From the U.S. to Canada

Didn't win the H-1B lottery? How French turns into Canadian PR

The H-1B is a lottery, the green card queue can run for many years depending on your country of birth, and an OPT clock doesn't pause while you wait. Canada's Express Entry works differently: no employer sponsor, no lottery, no country caps. If your score is high enough in a round you're eligible for, you're invited.

Updated November 2026 · 3 min read

The short answer

Express Entry is points-based: no lottery, no per-country backlog, no employer petition required.
U.S. work experience counts as foreign work for FSW, and you can apply while living in the U.S.
General rounds have needed very high scores, but French-category rounds cleared at roughly 382–435 in 2026, within reach for many U.S.-educated professionals with NCLC 7 French.
From zero, English speakers typically need 500–700 hours of study to reach NCLC 7, about 10–15 months alongside a full-time job.

1Why Canada works as a plan B (or plan A)

U.S.

Chance and queues

Selection in the H-1B lottery has been low for years, recent rule changes made it costlier and less predictable, and employment-based green cards can mean very long waits for some nationalities.

Canada

A published score

Your CRS score is calculated from your profile. If it clears the cut-off of a round you qualify for, you're invited. Processing then takes about six months.

Canadian PR also isn't an exile from the U.S. job market. Once you become a Canadian citizen, you can work in the U.S. on a TN visa in many professional occupations, without a lottery. See working in the U.S. after Canadian PR.

2Who qualifies from inside the U.S.

One year of skilled work (TEER 0–3) in the last ten years. OPT and STEM OPT employment counts if it's paid and in one occupation.
A degree with an ECA. U.S. degrees need an Educational Credential Assessment like any foreign credential. See the ECA guide.
CLB 7 English (IELTS General, CELPIP or PTE Core).
67 points on the FSW grid and proof of funds.

No Canadian experience or job offer is needed. The details are in the OPT to PR playbook.

3What the score looks like

Profile (single)	Without French	With NCLC 7 French
27, U.S. master's (ECA: master's), 1 year U.S. work, CLB 9	≈ 110 + 135 + 124 + 50 + 25 = 444	≈ 506
30, bachelor's, 3 years U.S. work, CLB 9	≈ 105 + 120 + 124 + 75 = 424	≈ 486

Approximate CRS. Transferability depends on exact combinations. Estimate yours with the CRS calculator.

Both profiles sit below typical general cut-offs, but well above every 2026 French-category cut-off once NCLC 7 is added.

4A realistic timeline

1
Months 0–3
Start French; order your ECA; take an English test; create your Express Entry profile.
2
Months 3–12
French to B1–B2 alongside work, 10–12 hours a week.
3
Months 11–15
Sit the TCF Canada; update your profile with NCLC 7.
4
Next French round
Invitation; submit within 60 days; about six months of processing.

Map this against your U.S. status. If OPT ends before you'll have PR, you need a bridge. The OPT to PR playbook covers the backup options.

5Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for Canadian PR while on OPT or H-1B in the U.S.?+

Yes. Through the Federal Skilled Worker Program you can apply from the U.S. Your U.S. work experience counts as foreign skilled work, and a U.S. degree needs an ECA.

Does Canada have a lottery like the H-1B?+

No. Express Entry ranks candidates by CRS score. Each round invites the highest-ranked eligible candidates, and the French category invites only those with NCLC 7 French.

Can I go back to work in the U.S. after getting Canadian PR?+

Canadian PR alone doesn't give U.S. work rights. Once you're a Canadian citizen, the TN visa under CUSMA lets professionals in listed occupations work in the U.S. without a lottery.

Keep reading

From OPT to Canadian PR: the playbook for U.S. graduatesFSW requirements, the category routes past general cut-offs, and backups if OPT ends first.After Canadian PR: working in the U.S. on TN, L-1 or remotelyWhy the TN needs citizenship, how it works at the border, and the bridges before then.Age milestones for the U.S. → Canada → U.S. routeNo legal age cap, but CRS age points, the under-22 child rule and TD under 21 all matter.Federal Skilled Worker requirements for the French routeSkilled work, CLB 7, ECA, the 67-point grid and proof of funds: the checklist before you start.

Turn the method into points

Practise with levelled TCF Canada questions and full mock exams built for NCLC 7, with an explanation for every answer.