Hiring Foreign Workers in the USA, Canada, and Mexico: A Guide for Employers
Employers in North America can hire foreign workers through dozens of programs, but most hires use a handful: the H-1B, TN, L-1, O-1, H-2A, H-2B, and PERM green cards in the USA; LMIAs, the Global Talent Stream, LMIA-exempt transfers, and provincial, Atlantic, and rural programs in Canada; and INM's job-offer process in Mexico. The right route depends on the job's skill level, whether the need is temporary or permanent, the worker's citizenship, and how fast you need them. These guides explain eligibility, steps, verified 2026 government fees, and your compliance duties.
On this page
- Fastest US options
- TN (Canadians, Mexicans), L-1, O-1; no lottery
- H-1B lottery
- Wage-weighted since Feb 27, 2026
- H-1B $100,000 payment
- Not collected since June 8, 2026 ruling
- Canada LMIA fee
- CAD $1,000 per position
- Canada low-wage LMIAs
- Refused in 26 of 41 metro areas (Jul 10 to Oct 8, 2026)
- Canada PR routes for employers
- PNP, Atlantic Immigration Program, RCIP
- Mexico first step
- INM employer registration
Which route fits your hire?
| Your situation | USA | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Degree-level professional, any nationality | H-1B | LMIA or Global Talent Stream |
| Canadian or Mexican (or US) citizen in a listed profession | TN | CUSMA professionals (no LMIA) |
| Employee of your company abroad for 1+ year | L-1 | Intra-company transfer |
| Top talent with awards, publications, or press | O-1 | Global Talent Stream |
| Seasonal farm workers | H-2A | SAWP or Agricultural Stream LMIA |
| Seasonal non-farm workers | H-2B | Low-wage LMIA (limits apply) |
| Keep a worker permanently | PERM and a green card | PNP employer streams, Atlantic Immigration Program, RCIP |
For Mexico, see hiring foreign workers in Mexico. Not sure where to start? Our which visa tool walks through the options from the worker's side.
Temporary or permanent: plan both from the start
Most foreign hires start on a temporary permit, but the permit has a clock. The H-1B generally ends after 6 years, L-1s after 5 or 7, H-2 workers after 3 years in total, and Canadian low-wage permits are issued for up to 1 year at a time. If you want to keep the person, plan the permanent step early:
| Country | Temporary start | Permanent step |
|---|---|---|
| USA | H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN | PERM and EB-2 or EB-3; EB-1C for L-1A managers; self-petitions such as EB-1A or EB-2 NIW |
| Canada | LMIA, Global Talent Stream, ICT, CUSMA | Express Entry, PNP employer streams, AIP, RCIP |
| Mexico | Temporary residency with work permission (up to 4 years) | Permanent residency after 4 years as a temporary resident |
In the US, 2026 adds uncertainty to the permanent step: immigrant visa interviews abroad are paused, and a May 2026 USCIS memo limits adjustment of status for people in temporary status. Workers should get legal advice before filing.
Hiring in Mexico at a glance
Mexico has no separate work visa. The employer registers with the National Migration Institute (INM), asks INM to authorize a job-offer visa, and the worker collects it at a Mexican consulate, enters Mexico, and exchanges it for a temporary resident card with work permission within 30 days. Mexican labor law requires that at least 90% of a company's workers be Mexican, with exceptions for directors and general managers. Full steps: hiring foreign workers in Mexico.
Guides by industry
Each industry guide compares the realistic US and Canadian routes, 2026 rules that affect that sector, and common mistakes:
- Healthcare: nurses, doctors, therapists, care aides
- Tech: engineers, data, and product talent
- Trucking: drivers and mechanics, including the 2026 US non-domiciled CDL rule
- Agriculture: H-2A, SAWP, and year-round farm jobs
- Construction: trades, laborers, engineers
- Hospitality: hotels, resorts, restaurants
- Manufacturing: engineers, technicians, plant and food processing workers
What changed for employers in 2025-2026
USA
- The H-1B lottery became wage-weighted on February 27, 2026 (Level I = 1 entry, Level IV = 4).
- The $100,000 H-1B payment is not being collected after a June 8, 2026 court ruling, although a September 18, 2026 proclamation extended the policy to September 21, 2027. See the status page.
- Premium processing rose to $2,965 (most petitions) and $1,780 (H-2B) on March 1, 2026.
- Immigrant visa interviews have been paused worldwide since August 25, 2026, stalling green cards for workers abroad. See the immigrant visa pause.
- The travel ban (Proclamation 10998) blocks work visas for nationals of 19 countries since January 1, 2026. See the travel ban.
