We’ve been covering this topic at Immigration Solutions for quite awhile.  Canada has figured out how to implement a much more user friendly immigration system to navigate than the USA.  Have a listen to our audio conference Living and Working in Canada

The Immigration Impact article states:  “If we needed any proof that our dysfunctional immigration system inhibits our economic growth, our neighbors to the north have provided us that proof. Canada is actively exploiting, to their economic benefit, our backlogged and broken immigration system. Canada is recruiting the best and brightest American-trained foreign nationals through a streamlined immigration process. After receiving a U.S. education, these talented foreign nationals are now contributing to Canada’s economic future instead of ours.”

Congress! – it’s time to wake up so that we stop “saying goodbye” to the brightest and best!

At a recent conference, Bill Gates shared his ideas about US immigration policy, noting that there should be more “exceptions for smart people.” While not the most eloquently phrased statement, it does pose an interesting question in the immigration reform debate.  Are we turning away skilled workers?  Or are they leaving on their own, thanks to a complicated and unfriendly system of paperwork and jumping through hoops that are never ending?  We link to the article

A Wall Street Journal opinion piece points out that an infusion of innovators is even more needed in a recession. “Companies founded by immigrants include Yahoo. eBay and Google. Half of Silicon Valley start-ups were founded by immigrants, up from 25% a decade ago. Some 40% of patents in the US are awarded to immigrants. A recent study by the Kauffman Foundation found that immigrants are 50% likelier to start businesses than natives. Immigrant-founded technology firms employ 450,000 workers in the US.