What is a Labour Market Impact Assessment?
A Labour Market Impact Assessment or LMIA is a requirement most foreign workers need to receive from the prospective employers before they can apply to work within Canada. In order to be able to work in Canada, you need to get a positive LMIA from your future employer. A positive LMIA means that there is work available in the field that a foreign worker wishes to partake in and that there are no Canadian workers available to fulfill the demands of the job. Most LMIA is specific in the following ways:
- v Employer Specific
- v Location Specific
- v Occupation Specific
This means that the LMIA is specific in nature and the employee is restricted to working outside the specificities of the LMIA.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry way is a new electronic system which allows Citizenship and Immigration Canada to process economic immigration applications. This system is supposed to be beneficial for both employers and employees. It also allows for faster application processing for employees. It will also change the way applications are processed as it will no longer work on a first come, first come basis but will scan applications and consider applicants that are most likely to succeed. It has 2 steps:
1) Creating the Express Entry Profile
Potential employees need to create an express entry profile that provides information about their skills and other accomplishments. If they meet the requirements of federal immigration programs, they will be placed into the selected pool of candidates.
2) Invitation of Permanent Residency
Not all applicants will be sent an invitation of permanent residency. Only those who are among the highest ranking in the pool of candidates will be offered this invitation.
What is the Express Entry Pool?
- This pool, which consists of many other candidates allows all the candidates to placed together
- After your application is ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System, your place is determined in the pool
- Comprehensive Ranking System looks at factors such as work experience, skills, language proficiency and education
- It is from this pool where draws are made and are giving the Invitation to Apply
- The Invitation to Apply to given to the candidate whose application ranks highest
Express Entry and LMIA
If you are an Express Entry candidate and you have a job offer from an employer and a positive LMIA, it is likely that you may receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency within Canada. Therefore, it is important that you receive a positive LMIA from your employer in order for you to be a successful Express Entry candidate. In order for your job offer to be one that is supported by LMIA, it must adhere to certain requirements depending on the program:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
o The job offer must be permanent in nature and needs to be full-time
o The job must fall under categories such as; managerial, professional on the Canadian National Occupational Classification list.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
o The job must be more than 12 months
o The job must fall under Skill Type B i.e. technical trades
o The job must have wages that are equal to those offered to Canadian residents
Need More Information? We Can Help!
Relocating and moving can always be a difficult process. Having to navigate through the legal system while trying to find work can make this process all the more tough, especially when you have little knowledge of the law. In such cases, having a professional guide you through the process a long the way can be very assuring, as they are aware of the procedure. At Akrami & Associates, we have experienced immigration representatives that will guide you through the whole process and help you attain the result you desire.