Canada PR on H-1B: Master Express Entry with CRS and ITA

Applying for Canadian permanent residence while you’re in the United States 🇺🇸 on an H-1B visa is more common than many people think. For most H-1B visa holders, Canada’s Express Entry system is the main path to Canadian PR, with a new accelerated PR pathway planned specifically for H-1B workers in the U.S. starting in mid-2026.

This guide walks through the full process as a journey: what happens first, what documents you’ll need at each step, how long stages usually take based on current information, and what to expect from Canadian and U.S. authorities along the way.

Stage 1: Choosing Between Regular Express Entry and the Future Accelerated PR Pathway

Your first decision is whether to:

• Apply now through regular Express Entry, or
• Wait for the accelerated PR pathway for H-1B visa holders, expected to open intake in mid-2026.

Right now, Express Entry is the only active route for H-1B workers who want Canadian PR directly from the U.S. The new accelerated PR pathway has been announced in Canada’s 2025 Federal Budget and Immigration Levels Plan, but detailed rules are not yet public and the program is not open.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the safest approach for many skilled workers is to start working on Express Entry right away (language tests, education assessments, profile readiness), while also keeping a close eye on the accelerated PR pathway rules when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) releases them.

A key point: you can continue living and working in the U.S. on H-1B while going through the Canadian process. You do not have to move to Canada first.

Stage 2: Checking Your Eligibility for Express Entry

Before you do anything with forms, you need to see if you fit under one of the Express Entry programs. IRCC runs Express Entry for three federal programs plus certain Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Express Entry–aligned PNPs

IRCC’s official page on Express Entry explains these categories in detail.

For H-1B visa holders, the most common program is FSWP, because it accepts skilled work experience gained outside Canada, including your years in the U.S. on H-1B.

Main factors IRCC looks at

At this stage, you’re checking if you meet minimum rules on:

• Age
• Education level
• Skilled work experience (your H-1B job usually counts if it’s in a skilled occupation)
• Language ability in English or French
• Other points like spouse’s profile or job offer

You’ll eventually need formal proof for each of these, but at the start you’re just checking whether you meet the basic program rules and could be competitive.

There is no official processing time for this “self-check” phase. For most people, this planning step takes a few weeks while they research, talk to an advisor if needed, and decide they are ready to move ahead.

Stage 3: Getting Ready for the Express Entry Pool

Once you’re confident you could qualify, you prepare the building blocks of your Express Entry profile. This is where your H-1B status in the U.S. becomes an advantage, because you likely already have strong education and work history.

Key tasks before you create your profile

1. Take an approved language test
   • For English, most H-1B workers choose IELTS General Training or CELPIP General.
   • For French, TEF is the common test.
     Your test scores strongly affect your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score later.
2. Get your education assessed
   • If your highest degree is from outside Canada, you usually need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
   • This shows IRCC how your degree compares to Canadian standards.
3. Collect work documents for your H-1B period
   You’ll need records that support your skilled work history, for example:
   • H-1B approval notices (I-797) – see the USCIS page on Form I-797, Notice of Action
   • I-94 records showing your U.S. stay – available through U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s I-94 website
   • Pay stubs and employment letters

Although you don’t upload all of these at the profile stage, being organized now makes later stages much smoother.

This preparation step can easily take a few months, especially if you need to retake language tests to raise your CRS score or wait for your ECA results.

Stage 4: Creating Your Express Entry Profile and Entering the Pool

Once your language scores and education assessment are ready, you can create your Express Entry profile online through IRCC. You enter details about:

• Identity and family
• Education history
• Work history, including your U.S. H-1B jobs
• Language test scores
• Any Canadian job offer or provincial nomination

IRCC then assigns you a CRS score. This score is central to your journey: it decides whether you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) when IRCC holds a draw.

How H-1B work can strengthen your profile

Your U.S. experience on H-1B can help in several ways:

• It shows continuous skilled work, often in technology or other in-demand areas.
• It may make it easier to get a Canadian job offer, which can raise your CRS score.
• Certain Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) like candidates who already work in North America for major employers.

You stay in the Express Entry pool for up to 12 months from the date your profile is accepted. During this period, IRCC holds regular draws and may invite you if your CRS score is high enough or if a province picks you through a PNP stream.

Stage 5: Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

If your CRS score is competitive, you’ll receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence during one of IRCC’s draws. PNP nomination can change your situation sharply, because it can add a large number of points and lead more quickly to an ITA.

Once you receive an ITA, the journey changes from “planning and waiting” to “proving everything.”

From the date of your ITA, you have a limited window (set by IRCC at the time of your invitation) to submit a complete online PR application. Many H-1B workers find this period intense, because you must gather and upload all supporting documents.

Stage 6: Submitting Your PR Application After ITA

At this stage, you’re no longer just a candidate in the pool; you’re a formal applicant for Canadian permanent residence.

