B.C. tech firms aim to lure workers as looming Trump visa restrictions stoke fear

Some B.C.tech companies hopeto take advantage of the cloud of fearover possible changes to U.S. visas for skilled foreign workers as they await Canada's new streamlined process for permits to come into effect.

The virtual world is bracing for a dose of cold reality as the U.S. moves to tighten policies for H1-B visas, which allow highly skilled workers to live and be employed in high tech hubs like California's Silicon Valley and Bellevue in Washington state.

Heads of some tech companies say the solution for people nervous about working for an Americancompany lies in Vancouver.

"This uncertainty is really dialingdown enthusiasm, especially for travel to the U.S. for long-term career moves. We're seeing that change slowly happen," saidIgorFatelski, CEO ofMobify, atech company specializing inappsfor retailers.

Worldwide interest

Highly specialized tech workers from outside the U.S. typically use H1-B visas to work for American companies.

But U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced the government plans tosuspend expedited applications for those visas.

Fatelskisaid the change, along with uncertainty stemming from Trump's revised travel ban, is generating more interest in Canadian companies, including his.

"We're seeing more and more interest from around the world from potential employees that want to work in Canada because they're not certain what's going to happen in the U.S."

Fatelskiimmigrated to Canada from Russia when he was 15. Now, he employs more than 100 people and says he will need more.

"There's a certain gap in talent and sometimes there's not enough engineers or executives to hire for all of the companies in town," he said.

Silicon Valley protest

Tensions are rising in the high-tech industry south of the border, where workers from other countries are facing obstacles.

Hundreds of protesters in Silicon Valleyin Palo Alto, Calif., rallied on Tuesday against the U.S. government's looming policies like the visa application change.

Some Canadian tech companies are spotting a chance to lure in-demand workers who feel uncomfortable about their future in the United States.

TheCanadian government recognizes the same opportunity.

'Game changer'

At the B.C. tech summit, NavdeepBains, Canada's minister ofinnovation, said the government will act quickly to fast track work permits to attract highly skilled talent from other countries.

"We're taking the processing time, which takes months, and reducing it to two weeks for immigration processing for individuals [who] need to come here to help companies grow and scale up," Bains said.

"So this is a big deal. It's a game changer."

That change will happen through the Global Talent Stream, a new program under the federal government's temporary foreign worker program. It's scheduled tobegin onJune 12, 2017.

U.S. companies are taking notice and a Canadian firm, True North, is offering to help them set up shop.

"What we suggest is that they think about moving their operations, or at least a chunk of their operations, to Vancouver, set up a Canadian subsidiary,"said the company's founder,MichaelTippett.

"And that subsidiary would be able to house and accommodate those employees."

Industry experts says while the future is unclear for the tech sector in the U.S., it's clear high tech in B.C. is gearing up to take advantage.