FOR EMPLOYERS

If you are a Canadian employer, facing a labour shortage and you want to keep your business running, it is essential to find the right worker for the job as quickly as possible. When Canadian citizens or permanent residents are not available, why not look outside Canada? The Government allows employers in Canada to hire foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).

BRINGING THE BEST TALENT TO CANADA

When you need talent with a specific set of skills and experiences to keep business running, it’s all about finding the best person for the job. When that person is a foreign national, we can help you to bring them to Canada as efficiently as possible.

 

We have an in-depth experience navigating the Canadian immigration system that allows us to address labour shortages quickly. We understand the tools that are at our disposal to bring the best workers in to enhance your business operations.

 

Our track record for supporting Canadian employers is excellent. Allow us to support your business with our reliable, informed consultation services.

For further information about how we can help you bring foreign talent to Canada, contact our office.

HELPING SOLVE YOUR LABOUR SHORTAGE

There are many ways to bring a foreign national worker into Canada. We are here to give you all the options and show you where those different options could lead. Our knowledge in Canada’s immigration system, will help you bring foreign talent to your company in the shortest timeframe possible.  

HOW WE CAN WORK WITH YOU

  • We learn about your needs
  • We answer your questions
  • We assess your situation
  • We show you all the options
  • We prepare the documents you need
  • We provide advice for success, every step of the way
To understand your options, contact our office.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

Labour Market impact Assessment

 

When there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident who can fill a job at your business, we can help you to obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment document (LMIA). This document is obtained from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which allows you to hire a specific worker from abroad.

 

When assessing your LMIA application, you will have to satisfy ESDC with the following:

 

  • Your company was unsuccessful in hiring any Canadians or Permanent Residents for your labour shortage,
  • Your company has no past compliance issues,
  • Your company is a legal business in Canada that is providing goods or services,
  • Your company will be able to fulfill all the terms of your job offer to the foreign national,
  • Your job offer meets and is consistent with the needs of your company, etc.

 

Once you have obtained a Labour Market Impact Assessment, we will help you and your worker to follow all the steps that come after.

Depending on your company and the job position, you are looking to hire for, there are various LMIA programs you could apply under:

 

  • Stream for High-wage positions – This stream is for employers who are offering a position that is not included in the national commodity list and is offering a wage that is at or above the provincial/territorial median hourly wage. The median hourly wage will differ for each province and territory.
  • Stream for Low-wage positions – This stream is for employers who are offering a position that is not included in the national commodity list and is offering a wage that is below the provincial/territorial median hourly wage. The median hourly wage will differ for each province and territory.
  • Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) – This stream is for employers who are looking to hire temporary agricultural workers in occupations and activities related to primary agriculture, which the job offer can be up 8 months duration and is seasonal. The temporary foreign worker you want to hire must be from Mexico and the participating Caribbean countries and the type of farm production must be included in the National Commodities List. Work Permits issued to the temporary foreign workers, is usually issued with an expiry date of December 15 of the current year issued.
  • Agricultural Stream – This stream is for employers who are looking to hire a temporary agricultural worker in occupations and activities related to primary agriculture, which the job offer can be up to two years duration. The temporary foreign worker you want to hire can be from any country and the type of farm production must be included in the national commodities list.

 

The above LMIA programs will have its own separate eligibility requirements. There are many circumstances where an employer’s LMIA application to ESDC can be expedited and be processed through a 10-day speed of service. If your company is in an urgent need, let us know and we will provide you with the advice on how we can help you.

For further information regarding the LMIA process, please contact our office.

LMIA to Support Permanent Residency

 

This stream allows employers who has identified a skilled foreign national that they want to hire for their company and would also like to support the foreign national’s permanent residency application. An employer can obtain a positive LMIA and make a job offer to the foreign national under the Express Entry System. The job offer has to the meet the eligibility requirements of the following 3 economic programs:

 

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

 

Job offers to the foreign national under these streams must by at least for 1 year, full-time (minimum 30 hours per week), and in a non-seasonal position, NOC Skill Type 0, A or B (depending on the program).

 

Another option for employers who wish to support the qualified foreign national’s permanent residence application is to have the foreign national work for their company while the application for permanent residence is in process. Those who wish to have the foreign national work at the same time, can apply for a dual intent LMIA. This approved dual intent LMIA can be used to apply for both the work permit and permanent residence of the foreign national.

Global and Talent Stream

 

The Global and talent stream allows Canadian employers to hire uniquely highly skilled foreign talent or in-demand workers, with a quick standard processing time of 2 weeks. There are currently two categories under the global talent stream. To apply under the Global and Talent Stream, each employer is required to work with ESDC to develop a Labour Market Benefits Plan. In this plan, you are making commitments that consists of mandatory and complementary benefits.

