Category: Work in Canada

How to Apply for LMIA in 2021 2022?

The changes to the international labor market due to the COVID19 pandemic have also had an impact on Canadian jobs. In 2021, things have greatly changed and the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) saw several changes too. Formally known as Labor Market Opinion (LMO), LMIA is when a Canadian employer tries to hire a local Canadian for a job and is unable to find the right candidate.

The employer will issue an LMIA after advertising for the job role within Canada but without any luck. However, an LMIA can only be issued after making all possible efforts and proving that none of the local applicants were qualified enough. Receiving a positive LMIA letter from Social Development Canada is a confirmation that the employer can hire an international candidate.

The process is simple; the employer applies for the LMIA and waits for approval. Once the employer gets the approval, he or she can send a job offer letter for the right candidate. The candidate can then apply for a work permit. A work permit application must include the job offer letter, a copy of the LMIA and the LMIA number.

LMIA Canada New Rules 2021 2022

As mentioned before, there have been a handful of changes across all labor markets in the world, as well as in Canada. As for the LMIA process, all jobs are now divided into two categories:

1. A high-wage category: where the salary exceeds the median wage in the province.
2. A low-wage category: where the salary is below the median wage in the province.

LMIA request application fees have also been increased from $275 to $1000 per worker.

LMIA Requirements

Hiring Workers on a High-Wage

All employers must meet the requirements of the Transition Plan, which is part of the Schedule C form of the LMIA application. This is compulsory when the employer decides to hire a foreign candidate at a high wage. The transition plan typically represents a commitment from the employer indicating that he or she has agreed upon a certain occupation within the province of work.

Hiring Workers on a Low-Wage

Unlike the employment of high-wage workers, hiring low-wage workers does not require a transition plan. However, when applying for LMIA, there is a limit to the number of workers an employer can hire at the low-wage rates.

Hiring with an LMIA

To meet the shortfall of workers and laborers in Canada, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) allows all employers to hire temporary foreign employees. Once the employer has been issued an LMIA, the duty to direct each worker towards obtaining a work permit falls on the employer alone.

Giving simple instructions for applying for a work permit for Canada is a good idea. Every worker must include a job offer letter, a copy of the LMIA and the LMIA issue number.

Hiring without an LMIA

There is a way of hiring foreign workers without applying for LMIA. The International Mobility Program (IMP) allows employers to hire foreign workers easily. In case the employer wishes to hire without an LMIA, he or she will need:

• To bear the cost of employer compliance fee,
• And to submit the offer letter through Employer Portal.

Processing Times for LMIA

Due to the impact of COVID19 and global lockdowns, Canada is experiencing a higher number of LMIA applications in 2021. This can result in longer processing times and possible delays but the applications are being processed.

The list below displays recent processing times per LMIA stream. This is to provide an overview of the estimated timeline of each application:

What are the Next Steps?

When an employer gets LMIA approval, a copy of the letter along with Annex A is sent to the foreign worker. The foreign worker will then apply for a work permit under the aforementioned application types. The processing time starts on the day an application has been submitted.

Give GreenTech a Call!

For an employer who is simply looking for the right talent to fill a position in his or her business, the LMIA application can often be overwhelming. We at GreenTech Resources have been helping our clients to speed up the process of hiring the right candidate.

Allow us to fill in your LMIA applications and take care of the hard work while you focus on your business. Our team of highly qualified immigration professionals can help you get your LMIA and Temporary Work Permit Applications right and in no time.

Fastest Growing Industries in Canada Retail, HealthCare and Technology

Despite the pandemic, 76% of Canadian employees and business owners say their company is growing. In fact, 20% say their business is growing more than expected. The industries expected to see the most growth in 2021 and beyond are those that connect us and care for us. We’re talking about technology, health care, and retail trade.

