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CIC News / 2013 / May / Start-Up Visa Program Targets US H1-B Holders

Start-Up Visa Program Targets US H1-B Holders

May 16, 2013 by CIC News

Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney will be heading south to the US to promote Canada’s newest business immigration program, the Entrepreneur Start-Up Visa. In an upcoming visit to Silicon Valley, the Minister is set to meet with some of America’s most promising business innovators in an effort to spread the word about Canada’s attraction for immigrants.

The Start-Up Visa was created to make Canada more attractive for entrepreneurs whose ideas have the potential to grow the Canadian economy. It is a proactive step by a government keen on attracting immigrants who are drawn to technology hubs like Silicon Valley, only to have great difficulty navigating the US’ restrictive immigration system.

The Start-Up Visa

The Entrepreneur Start-Up Visa is a first-of-its-kind program that grants Canadian Permanent Residency to successful applicants. To help ensure that individuals granted a visa under the program succeed once in Canada, it links applicants to Canadian investors who will act as mentors for the newly arrived entrepreneurs.

Venture capital organizations and angel investor groups have already been designated as partner organizations for this program. Successful applicants will receive funding and guidance from the organization they have partnered with.

Entrepreneurs with business plans in any field are welcome to apply.

Outreach in US

Minister Kenney has a full schedule planned for his trip to the US. He will be attending the TiECON conference, an entrepreneur meetup with strong links to businesses and professionals from South Asia. He will also speak to students and professors at Stanford University, known for producing some of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs.

The message of Minister Kenney’s trip is clear: immigrant entrepreneurs in the US should seriously consider living and working in Canada instead. Many professional immigrants in the US come as temporary workers holding H1-B visas, with the intent to settle permanently. However, US immigration law can be incredibly restrictive, and many find themselves stuck in limbo, constantly renewing their temporary status without a clear path for achieving US Permanent Residency.

Minister Kenney’s trip will reach out to these valuable professionals. To drive the point home, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has even erected a billboard near San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley. It reads: “H1-B problems? Pivot to Canada. New Start-Up Visa. Low Taxes.”

The program has thus far been met with widespread support and popularity. “Entrepreneurs around the world are excited to hear that Canada has made special provisions for them,” said immigration Attorney David Cohen. “I expect this excitement will only build as more and more people hear about this unique opportunity.”

Applications are already being accepted for the Start-Up Visa program. With promises of fast processing times, qualified individuals may find themselves in Canada and launching their businesses in record time. If the Canadian government is successful in meeting its goals for the program, the upcoming years will see a boom of new industry in Canada, helping it to lead in innovation for the future.

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Comments

  1. IMDAD HUSSAIN says

    May 17, 2013

    i want to work in canada this is my aim

    Reply
  2. raouraoua says

    May 17, 2013

    entreprenneur visa immigration

    Reply
  3. Dipendra says

    May 18, 2013

    i want to live in canada and must indeed work in canada

    Reply
  4. Adediran Adekunle says

    May 20, 2013

    I want to school and work in canada and as well contribute my own quota as individual to the of the company i work for and the country as a whole.I will o much appreciate it i can be given the opportunity.

    Reply
  5. Weldegebriel B. Abay says

    May 21, 2013

    I need professional job in Canada.

    Reply
  6. Savannah W. Kirkland says

    May 24, 2013

    United States citizens can also participate in a Working Holiday program through SWAP without requiring a Temporary Resident Visa prior to entry, but the work permit is limited to six months and the program is limited to post-secondary students at the time of the application.

    Reply
  7. Thierno hamidou says

    May 27, 2013

    I want to travel in canada and work as a canadian citizin.

    Reply
  8. Nora Merritt says

    May 28, 2013

    To be sure, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and others worry about the U.S. visa program. They question whether foreign workers are displacing qualified Americans . But many in the tech industry — one of the most powerful players in the immigration debate — would argue that there aren’t enough engineers, programmers, and the like to fill U.S. jobs.

    Reply
  9. mwanko olivier emery says

    May 29, 2013

    i want to school, study, and live to canada

    Reply
  10. krishnan mahesh gopi says

    May 30, 2013

    I am a international candidate a 47 yr old person with a degree in chemical engineering, a post degree diploma in business administration & 23 yrs comprehensive work experience in administration, management, retail, customer service & engineering sector. I want to apply for higher studies in Canada & do relevant course which could lead to better job opportunities & skills which are in demand & finally assess me for PR. Please provide me some details.

    Reply
  11. Misty Serrano says

    May 30, 2013

    If we are interested in finding out more, one of our investment professionals will in touch with the company. Of note, as a participating organization under the Start-Up Visa Program, BDC Venture Capital will only issue a letter of support if we decide to fund their business idea (not just if we are interested). BDC Venture Capital plays no role in the immigration decision-making process and is expressly forbidden to provide any visa-related advice to applicants. In addition to the letter of support, entrepreneurs need to fulfil other immigration requirements to apply for a Start-up visa.

    Reply
  12. Claude Harrison says

    June 6, 2013

    This new immigration program is designed for talented immigrants who can qualify for venture capital support in Canada.

    Reply
  13. Travis S. Bailey says

    June 17, 2013

    Citizenship and Immigration Canada accepts entrepreneur candidates for the new Canada startup visa program from April 1st. Foreign entrepreneurs must first secure a significant investment commitment from a designated Canadian angel investor group or venture capital fund. Applicants must also demonstrate language proficiency skills at a Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in listening, speaking, reading and writing, and have at least one year of education at a post-secondary institution.

    Reply
  14. Tomas Morrison says

    June 18, 2013

    In order to protect this pilot program against fraud, a peer review process has been included. It is designed to make sure that the deals made between the investment organizations and foreign national entrepreneurs are legitimate. An immigration officer may ask for a commitment to be independently assessed by a peer review panel. These panels have been established by an industry association which represents the type of investment organization making the commitment. For example, in the case of an angel investor group, the National Angel Capital Organization would be responsible for establishing the peer review panel.

    Reply
  15. Vern F. Mullins says

    July 20, 2013

    To be eligible for this program, applicants must have all of the following four things. Click on each title to expand that section.

    Reply
  16. Kathleen Hodge says

    July 21, 2013

    In order to protect this pilot program against fraud, a peer review process has been included. It is designed to make sure that the deals made between the investment organizations and foreign national entrepreneurs are legitimate. An immigration officer may ask for a commitment to be independently assessed by a peer review panel. These panels have been established by an industry association which represents the type of investment organization making the commitment. For example, in the case of an angel investor group, the National Angel Capital Organization would be responsible for establishing the peer review panel.

    Reply

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