CATEGORY A

 

An employer is eligible for the Category A Stream if they have been referred to the Global Talent Stream by the Stream’s designated partners and you are hiring a foreign national with a unique and specialized talent. If you hire through this category, you must commit to creating jobs for Canadians and permanent residents as your mandatory benefits.

List of referral designated partners in Canada

  • Accelerate Okanagan
  • Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
  • BC Tech Association
  • Burlington Economic Development Corporation
  • Business Development Bank of Canada
  • Canadian Economic Development for Quebec Regions
  • Cape Breton Partnership
  • City of Brampton
  • City of Hamilton's Economic Development Office
  • City of Mississauga
  • Communitech Corporation
  • Council of Canadian Innovators
  • Economic Development Winnipeg
  • Edmonton Economic Development
  • Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
  • Genesis (Newfoundland)
  • Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service
  • Government of Alberta, Alberta Labour
  • Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology
  • Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Education and Training
  • Government of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Business Inc.
  • Government of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade – Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
  • Government of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade – Ontario Investment Office
  • Government of Prince Edward Island, Island Investment Development Inc.
  • Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of the Economy
  • Halifax Partnership
  • Tech Manitoba
  • Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada - Accelerated Growth Service
  • Invest Ottawa
  • Invest in Canada
  • Kingston Economic Development Corporation
  • Launch Academy
  • London Economic Development Corporation
  • MaRS Discovery District
  • National Research Council - Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)
  • Privy Council Office, Special Projects Team
  • Regional Municipality of Niagara
  • Regional Municipality of York
  • Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
  • Toronto Global
  • Town of Oakville
  • Vancouver Economic Commission
  • Venn Innovation
  • Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation
  • WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation

 

CATEGORY B

An employer is eligible for the Category B stream if you are seeking to hire highly-skilled foreign workers to fill position in the in-demand occupations that is on the Global Talent Occupations list. You are not required to receive a referral like the Category A stream. If you hire through this category, you must commit to increasing skills and training for Canadians and permanent residents as your mandatory benefit.

In-Demand Occupations on the Global Talent Occupations List

International Mobility Program (IMP)

The International Mobility Program allow the employer to hire a foreign worker without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA exemption). Hiring the foreign worker should provide a significant benefit to Canada in it social, cultural, and economic interests.

 

LMIA exemptions can be based on:

 

  • Significant social or cultural benefit to Canada – A Foreign National’s field of expertise is distinguished and would provide a significant social or cultural benefit.

 

  • Reciprocal employment – International Agreements Canada may have with other countries, that are considered a significant benefit, would not require an LMIA. An example of this would the Canada, United States, Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)

 

  • Charitable and religious worker – A charitable worker coming to provide charity work to an organization that is indeed charitable in nature. For religious workers, the foreign national must be part of, or share, the beliefs of the particular religious communities where they intend to work or have the ability to teach the religious beliefs.

 

The Foreign worker must also be able to prove that he or she meets the requirements for LMIA-exemption as well. The foreign worker will need to show they have substantial experience that is distinct to their field.

 

Under the International Mobility Program, an open work permit enables a foreign national to work for any employer for a specified period of time. An open restricted permit may restrict the occupation or location, but not the employer. An open work permit can be issued to a foreign national under one of the LMIA exemptions code.

 

In most cases, to hire a foreign worker through the International Mobility Program, an employer must pay the employer compliance fee of $230 and submit an offer of employment form through the Employer Portal. Your offer of employment must include information about your business, the foreign worker you would like to hire, the job details, wage, benefits, etc. If the temporary foreign worker you want to hire already has an open work permit, then you won’t have to submit a job offer, or pay the compliance fee.

There are many options available to employers who are facing a Labour shortage. For more information on how we can help, please contact our office.

CASE STUDY

A medium size agricultural company found itself growing at an unprecedented rate during COVID-19 pandemic. They needed workers right away to fill the urgent demands in their workforce and found some good candidates through their internal employee referrals. Not only did UCIC help them obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment through an expedited process, we also quickly processed all of the work permit applications for the foreign workers the company decided to hire. In the end, our knowledge and understanding of the industry and foreign worker recruitment process helped the company meet demand and establish itself as an industry leader.

Interested in any of the following?

Apply LMIA to hire foreign workers

 

Applying for work permits for foreign worker candidates that you  want to hire

 

Extending work permit for foreign workers who are working for you

 

Receiving consultation on how to hire foreign workers and employers’ requirements compliance