Immigration Blog about US & Canadian Immigration matters.

Information about LMIA’s

If you are an employer who wants to hire a foreign national, chances are you will need a labor market impact assessment (LMIA). A labor market impact assessment is an application to Canadian Immigration Services (CIC) all on its own and it must be submitted by the employer. It is an important step in the process of hiring a temporary foreign worker, as an LMIA ensures the temporary foreign worker will not be taking a job away from a Canadian looking for employment. Therefore, in this article, you will learn relevant information regarding the LMIA.

Who Needs an LMIA

All applicants applying for the Temporary Foreign Workers Program will require a Labour Market Impact Assessment; exempt occupations are now part of the International Mobility Program.

Common Questions about Working in Canada Temporarily 

There are many reasons individuals have a wish to come to Canada and enter the Canadian labor market. Though, because there are so many reasons to want to work in Canada, many, many people are signing up to do so. With all the interest in working in Canada, the Canadian government has several programs which individuals can apply to, essentially, to allow individuals to apply to work in Canada in the sector which most suits their knowledge, skills and work experience. Overall though, this has resulted in a large and confusing cluster of ways in which individuals can obtain work permits in Canada, ultimately making it much more difficult for individuals to understand how to get started on applying to work temporarily in Canada. This article will therefore serve the purpose of helping answer some questions individuals commonly have about temporary work permits, and how they may obtain one.

What is an LMIA? Do I Have to Apply for one?

The short answer is, you probably will need to apply for an LMIA, otherwise known as a labor market impact assessment. Essentially, this is an application for permission for the Canadian employer the foreign national intends to work for, to be able to fire a foreign worker temporarily. The Canadian government wants to avoid temporary workers coming to Canada, and taking positions away from Canadians who need work. Therefore, the LMIA assesses what the impact of hiring a temporary foreign worker would be. Ultimately, a positive LMIA is an endorsement by the Canadian government for the employer to hire a temporary foreign worker. To learn more about LMIA’s, follow the link provided. They can essentially be treated as an application all in themselves, so there is more to know about LMIA’s than can be covered here.

FAQ’s About Labor Market Impact Assessment

When it comes to a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), many individuals looking to apply for a work permit are intimidated, confused and concerned for their ability to obtain a positive LMIA, so that they may have a chance of obtaining a work permit. In this article, we will attempt to help you understand LMIA’s, and clear up many areas we notice individuals commonly misunderstand in reference to their LMIA’s.

Q: What is the Purpose of an LMIA?

A labor market impact assessment shows whether or not foreign workers are needed to fill a specific position in the Canadian economy, or, it will determine there are Canadians available to fill a position, and the LMIA will be negative. A positive LMIA is needed to successfully apply for a work permit. If you do not first obtain a positive LMIA before applying for a temporary work permit, your application will be denied.

Find out what documents are needed for a LMIA

When applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment, you may not know exactly what documentation is required of you in order to get a higher chance of a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). A Labour Market Impact Assessment, better known as a LMIA, is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada that permits a Canadian employer to hire a temporary foreign worker. When applying for an LMIA, there are specific documents that are required to submit from the Canadian employer and the employee alike. It is important that all of these documents are submitted with the application prior to hiring the foreign temporary worker. In this article, I will address the important documents needed from the Canadian employer and the foreign temporary worker for an LMIA application.

Documents Needed from the Canadian Employer

Every LMIA application can be different depending on the Canadian employer and the employee they are looking to hire. The below documentation is general, however, the more of these documents that you can submit, the stronger your application will be. It is very important to consider what you are trying to prove to Immigration by providing these specific documents. Therefore, keep this in mind when compiling the appropriate documentation.

Difference Between High-wage and Low-wage Streams

There have been several changes with regards to job offers for high-wage and low-wage streams in the past year. These are two different streams that fall under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). In most cases under the TFW program, Canadian employers must also receive a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The TFW program essentially allows these Canadian employers to hire foreign national workers to fill intended job positions in Canada, all while ensuring that there are no Canadian or permanent residents that can fill the intended job. In this article, I will address the changes of the median hourly wages and as a result the high-wage stream and low-wage stream.

Responsibilities of the Canadian Employer

In almost all cases of hiring a foreign national worker, Canadian employers must receive a posititve Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) prior to hiring a foreign worker. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is a useful tool for Canadian employers to hire foreign nationals to fill labour shortages in Canada. The TFWP is administered and run by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

FAQ – Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

In this article, I will address a few popular questions and answers for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) in Canada and some important information to consider if you are applying for an Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). A Labour Market Impact Assessment is intended for any Canadian employer who may need a foreign worker to work for their company and needs the approval from the government of Canada prior to hiring them. If you feel as though you would be eligible to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment, I suggest you read our article on “Labour Market Impact Assessment LMIA” before reading this question and answer article. The intention of this article is meant to clarify any misunderstanding or confusion with regards to Labour Market Impact Assessments in Canada.

Q: What is a Labour Market Impact Assessment? Is it necessary?

A: The Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document provided by Immigration Canada that a Canadian employer may need to obtain prior to hiring a temporary foreign worker. It is not necessary for some circumstances but it can be for others. It is important for employers to investigate and review LMIA exemption codes to see whether or not they need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. With a positive LMIA, this will indicate that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the intended position and that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada can fill the job. A positive LMIA is also referred to as a confirmation letter. After the employer receives a positive LMIA, the temporary foreign worker may then apply for a work permit in Canada. In order to apply for a work permit, the temporary foreign worker will need a valid job offer letter, a contract, a copy of the positive LMIA and the LMIA confirmation number.

You as a lower-skilled worker can be hired by employer for up to a maximum of 24 months where there is a demonstrable shortage of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

An employer needs to get Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) once that is approved that can then give the LMIA to you as the foreign worker and then you are to take it to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to apply for a work permit.