Examining the immigration policies of Canada and Australia, Business Roundtable finds that U.S. immigration policy puts our nation at a competitive disadvantage. Both Canada and Australia: make it easier for international students and the spouses of visa holders to work than under U.S. policy; impose no annual limits on high-skilled temporary visas, which allows their systems to adapt to labor market needs; provide for much greater speed and transparency in processing business visas than the United States; and do a better job than the United States in addressing the demographic challenges of aging populations. Canada and Australia also use point-based systems that have been cited by some in the United States as a direction for its immigration system, but a closer examination presents many cautions for policymakers in considering a point-based system for the United States.

Immigration
Building the innovative and globally competitive economy of the future requires a well-rounded and highly skilled workforce. Unfortunately, U.S. immigration policy today does not serve the U.S. economy, especially amid a critical shortage of workers.
America’s business leaders support employment-based immigration solutions that establish control over our borders and address our workforce needs, while upholding the rule of law and staying true to American values of welcoming immigrants.