Technology companies especially have used immigration to form diverse teams tailored to their niche or access workers for hard-to-fill roles.
However, American businesses face serious risks when hiring from a global talent pool. Roadblocks like limited visa programs, random visa lotteries, and government interference have made it harder for companies in the U.S. to hire international workers.
How does a smart company use every tool at its disposal to get the most out of immigration? Here are three key behaviours of companies that know how to access global talent while minimizing risk.
They know their immigration programs
Government programs shouldn’t be impeding your international hiring process.
Fast growing companies know this, and instead of struggling against government programs, they find the places where government programs work for them. Not all immigration programs are like H-1B. Companies that are adept at building global teams find locations that offer fluid immigration programs paired with strong talent markets.
Google, IBM and EPAM Systems are in Waterloo, Canada for a reason: they’re here for the easy talent advantage. These companies all use Canada’s Global Talent Stream (GTS) program. It doesn’t rely on a lottery, processing times are short and referral partners like Waterloo EDC can help you through the process.
If you are an American company that has run into issues hiring international talent, access to programs like the GTS might be a strong reason to expand into Canada.
They find their global talent hubs
If you’re coming to Canada, you might want to focus on building a global talent hub.
A global talent hub is a new office where a company can recruit and immigrate specialized talent. For example, these hubs can function as an ideal place to move international talent that are currently in the United States but may be facing difficulties around their current visa. They’re also an excellent place to bring global talent that may have issues with America’s immigration system due to their origin country.
That said, if your company is expanding to Canada, immigration is only one part of the plan. You will want to pair international talent with a strong local talent pool. Luckily, Canada is home to some of North America’s top talent markets. The Waterloo region is one of them, supported by its growing network of talent.
" The contrast was stark… Where the US system brought delays, Canada's efficient process had us up and running in record time. "
Richard Henkel
CEO of Odyssey Interactive
They take advantage of support
When it comes to business expansion and immigration, Canada has government partners and support organizations ready to help you. Talent-focused companies choose Canada because they know that these organizations will put their needs as a company first.
These partners, like Waterloo EDC, have the expertise to help you every step of the way. They can walk you through the available immigration programs, make an official referral for your company to the GTS program and help you connect with program managers in the Canadian government. Best of all, these government-funded organizations are free for companies like yours.
Waterloo EDC can help make your immigration hiring journey easy. We take a client-first approach that focuses on your needs. Our experienced team of business expansion experts can support you every step of the way. Companies such as Toyota, Siemens and MasterClass have all chosen the Waterloo EDC as a partner in their growth.
Check out our immigration service page!