Technological advancements drove growth for software developers

The growth of the technology industry isn’t a surprise, given Canada’s history of technological investments. Canada boasts the world’s highest-educated workforce and is home to more than 2.8 million STEM graduates. With more than 41,000 tech companies across the country, Canada is the sixth most represented country in terms of developer talent.

39% of survey respondents in the software development field said that new technology is driving change and growth for their industry. And what’s more, they believe it will continue to do so over the next decade. 82% of workers in this industry say their company is growing.

This optimism is reflected in Canada’s overall projections for job and sector growth. The Canadian healthcare industry is working to double the number of health and bioscience firms by 2025. Likewise, technology-related jobs are expected to grow between 15% and 22% by 2027, while retail is predicted to increase jobs by about 20% by 2028.

SOURCE QUICKBOOKS

Why Canada Foreign Worker Recruitment needs immediate attention?

Canada foreign worker recruitment is at its peak level as the requirements are high these days. Canada is immigrant depended and one should know that clearly. Canada’s economy is driven by its immigration level plan. Despite the pandemic situation Canada never stops accepting applications for Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, Work permit, Study permit, etc.

Canada’s recent updates to support its labour market:

1. Visitor visa holders are getting more time to apply for a new closed work permit as IRCC to facilitate them with work permit extension where they can find a new employer-specific work permit for them.

2. Post-graduate work permit holders to get an extra 18 months extension in their open work permit. Those who study online and about to complete 100% course are also applicable for the PGWP.

3. Business visitors can work without a work permit under the international mobility program

4. Short-term students in a foreign health care program can also work without a work permit under the international mobility program. Soon various provinces like Saskatchewan, Alberta are coming with a new policy to increase the immigrant density.

Finding a job in Canada: 5 simple steps to follow

Canada is well known for its jobs which leads to Permanent Residency. Unlike other first-world countries, Canada’s economy is completely dependent upon its immigration policies. So we can see there was a significant drop in the Canadian job market.
Now the situation is under control and employers are looking for candidates. With new immigration levels plan 2021-2023 we’re heading towards the recovery.
Canada Job Bank is full of jobs and candidates are limited. So those who are interested in settle down in Canada, please follow the initial procedure before you get connected.

Follow these 5 steps:

Prepare your mind to work in Canada

Working in Canada for a newcomer is always difficult because of the low temperature. Some provinces like Saskatchewan get -30 sometimes. So one must set his/her mind in that way but the thing is most of the time you don’t have to face this low-temperature situation because you will find all the facilities to overcome cold.

Get Your IELTS and ECA done

Always be ready with your International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam score and Educational credential assessment (ECA).

Gather information about LMIA job and non-LMIA jobs

One must know about Labour Market Impact Assessment(LMIA) and why it’s important.

Find LMIA jobs from verified job portals like

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home

https://www.ciccanadajobs.com/

Apply for the work permit

One must apply for a work permit to work in Canada. There are two types of work permit

i. Open work permit: International students, Spouses of PR holders or Work permit holders are eligible for this work permit. According to this work permit, one can work for any employer.

ii. Closed work permit: All most all foreign workers who are looking to work in Canada must apply for this work permit and they need to ask their employer to apply for the LMIA to hire them. Yes, this permit is employer-specific where one can work for a particular employer till the end. They can change the employer with some specific cases where the reason should be good.

Find a certified foreign worker recruiter to help you

Always remember if you’re outside of Canada and looking to get an opportunity better go for the certified foreign worker recruiter. You may find various consultancies with a job offer in hand but always check the bellow details
a. The job offer letter must mention the LMIA number.

b. The work permit must mention company details and one should verify it here https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business/research/directoriescanadiancompanies.html

International Experience Canada Pool for 2021

If you are looking to work in Canada temporarily, then one of the best methods would be to check if you are a resident of an IEC participant country. The Canadian Government allows passport holders of the International Experience Canada or IEC participant countries to get work permits to stay and work in Canada for specified time limits. Depending upon the permit you have applied for and your requirement, you will be granted a particular permit type. Usually, this work permit should correspond to an ongoing degree that you are pursuing with an institute in Canada or your country. Some of the essential features of the IEC, especially for the year 2021, are as follows:

