On September 19, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a Proclamation, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” that dramatically changed the visa requirements for many foreigners headed to the United States to work. Specifically, it added a $100,000 fee to certain new H-1B visa petitions. The H-1B visa allows skilled foreign professionals traveling to the U.S. from overseas to work legally.
This new travel visa rule has sparked a heated debate over who will shape the future of technology. However, Canada quickly stepped up to make an enticing offer to foreign professionals who may have been eyeing the U.S. If successful, Canada’s efforts to scoop up these travelers could draw billions of dollars that were previously funneled into the U.S. economy.
This isn’t the first news of Canada scooping up funds that were previously destined for America. In January 2026, travelers returning to Canada from the U.S. showed a 22% year-to-year decline, as more Canadians choose to boycott U.S. travel. Canadians hesitant to travel to the U.S. are projected to add $4.4 billion to the Canadian economy between 2025 and 2027 by traveling domestically. The new H-1B travel visa rule could exacerbate America’s travel-related losses further and potentially send that money up to Canada.
Why The U.S. Changed Its H-1B Travel Visa Rule
The new H-1B travel visa fee is designed to prioritize American workers and reduce job competition with foreign workers who come to the U.S. to work.
“The H-1B program is displacing American workers. The H-1B program is a national security nightmare. Enough. No more flooding the market with 400,000 H-1B visas while our people and our sovereignty gets screwed,” said U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt in a statement reported by Firstport.
With the new $100,000 visa fee in place, it’s believed that higher-salary and higher-skilled applicants will receive priority over entry-level workers. This would theoretically free up more entry-level positions for U.S. citizens.
The Added Cost Of The H-1B Travel Visa Fee
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A 2024 study by Stilt detailed the financial benefits of H-1B workers in the U.S. economy. These visa holders contribute billions of dollars in a variety of easily overlooked ways, including:
All of this money could be on the table for countries that are willing to welcome these traveling workers. Canada wasted no time making a grab for this opportunity to snatch up international professionals who may no longer be able to travel to the U.S. for work due to the now-inflated visa fees.
Canada Positioned To Offer Visas To Foreigners Blocked By The U.S. Travel Visa Fee
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Canada was quick to step in on the heels of President Trump’s proclamation, offering foreign workers another option.
“What is clear is the opportunity to attract people who previously would have got so-called H-1B visas – and I’m going to simplify one of the big cohorts is in the tech sector,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in an address to U.K. reporters following the 2025 Global Progress Action Summit. “Not as many people are going to get visas to the United States. And these are people with lots of skills, enterprising, and willing to move to work. So, it’s an opportunity for Canada, and we are going to take that into account, and we are going to have a clear offering on that.”
By November 2025, Canada had announced an accelerated immigration pathway for professionals traveling from overseas who currently hold or formerly held U.S. H-1B visas. The initiative is aimed at professionals in high-impact sectors like tech, research, and healthcare. The program goes beyond temporary work and offers a fast track to permanent residency in Canada.
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The new pathway, backed by $1.7 billion CAD in funding, is designed to recruit over 1,000 international researchers. It helps eligible professionals get work permits faster and offers the opportunity for these workers to become permanent fixtures of Canada’s economy.
Canada’s Fast Track Permanent Residency program is associated with around $2,500 CAD in total fees compared to the $100,000 USD fee in the U.S. Canada’s program also offers more flexibility. It’s available to eligible workers with any job offer, while the U.S. program ties applicants to the sponsor who puts up their $100,000 fee.
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Canada’s aggressive move to attract traveling talent away from the U.S. following its expensive adjustment to the H-1B travel visa could pay off. The United States has already lost its reputation as the go-to destination for travelers visiting other countries for pleasure. While business travel to the U.S. is currently up, these visitors aren’t the same as long-term visa holders.
Whether this will benefit or harm the American economy remains to be seen. But given how much the U.S. usually earns from international workers who are now being increasingly priced out due to visa fees, Canada has potentially billions to gain as it positions itself as an easier and more attractive destination for skilled professionals traveling from overseas.