Securing and renewing US work visas has become increasingly difficult for many talented foreign tech workers seeking opportunities in the US. The rate of H-1B visa denials in 2019 has been four times higher than in 2015, per USCIS data. Additionally, the number of Requests for Evidence issued by USCIS has almost doubled since 2017, increasing uncertainty and the length of time it can take to obtain a H-1B visa even for those successful in the lottery. Finally, questions around the future of the H-4 EAD visa, which enables spouses of H-1B visa holders to work in the US, adds further complexity.
In 2018, 114,000 individuals who applied for the H-1B lottery were not selected. Even for those fortunate enough to be selected in the lottery, the uncertainty of long-term employment seems uncertain with changes in how H-1B visa extensions are granted now. Coupled with the long wait for permanent residency in the US, candidates from India face substantial uncertainty and disruption to their lives.
Organizations like MobSquad provide an innovative solution for foreign tech talent with expiring H-1B and OPT work visas, as well as those who were not initially selected in the lottery. For US companies with foreign tech workers facing visa issues, MobSquad hires these workers and ports their respective jobs to Canada. MobSquad then contracts the engineers back to the same US company on an exclusive, long-term basis, where engineers work out of MobSquad’s state-of-the-art facilities in Canada. A unique partnership with the Canadian Government allows MobSquad to obtain work visas for software engineers and their spouses within four to six weeks. Permanent residency (a Canadian green card) can be obtained in six to eight months, and full Canadian citizenship can be obtained in under four years.
MobSquad can bring most types of tech workers to Canada, thanks in part to Canada’s Global Talent Stream initiative that launched in 2017. Among these technical workers, there is the greatest demand for professionals working in data science, data engineering, machine learning, mobile development, and cloud computing. Scrutinising jobs classifications for the H-1B visa, USCIS is evaluating different occupations to see if it qualifies under ‘specialty occupation’ and tasks like those of Computer Programmers are under the spotlight.
Beyond the expedited and reliable path to permanent residency and citizenship, MobSquad offers a host of other benefits for engineers, including hands-on relocation support, state-of-the-art facilities, a comprehensive benefits package, and competitive wages. For employers, MobSquad takes care of all back-office processes including payroll, remittances, benefits, HR, legal support, and offers strong IP protection with secure office IT infrastructure.
With innumerable new regulations surrounding the H-1B visa coupled with uncertainty about its future, many professionals are looking to relocate to Canada. MobSquad assists them by enabling them to retain their job with their current US employer. To learn more about MobSquad, visit mobsquad.io.
