Canadian Workers & Students Returning Home?

By Sean Mitton

This spring Geny Samson is completing her Master's work at the College of Textiles at NC State University. A Mechanical Engineer, Samson will be completing her Master's in Medical Textile Engineering and is planning on returning to Canada. A native of Montreal, she misses things about her homeland and also feels that finding employment in the U.S. at this time will be a challenge.

This is one example of many, with respects to Canadians considering returning home. There's an estimated 2 million Canadians in the U.S. and according to 2006 Immigration Statistics, there are over 150,000 on temporary visas. The Canadian student population in the U.S. is between 25,000-30,000.

As job losses in the U.S. escalate, students are not the only ones affected. Many Canadian workers on TN, H-1B or L-1B status are concerned about the consequences of losing their job while having visas tied to a specific employer. If they cannot find another employer to 'sponsor' them for a new non-immigrant visa, they will have no choice but to return home. That could impact their kids in school, mortgages healthcare benefits and could possibly result in significant relocation costs.

At a recent Job Fair, Samson noted a growing trend where employers were not accepting applicants without U.S. residence. "That certainly narrows the window of opportunity for International students, Samson stated."

Maybe this is a reversal of the 'brain drain' that occurred during the 90's. If that trend is reversed, Canadian's returning home will be further educated, more experienced, and possess new networks.