Facilities Expanding Outside Redmond

A planned Canadian software development center near Microsoft’s Redmond, WA, headquarters will help the company attract and retain qualified employees who might not be allowed to work in the United States because of immigration laws, as well as local students and residents who don’t want to relocate.

Announced in July 2007 and slated to open in fall, the new facility will be located in or near Vancouver, British Columbia, which is about 150 miles (242 km) from Redmond. It will initially house approximately 200 developers, with further expansions likely. According to the company, immigration issues played a part in the decision to open a Canadian facility. In particular, Microsoft was often frustrated when trying to recruit college and university students in the United States who already had student visas, but could not get a work visa until the following year. The Canadian center will help Microsoft attract and hire these recruits. However, Microsoft emphasized that the new facility is also meant to attract residents and students-both Canadian and foreign-who already live or attend school in the area and don’t want to move to Redmond. Oddly, Microsoft hasn’t nailed down the exact location of the facility, although it is slated to open in mere months.