A US Presidential Proclamation effective September 21, 2025 imposed a $100,000 supplemental fee on new H-1B petitions, dramatically raising the cost of US employment-based immigration. Combined with lottery uncertainty and a weighted selection system, Canada's Express Entry has never looked more attractive to US-based tech and healthcare professionals.
On September 19, 2025, a US Presidential Proclamation imposed a $100,000 supplemental fee on all new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Coming on top of existing filing fees and employer costs, this single measure has fundamentally altered the economics of US employment-based immigration — and is redirecting significant talent flows toward Canada.
What Changed
- $100,000 supplemental fee on all new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025
- Weighted H-1B lottery: FY2027 registration season to prioritize higher-wage, higher-skill candidates (Federal Register, December 29, 2025)
- Project Firewall launched September 19, 2025: a new DOL H-1B enforcement initiative targeting employer compliance
- Combined with existing fees, total employer cost to sponsor one H-1B worker can now exceed $115,000
Canada's Comparative Advantage
For the same professional who would have pursued H-1B sponsorship, Canada's immigration system now offers a dramatically more accessible path:
- Express Entry processing: 6 months or less for most cases — no annual lottery
- Healthcare category draws: CRS cutoffs as low as 169 in early 2026
- Technology and STEM workers: qualifying for Canadian Experience Class draws
- No employer sponsorship required for Express Entry — individuals apply directly
- Government fees: approximately $1,500–$2,000 total (versus $100,000+ for H-1B)
- Permanent residence on first approval — not a temporary status
Who Should Act Now
Several groups of US-based professionals should seriously assess Canadian Express Entry immediately:
- H-1B holders approaching the 6-year maximum who need a permanent residence path
- Indian and Chinese nationals in multi-year EB green card backlogs
- Healthcare workers — Canada has dedicated Express Entry draw categories for nurses, physicians, physiotherapists, and social services workers
- Tech professionals in TEER 1 occupations (software engineers, data scientists, system analysts) — consistently strong CRS performance
- Recent US graduates who entered on OPT and face H-1B uncertainty
ITC iLand has helped hundreds of US-based professionals transition to Canadian permanent residence. The process is straightforward and the timeline is fast. Book a free written assessment to understand your CRS score and Express Entry eligibility.
