North America
Key trends shaping North America's labor and immigration landscape
Targeted mobility facilitation is supporting specific workforce, trade, and travel needs
Mobility facilitation across North America remained closely connected to defined workforce, trade, and travel objectives during Q3. New and expanded visa pathways focused on selected occupations, qualifying cross-border business activities, and particular visitor populations rather than broader access. This reflects a calibrated immigration environment where eligibility is shaped by the applicant’s profile, proposed activity, and the relevant program’s purpose.
For employers, these developments create additional options for recruitment, business travel, and workforce deployment while maintaining clear parameters around who may benefit and under what circumstances.
US policy developments are reshaping sponsorship costs and workforce flexibility
New and proposed US immigration policy may create new financial and procedural considerations for employers and assignees. Developments affecting admission periods, filing-stage evidence, H-1B sponsorship costs, entry restrictions, and postemployment arrangements point toward greater financial and procedural consequences for employers and mobile workers. Several measures remain proposed or have been affected by court intervention, limiting their immediate application.
The policy direction places greater emphasis on filing quality, status management, sponsorship strategy, and employment-transition planning while making the distinction between announced measures and currently applicable requirements increasingly important.
Canada
Canada’s Q3 developments combined more targeted workforce selection and expanded trade-related mobility, as well as the planned closure of a temporary permanent-residence initiative for Hong Kong nationals.
The province of Ontario advanced its overhaul of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) following changes announced in June. On August 4, 2026, Ontario opened the expression of interest portal for the new Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) stream, marking the first of a two-phase program redesign, which will replace the OINP’s previous eight streams with four new streams, the first of which is the OWP. The OWP provides pathways for eligible foreign workers with qualifying Ontario job offers across all National Occupational Classification TEER (training, education, experience, and responsibilities) categories, as well as eligible self-employed physicians. Successful provincial nominees may subsequently apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
The new OWP selection framework introduces minimum language and education requirements, awards higher points for Ontario-based experience and an offer from an Ontario employer, lowers employer revenue thresholds, and provides greater flexibility for applicants to qualify for related roles. Eligible candidates may also now claim additional points under Express Entry, supporting faster processing at the federal stage. Although Ontario has opened its new OWP portal to accept applications, it has not yet issued any invitations to apply for provincial nomination under the new stream. As a result, competitive-profile parameters remain unknown at the end of Q3.
As Ontario launched its redesigned pathways for provincial nomination, the federal government closed its Hong Kong permanent residence pathways to new applications on August 31, 2026. Introduced in 2021, the pathways allowed eligible Hong Kong nationals in Canada with recent Canadian education or work experience to obtain permanent residence.
Applications received before August 31, 2026, will continue to be processed. Applicants to the Hong Kong pathways may also apply for open work permits under a public policy that remains in effect until May 2029. Overall, this quarter expanded targeted workforce and trade-related mobility while preserving transitional support as an exceptional permanent residence initiative ended.
The federal government also expanded trade-related mobility for temporary foreign workers. Effective September 1, 2026, Canada formally added the UK to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), following Canada’s ratification of the UK’s accession protocol. The CPTPP is an international trade agreement that provides work authorization options through Canada’s International Mobility Program without requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Its provisions facilitate the temporary movement of businesspeople between member countries and support trade and investment activities.
Eligible British citizens may now access CPTPP-specific immigration pathways when coming to Canada to conduct business, invest, transfer within multinational organizations, or perform qualifying professional services. This is particularly notable for those seeking a work permit under the CPTPP Professionals category, which provides options beyond those otherwise available under the Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement.
United States
US immigration developments increasingly affected status administration and employment-based mobility during Q3. While limited visitor visa facilitation provided some flexibility, several broader measures remained proposed or subject to court proceedings, limiting their immediate impact.
Changes affecting admission periods reflected a move toward more structured status management. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule to eliminate the duration of status (D/S) framework for F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I nonimmigrants and replace it with fixed admission periods. Individuals requiring additional time would need approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an extension of stay, and the F-1 grace period following completion of studies or authorized practical training would be reduced from 60 to 30 days. The rule was subsequently enjoined by a federal district court and has therefore not taken effect.
A separate processing measure introduced limited facilitation for visitor travel. Effective July 21, 2026, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) launched an optional expedited interview appointment pilot for eligible B-1/B-2 visa applicants at US visa posts in Mexico. The pilot is scheduled to run through December 31, 2026.
Adjudication practices also placed greater emphasis on filing completeness. Through a Policy Alert issued on August 5, 2026, USCIS updated its guidance on evidentiary requirements, Requests for Evidence (RFEs), and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs). Effective immediately, officers may deny petitions and applications without first issuing an RFE or NOID in certain circumstances and may establish case-specific RFE response periods, subject to regulatory maximums. The change reduces the opportunity to address certain deficiencies after filing and increases the importance of complete and sufficiently supported submissions.
Employment-based developments focused more directly on sponsorship costs and the flexibility available following changes in employment. On August 25, 2026, DHS proposed an additional USD 103,265 fee for most H-1B cap-subject petitions, including petitions filed under the US advanced degree exemption. If finalized and implemented as proposed, the fee would be payable at filing and charged in addition to all existing H-1B filing fees.
DHS separately proposed eliminating the discretionary grace period for E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1, and TN nonimmigrants whose qualifying employment ends before their authorized stay expires; their dependents would also lose related protection. Unless another lawful basis permitted them to remain, affected workers and their dependents would be required to depart immediately after the qualifying employment or activity ended. Together, the proposals would substantially increase sponsorship costs and reduce flexibility during unexpected employment transitions if finalized.
Litigation and enhanced government coordination also shaped H-1B policy. On September 18, 2026, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation extending restrictions on certain H-1B workers outside the United States through September 21, 2027. The restrictions include the USD 100,000 payment requirement first introduced in September 2025. The payment requirement remains subject to a court order that vacated the underlying policy, and implementation of the extended requirement is expected to remain blocked pending further litigation. A related executive order also directs enhanced interagency scrutiny and coordination in H-1B program administration.