1. Understanding the requirements of work holiday

When you apply for a working holiday in Canada, it is first necessary to check if your country falls under the list of IEC participants and only then can you apply for a work permit. Additionally, the work holiday quota under which you apply will also depend your country of origin. For example, if you are an Australian passport holder, you have an unlimited quota for a work holiday. So you can be assured that the chances of your application for a work permit to be granted with or without a job offer is higher compared to similar applications from candidates of other countries. But if you have Costa Rican passport, then your work holiday quota is eighty. Hence, it is necessary to check with your embassy and your college regarding the pool and the work permit. You must also ensure that you make it to the pool in the first round of selection, and you do not have to wait for the next IEC season.

2. Understanding the IEC categories

The IEC recruitment occurs under two categories, viz. ‘Young Professionals’ and ‘International Co-op’. The two classes are designed to attract not just two age-group of candidates but also two levels of graduate students. For example, the Young Professionals category is for students who are in their post-secondary years. For such students, gaining professional experience can prove helpful in their careers and can even help them earn some money early only in their educational career. However, the only requirement that the students have to fulfill is that they should be enrolled in an institute in Canada. Similarly, International Co-op Internship is designed for the students enrolled in institutes in their respective countries of citizenship but want to work as interns in Canada. If you apply under International Co-op Internship, then all you have to show is a signed letter of a contract to work as an intern in a firm in Canada. This category is designed to help you gain the job experience you require to progress in your career.

3. Travel restriction in 2021

Given the condition in 2021, the Canadian Government has put forth certain travel restrictions even on IEC candidates. These restrictions, however, are being relaxed to a certain extent if you have proper work permits. If you are already working in Canada on a work holiday permit, you can continue working there till the permit expires. However, it would be best to stay in touch with your embassy if the Canadian Government brings in any new travel restrictions. As per the latest information, only individuals with the proper work permit and who have stayed in quarantine for the requisite amount of time can join work.

Thus, even in the year, 2021 candidates from IEC participant nations can continue to work in Canada, but they have to keep in mind that they follow the necessary protocols.

Temporary Foreign Workers Can Get Back To Work Quickly

The news has been announced today that the government will provide support to temporary foreign workers and their employers during this rapidly changing job market.

Due to Covid-19, many foreign workers with employer’s specific work permits loses their jobs and as the result, some of them have been facing financial difficulty and uncertainty about their immigration status, some have left Canada whereas a few of them are unable to leave due to international travel restriction or flight cancellation.

In the perspective of employers, they have struggle to fulfil their labour needs as they are in essential business to provide critical goods and services to Canadians, especially in agriculture, agri-food, and healthcare industry.

As the result, the Federal Government has recently announced a temporary policy for foreign worker who is already in Canada and has secured a new job offer, can start working in their new job immediately while having their new work permit is being processed.

This is a great news to the foreign workers who have been struggles to find or start their new job. At Greentech Resources, we are a leader in international recruitment services for Agriculture and Healthcare industry. During this period, we are still actively recruiting foreign workers for those industries and if you are in the above-mentioned situation, please send us your CV and Resume, we are more than happy to help you finding a new job as well as supporting your immigration paperwork in Canada.

The influx of people into Canada “an engine” of economic growth

Canada’s economic growth is dependent on immigrants- “an engine”.

As the coronavirus pandemic raged across the country in March, Marco Mendicino, the federal minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, announced his plan to battle Canada’s looming demographic problem.

More than nine million baby boomers are set to retire over the next decade, creating a potential labour shortage that, if unchecked, could raise health-care costs, upend pension payments and halt the country’s economic growth.

Mendicino proposed adding a total of one million new permanent residents to Canada by the end of 2022, a slight increase that raises the annual immigration level to around one percent from 0.9 percent currently.

