The 2024 U.S. Election and What You Need to Know About Moving To Canada

As the U.S. election approaches, many foreign workers and citizens in America are exploring options for relocating, with Canada frequently topping the list of attractive destinations.

Historically, Canada has seen a significant uptick in interest during election years, and this year is no different.

But this year brings new challenges. Canada has announced substantial cuts to its immigration levels, making the process more competitive and selective than in previous years.

Despite these challenges, Canada continues to offer a variety of immigration programs for skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, and families looking to relocate. Whether driven by political uncertainty or a desire for a fresh start, this article will help you navigate the opportunities available, even in a more restrictive immigration climate.

Key Takeaways:

• Interest in moving to Canada is rising due to the U.S. election, but recent immigration cuts will make the process more competitive.
• As a U.S. foreign worker, you can streamline your entry to Canada through pathways like the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) and Global Talent Stream (GTS) once you secure a job offer.
• U.S. citizens enjoy simplified work authorization under CUSMA, facilitating easier entry for certain professions and intra-company transfers.
• With recent cuts to immigration levels, if you are a U.S. -based applicant, you may need to broaden your skill set to better align with Canada’s evolving immigration needs if permanent residency is your ultimate goal.

Will New Immigration Levels Make It Harder for U.S.-Based Applicants To Move To Canada

The Canadian government’s announcement of substantial cuts to both temporary and permanent immigration levels for 2025, which will likely make it more challenging for U.S.-based applicants to move to Canada, for several reasons including:

• With fewer spots available for both temporary and permanent programs, US applicants will face heightened competition among a larger pool of candidates.
• The reduction in immigration targets may lead Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to implement stricter selection criteria, prioritizing candidates with higher qualifications or specific skills that align with labour market needs, which could disadvantage some U.S. applicants.
• A new In- Canada focus will prioritise those already in Canada over those looking to move to Canada, putting those in the U.S. at a disadvantage.

That being said, there are some ways U.S.-based applicants can move to Canada on a temporary or permanent basis.

U.S. Foreign Workers Looking to Work in Canada

As a U.S.-based foreign worker, you will generally need a job offer to move to Canada. However, if you have experience with a U.S. company, you have more streamlined options to legally work in Canada once you secure a Canadian job offer. These include:

Intra-Company Transfer (ICT):

If you work for a multinational with a parent, branch, subsidiary, or affiliate in Canada, you may qualify for a Canadian work permit through the ICT program. This pathway is available to executives, senior managers, and employees with specialized expertise, often serving as a first step toward permanent residence in Canada.

Global Talent Stream (GTS):

Launched in 2017, the GTS allows Canadian employers to bring eligible foreign workers, particularly in IT and tech roles, to Canada with expedited processing, typically within 10 days. Workers with a job offer in a listed occupation may qualify without needing a referral.

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA):

If no other work permit option fits, your prospective Canadian employer may apply for an LMIA, which demonstrates that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available for the role. This process requires careful adherence to regulations, including broad job advertising and candidate interviews, but improves hiring chances when followed properly.

One-Off Streams Targeting Foreign Workers in the U.S.:

Although not currently available, IRCC has previously opened one-off streams to target foreign workers in the U.S. An example of this is the H-1B visa holder work permit program which opened in July 2023 and accepted only 10,000 applications (and reached the quota in a day). Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about future programs.

U.S. Citizens Looking to Work in Canada

Like U.S.-based foreign workers, most U.S. citizens will need a job offer to come to Canada and work. However, in addition to the streams available to foreign workers in the U.S., citizens enjoy more liberal work authorization eligibility rules, depending on the job being offered. These Include:

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA):

CUSMA is a trade agreement among Canada, the United States, and Mexico, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in July 2020. Known as USMCA in the U.S. and T-MEC in Mexico, this agreement governs trade and economic relations between the three countries, aiming to modernize trade policies and promote fairer, more balanced exchanges across key industries. CUSMA also makes it easier for certain citizens of these countries to temporarily work across borders.

CUSMA Professionals

Under Chapter 16 of CUSMA, a list of over 60 recognized professions (such as engineers, scientists, and management consultants) are eligible for simplified work authorization, allowing these professionals to work in a member country without needing a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in Canada or equivalent assessments in the U.S. and Mexico.

To qualify, professionals typically need to show proof of qualifications and a job offer in their field within the CUSMA region. This provision helps streamline cross-border labor mobility, supporting economic collaboration and talent exchange among the three countries.

CUSMA Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)

The ICT provision allows employees of multinational companies to transfer to affiliated branches or subsidiaries within Canada, the U.S., or Mexico without needing additional labor market tests like the LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment) in Canada.

This ICT provision applies to managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge employees, who can work in a member country for a specified period under a streamlined visa process. The goal is to enhance operational flexibility for multinational companies, making it easier to transfer key talent across North America to support business continuity and growth.

International Experience Canada (IEC) Program

U.S. youth aged between 18 and 35 can apply for an IEC open work permit through a recognized organization without a job offer. This type of work permit provides US citizens a unique advantage by allowing young Americans to live and work in Canada without the lengthy application process typical of other work permits.

Permanent immigration Options for US Citizens and Foreign Workers

Canada aims to welcome nearly 400,000 new permanent residents in 2025, primarily through economic immigration pathways, with those with U.S. work experience having historically fared well. These include:

The Express Entry System

Express Entry allows Canada to prioritize the arrival of skilled workers via a merit-based points system, known as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Eligible candidates are placed in a pool, and the top-ranked candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence in Express Entry draws from the Express Entry pool.

Express Entry draws are conducted several times a month, with each focusing on a specific category of applicant.

With Express Entry becoming more and more competitive, U.S. applicants may need to strengthen their application to be successful. This could include securing a Canadian job offer or learning French to a moderate level to benefit from an increased focus on French speakers.

Provincial Nominee Programs

Unlike the U.S. immigration system, which is centralized entirely within the federal government, Canada has given its provinces a significant say in who can come to the country via the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), thereby allowing Canadian provinces to set their own criteria for who they want to attract.

Some PNP categories are established to help Express Entry candidates get the extra points they may need in order to be invited to apply for permanent residence, while other PNP categories function entirely outside Express Entry.

If you are a U.S.-based applicant looking to move to Canada, check out some of our other resources: 

• How to Move to Canada from the United States
• How foreign workers in the USA can move to Canada
• Top 10 questions on moving to Canada from the USA
• Destination cities for Americans moving to Canada
• US tax considerations for Americans moving to Canada