To protect job opportunities for Canadians, employers typically need to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before hiring foreign workers to demonstrate that no local candidates are available for the position.
There are two categories of LMIA: one that is processed for free by the government, which can support the applicant’s immigration application and add 50 points (for general occupations) or 200 points (for senior management occupations) in the Express Entry system once approved.
The other category requires a government fee of CAD 1,000; this LMIA can support applications for closed work permits and immigration applications as well.
How To Apply For A Work Permit After Obtaining An Lmia.
Applicants can apply for a work permit from abroad, but the refusal rate is relatively high.
Applicants can enter Canada on a tourist visa and then apply for a work permit at the Canada-U.S. border. The advantage of this method is that they can receive the permit on the spot, but there are certain risks involved in applying at the border, including higher language requirements for the applicant.
If the applicant, their spouse, or common-law partner holds a study permit or work permit, the applicant can submit a closed work permit application directly from within Canada. This method has the highest success rate. Additionally, a tourist visa can be converted to a study permit by submitting the application within Canada. After obtaining the study permit, the applicant or their spouse can then apply for a work permit using the LMIA, completely avoiding the processing at an overseas embassy.
Key Points For Application.
Typically, applying for an LMIA requires the employer to advertise the job on local recruitment websites, conduct interviews, and keep records to demonstrate that there are no qualified Canadians for the position.
The LMIA application is also related to the wage for the position, the size of the company, and the company’s location.
The LMIA application is submitted by the employer, and the reviewing body is Service Canada, not the immigration authorities, so it will not affect the applicant’s visa or immigration application.