According to Mendicino “Welcoming more newcomers will help to address the demographic challenges of an aging population and to compete and win in a competitive global marketplace.”

Indeed, the coronavirus pandemic has placed the country on an unexpected detour that will have repercussions for decades, according to analysts.

“We need to be thinking about how we can turn our immigration system back on. We can’t just go into this turtling, not letting people in, because it’s such an important piece of our growth,” Andrew Agopsowicz, a senior economist at RBC Capital Markets, said.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is unemployment-rate.jpg
Agriculture is largely powered by a temporary foreign workforce, but the number of agricultural workers from foreign countries was down 45 percent year over year in March, according to the RBC report.

And that decline is despite the federal government exempting this group from entry restrictions. It is even offering $1,500 to help offset the cost of a required two-week quarantine for these workers.

Universities also face a potential funding cliff with the borders closed. Foreign students on average pay triple the fees compared to domestic students.

It’s basically a revenue generator for post-secondary institutions. The students can get a work permit while they’re studying, and after they’ve completed their education, they’re able to apply to stay in Canada and seek permanent residency.

International students now compose 25 percent of the University of Toronto’s student body. If 20 percent decided not to study in Canada this year, the university could see a $200-million funding shortfall in a $3-billion budget.

The situation demonstrates why Mendicino believes immigration spurs innovation. By helping to fund universities, Canada develops research that launches businesses and attracts both investment and people.

A Statistics Canada report published on June 9 noted that companies owned by immigrants were 8.6 percent more likely to implement a product innovation than a company managed by Canadian-born individuals, and 20.1 percent more likely to implement innovative processes.

Update for International Students and Workers during COVID-19

If you are interested in applying for a study permit to Canada during this time, we have the following update to you:

• Application for Study Permit and Temporary Visa still open for all the applicants, but due to the travel restriction, you will be able to enter Canada for Fall term 2020 (September 2020) and Winter term 2020 (January 2021)
• Please note that the success rate at this moment for a study permit is very high as there are fewer competitors
• Many Colleges/Universities and Institutions have offered DuoLingo test results instead of IELTS/TOEFL due to the closure of the test center. This language test can be done online, and the result will be available within 2
  working business days.

1) Seneca:
Certificate Programs: 105 – 110
Diploma and AD: 105 – 110
Degree: 115 – 120
Graduate Certificate: 125 – 130

2) Centennial:
Fast track Postgraduate certificate: 125+
Post-secondary programs: 105 -124
Foundation programs: 95-104

3) Humber:
Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma: 105 -110
Degrees: 115-120
Bachelor or Nursing Degree: 135-140
Graduate Certificate: 125-130

Canadian Government has been doing their best to protect its citizen as well as students and workers in Canada, by offering the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. An individual will earn up to $2000/month during this pandemic by simply creating their Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) account online and start applying for it. You must ensure that you have lost your job due to Covid-19, have an income of at least $5000 during 2019 or within 12 months, and are 15 years of age of older.

Please refer to this link
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html
and https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/e-services-individuals/account-individuals.html for more information.

Parents with children who are currently in Canada can be rest assured since Canada has been doing their best in preventing the spread of the virus, and that in case if they have infected by the virus, the Government will provide the treatment for free of charge. But please note that you must have health insurance to protect yourself from other incidents.

For International Students and Workers who held their valid permit before March 15, 2020, you are eligible to return to Canada. But please take precautions to protect when travel by always wearing a mask in public area. Also, please do not forget to wash your hand thoroughly before touching your face.

However, with Visitor Visa holders, Canada Government has not lifted the restrictions so you cannot return/enter Canada at this moment. GTR Immigration will keep the information up to date for who is interested.

GTR Immigration Inc are here to provide immigration services for Students, Workers, and Visitors during this time of difficulty. Please send your request to our RCIC so we can assist you with your situations, whether you want to apply for study permit, change your school, restore your status, work permits, permanent residency, etc.