Documents you typically need to submit

The source material highlights several key items:

• Proof of your H-1B status
  • I-797 approval notices
  • I-94 records
  • Recent pay stubs
• Work experience letters from your U.S. employers that match the job duties you claimed in your profile
• Language test results (same tests you used for your profile)
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) reports
• Police certificates for every country where you have lived for a set period (IRCC’s rules will specify the time frames)

You must also pay the required fees and submit digital photos and other standard items listed on your personal IRCC document checklist.

At this stage, it’s common for H-1B workers to hire a Canadian immigration lawyer or licensed consultant, especially if they have complex work histories, family members, or tight timelines. The source material recommends looking for someone with direct experience in “H-1B to Canada” transitions.

Stage 7: Waiting for a Decision – What Happens in the Background

Once you press “submit” on your PR application, IRCC begins full review. According to the source, typical Express Entry PR processing times are about 6 months after submission.

During this period:

• You can keep working in the U.S. on H-1B as long as you maintain your U.S. status.
• IRCC may ask for additional documents or clarifications.
• You may need to complete medical exams if not already done.

In parallel, some H-1B workers also apply for Canadian work permits to start working in Canada sooner. The source notes that processing times for Canadian work permits from the U.S. average about 15 weeks (3.5 months). Timing decisions between a work permit and PR are very personal and often depend on job offers and family needs.

Stage 8: The New Accelerated PR Pathway for H-1B Visa Holders (Mid-2026 and Beyond)

Alongside regular Express Entry, Canada is building a special accelerated PR pathway for H-1B visa holders in the U.S., expected to open intake in mid-2026.

According to the source, this pathway:

• Was announced in Canada’s 2025 Federal Budget and Immigration Levels Plan
• Targets high‑skilled H-1B visa holders in the U.S. who want to move more quickly to Canadian PR
• Is part of a CA$1.7 billion, 13‑year International Talent Attraction Strategy
• Aims to respond to U.S. H-1B fee hikes and stronger global competition for STEM workers

Expected eligibility features (subject to final IRCC rules)

While full details are not yet released, the government has signaled several expected requirements:

• At least one year of recent H-1B status in the U.S.
• A Canadian job offer or current employment in Canada at the time of application
• Language ability at a level comparable to Express Entry standards
• Minimum salary and occupation criteria, which will be defined in future regulations

IRCC will announce detailed eligibility and application procedures closer to the mid‑2026 launch. Until those official instructions are live, no one can apply under this route.

Stage 9: Context from Previous H-1B Initiatives and Family Options

This new accelerated PR pathway builds on Canada’s earlier efforts to attract H-1B workers. The source points to a July 2023 open work permit initiative for H-1B visa holders:

• It reached its cap of 10,000 applications by July 17, 2023, and is now closed.
• However, family members of successful H-1B applicants under that program can still apply for open work permits until September 26, 2024.

This history matters because it shows how quickly H-1B‑focused programs can fill and why it’s important to be ready when intake opens. It also shows Canada’s clear interest in attracting not only individual workers but also their families.

The source also notes that employers in North America are increasingly considering relocating H-1B workers to Canada due to U.S. immigration uncertainty and new fees. For many H-1B workers, Canadian PR offers a more predictable path to long‑term settlement.

Key takeaway: Canada is actively creating pathways for H-1B talent — but programs can fill quickly. Being prepared (tests, ECAs, documents) improves your chances of moving when intake opens.

Stage 10: Practical Planning Tips for H-1B Workers Considering Canada

Bringing all these stages together, your overall journey from H-1B in the U.S. to Canadian PR usually looks like this:

1. Short term (now to a few months)
   • Check your eligibility for Express Entry.
   • Take language tests and order ECAs.
   • Collect H-1B documents: I-797, I-94, pay stubs, employment letters.
   • Review IRCC’s Express Entry information carefully.
2. Medium term (next several months to a year)
   • Create your Express Entry profile and enter the pool.
   • Work on improving your CRS score if needed.
   • Watch for PNP options that may match your skills.
   • Follow IRCC announcements about the accelerated PR pathway for H-1B visa holders and review requirements as soon as they are released.
3. Longer term (after ITA and submission)
   • After you receive an ITA, submit a full PR application with all required documents.
   • Expect about 6 months of processing for Express Entry PR once the complete application is in.
   • Decide whether to remain in the U.S. until approval or pursue a Canadian work permit, noting that current average processing for work permits from the U.S. is about 15 weeks (3.5 months).

Quick checklist (documents and actions)

• Language test results (IELTS/CELPIP/TEF)
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
• H-1B evidence: I-797, I-94, pay stubs, employment letters
• Police certificates for required countries
• Medical exam when requested by IRCC
• Fees, photos, and digital documents per IRCC checklist

Throughout, many H-1B workers find that talking with a Canadian immigration professional who has handled similar U.S.-to‑Canada moves reduces stress and helps keep their documents and timelines in order.

For now, Express Entry remains the main path for H-1B workers seeking Canadian permanent residence, while the mid‑2026 accelerated PR pathway promises a more tailored option once IRCC releases the final rules and opens intake.