- A court found DOL's 2025 H-2A wage method unlawful; employers may owe back pay from September 2, 2026 once new rates are set.
- Non-domiciled CDLs are limited to H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 holders since March 16, 2026.
- Only the Form I-9 edition expiring 05/31/2027 is valid since August 1, 2026, and automatic EAD extensions ended for renewals filed on or after October 30, 2025. See I-9 and E-Verify.
Canada
- The high-wage LMIA threshold is the provincial median wage plus 20%.
- Low-wage LMIAs need 8 weeks of ads and youth outreach since April 1, 2026, and are refused in 26 of 41 metro areas for July 10 to October 8, 2026. See refusal areas.
- PR fees rose on April 30, 2026 (CAD $1,590 for a principal applicant in economic programs).
- Ontario, BC, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba rebuilt or narrowed employer streams.
- Express Entry job offer points ended March 25, 2025; 2026 categories include healthcare, trades, STEM, education, transport, and French.
What does hiring from abroad cost?
Verified government fees as of September 2026 (legal fees extra):
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| New cap-subject H-1B, USCIS fees | $2,225 (25 or fewer employees) to $3,545 (larger employer), filing online |
| L-1 individual petition | $1,495 (small) to $2,485 (standard) |
| O-1 petition | $830 (small) to $1,655 (standard) |
| I-140 green card petition | $965 to $1,265, online, with the Asylum Program Fee |
| Canada LMIA | CAD $1,000 per position |
| Canada LMIA-exempt offer | CAD $230 employer compliance fee |
| AIP or RCIP designation | Free |
Detailed tables: US employer costs and Canada employer costs. Estimate a US case with our sponsorship cost estimator, and see which employers in your field already sponsor in the H-1B sponsor database.
Compliance essentials
Every route comes with duties that last after the worker starts:
- Pay what you promised, and at least the required wage (H-1B prevailing wage, H-2A AEWR, Canadian prevailing wage).
- Keep the job as approved. Changes in duties, location, or pay can need a new filing.
- Never charge workers recruitment fees, the H-1B ACWIA fee, PERM costs, or the Canadian LMIA fee.
- Verify work authorization on Form I-9 in the US and keep records for 6 years in Canada.
- Expect inspections. DOL, USCIS, and ICE in the US; ESDC and IRCC in Canada.
See I-9 and E-Verify and Canada employer compliance. For complex cases, such as a worker with a prior refusal or status gap, talk to a licensed immigration lawyer (US, Mexico) or a lawyer or licensed consultant (RCIC) in Canada before filing. Our guide on how to verify a lawyer or consultant can help.
How to apply
Define the job
Write the real duties, minimum requirements, location, wage, and whether the need is temporary or permanent.
Check the worker's profile
Note citizenship, education, experience, current status, and any past immigration issues.
Pick the route
Use the tables above and the route guides to match the job and worker to a program.
Budget time and fees
Use the cost guides and the sponsorship cost estimator, and plan around lotteries, caps, and processing times.
File and onboard
Complete the filings, then verify work authorization and set up compliance records on day one.
In this section
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to hire a foreign worker in the US?
For Canadian and Mexican citizens in listed professions, TN is usually fastest. For your own staff abroad, the L-1, and for standout talent, the O-1, avoid the H-1B lottery and can be filed any time.
Do small businesses pay lower US immigration fees?
Yes. Employers with 25 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees pay reduced I-129 filing fees, a $300 Asylum Program Fee instead of $600, and a $750 H-1B ACWIA fee instead of $1,500, as of September 2026.
Do Canadian employers always need an LMIA?
No. Intra-company transfers, CUSMA professionals, Francophone Mobility, and open work permit holders need no LMIA, and the AIP and RCIP lead to permanent residence without one.
Can small businesses like farms, clinics, and trucking firms sponsor workers?
Yes. There is no minimum company size for most programs. Farms use H-2A or SAWP, clinics often use EB-3, TN, or LMIAs, and trucking firms face the most limits in 2026.
Is the $100,000 H-1B fee in effect?
Not in practice. USCIS stopped collecting it after a June 8, 2026 court ruling, although the policy was extended to September 2027 by a new proclamation.
How do I hire a foreign worker in Mexico?
Register with INM as an employer, request a job-offer visa authorization, and have the worker collect the visa at a Mexican consulate and exchange it for a resident card within 30 days of entry.
Official sources
- USCIS: Working in the United Statesuscis.gov
- DOL: Foreign Labor Certificationdol.gov
- USCIS: Fee Schedule (G-1055)uscis.gov
- ESDC: Hire a temporary foreign workercanada.ca
- IRCC: Work in Canadacanada.ca
- Instituto Nacional de Migracióngob.mx
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.