A new USCIS policy announcement, Adjustment of Status Only in Extraordinary Circumstances, requires most green card applicants to apply from their home consular office rather than adjusting status inside the US. If you are facing the prospect of leaving the US, consider waiting in Canada.
If you have to leave the US, where should you go, and how do you maintain stability and proximity to the US while your consular case moves through the pipeline? For most people, the answer is Canada.
Why Canada Is the Best Option for Most Green Card Applicants
| Geographic Proximity | A short flight from every major US city. Toronto is 1.5 hours from New York. Vancouver is 2.5 hours from Los Angeles. Attend US consular interviews and maintain US business relationships easily. |
| Legal Stability | Canada actively welcomes skilled professionals and has a well-established pathway for H-1B holders to work legally. You are not in limbo. You can build a stable life while waiting. |
| Time Zone & Culture | Same time zones, same language, similar professional culture. Remote work for US employers is straightforward from Canada. |
| Fast-Track Immigration | H-1B holders have a dedicated Express Entry pathway to Canadian permanent residence. If your US green card is delayed, Canada offers a genuine parallel path. |
| Quality of Life | Universal healthcare, world-class cities, and strong professional communities in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Ottawa. |
The Canadian Multiple-Entry Visitor Visa
If you are currently in the US on a valid temporary visa (H-1B, F-1, L-1, O-1, or similar), you can apply for a Canadian multiple-entry visitor visa directly from the US. You do not need to return to your home country first.
To qualify you will need: a valid passport and proof of legal US status (visa stamp, I-94, or I-797); no criminal or immigration violations; proof of ties to your home country and sufficient funds; and biometrics at a Visa Application Centre, available in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and other major US cities.
Visa-Exempt Nationalities: Citizens of the UK, Australia, most EU countries do not need a visitor visa for Canada — only an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), which costs $7 CAD and takes minutes online.
What H-1B Holders Should Know About Canadian Immigration
A dedicated fast-track PR pathway for H-1B holders was announced in Canada's 2025 federal budget. As of May 2026, IRCC has not yet released eligibility criteria, a launch date, or program structure. The announcement confirms intent — not an open program. Do not make relocation decisions based on this pathway until IRCC publishes formal details.
What is available now is the regular Express Entry system. H-1B holders can create an Express Entry profile under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. This is a realistic parallel path while your US consular case is processed. If the US green card comes through first, you can withdraw. If it is delayed, you have a Canadian PR application already in progress.
Note for 2023 OWP holders: If you received an H-1B open work permit through the 2023 pilot for less than 3 years, you may be eligible to extend it. Deadline: December 15, 2026. You must be inside Canada when you apply.
Four Things to Know Before You Leave the US
- USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199 (May 21, 2026) — uscis.gov News Release
- IRCC: Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa) — canada.ca
- IRCC: Electronic Travel Authorization — canada.ca
Legal Notice: For informational purposes only. Not legal advice. US immigration legal advice is provided exclusively by VisaPlace Immigration Lawyers, licensed US attorney partners. Mary Lam is licensed to practise law in Ontario, Canada.