed for his application, then his Immigration Consultant managed the visa application and submission.

“My immigration consultant was reaching out to make sure I understood how the process will look like and what required documents will be needed,” explained Gaurav. “I think the whole process from the first call took about three months, with all the document verifications and then stamping.”

The goal of the GTS program is to expedite and ease the processing time for visa and work permit applications for highly skilled foreign nationals. Once your application has been compiled and completed, the typical timelines are 10 business days to assess applications and 14 business days to process work permits, though because of COVID-19, things are taking a bit longer.

Gaurav’s Life in Canada

Path to Canada’s assistance didn’t end once Gaurav’s work permit was secured. Path to Canada is a Canadian professional employer organization — commonly referred to as a PEO — which enables US-based companies to remotely hire an international professional. Path to Canada helps companies manage the nitty-gritty of international hires, from helping them apply for work visas to understanding insurance and finding a place to live.

“Path to Canada is helping me along the way,” Gaurav explained. “For example, they helped me in choosing one of the banks.”

In January 2020, Gaurav landed in snowy Toronto to start his new job. But 2020 took a wild turn soon after when COVID-19 hit North America, closed borders, and led to restricted movement. So what has life been like for Gaurav since arriving in Canada?

“When I came here it was winter, but I still went out and explored a few other places,” explained Gaurav. “Then COVID started, so we can’t travel but at least I can go out for a walk with all the precautions. Whatever we can do, though not very much.”

As Canada begins to ease quarantine regulations, Gaurav is excited to explore Toronto — his new home.

Canada is the Way to Go to Expand Your Tech Team

As Canada continues to welcome skilled workers to address its shrinking workforce and aging population, it’s becoming an increasingly attractive option for those seeking stability and opportunities. Immigration to Canada increased by 26% between 2015 and 2019, and programs like the Global Talent Stream make the process simpler and faster for skilled professionals.

With U.S. immigration policies creating uncertainty, Canada offers a clear path for workers to find great jobs, build a future, and feel secure in their new home.

If you’re worried about losing your visa status in the U.S. or want to explore opportunities in Canada, Path to Canada can help. We’ll guide you through the immigration process, connecting you with options that fit your needs and providing the support you need to start fresh in a welcoming and stable environment.

Ready to take the first step? Reach out to Path to Canada today and let us help you find your path to a secure and fulfilling future.