WORK IN MAPLE LEAF COUNTRY

Working in Canada is nothing short of a dream come true. It also enjoys a well deserved reputation for being one of the friendliest countries to live and work in. Being the most educated country in the world and having a literacy rate of a whopping 99%, there is no dearth of opportunities for aspiring job seekers. In fact, Canada is reputed for having the lowest unemployment rate in the world. With the promise of fair salaries and an excellent quality of life, there’s no question as to why it is an immigrant's choice of country to work in. The options for working in Canada are multifold ; You can work while you study, your spouse can get a work permit while you study, you can work temporarily or permanently, and choose to stay back to work after your education! It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that Impetusforfuture Country is looking to hire you. It has been scouting talent across the world, and is always on the lookout to fill the gap in its labour market caused by low birth rates and early retirement age in the country.

The employee benefits are never-ending;

• You get pension
• Parental leaves
• Employment insurance
• PTO
• Affordable healthcare and what not

Let’s look at some of the best advantages of choosing to work in Canada:

1. Job Security

Securing a job is only half the problem solved. Every employee fears being laid off with no warning, and is always walking on eggshells when it comes to having job security. This is where Canadian workplaces come to your rescue. Companies in Canada foster an environment of security and warmth, they care about the wellbeing of their employees. So much so that when the 2020 pandemic caused a surge in unemployment rates worldwide, the Canadian government, its citizens and permanent residents received $2,000 in financial support every month.

Imagine that! WHen you land a job in Canada, be assured that there will be no unexpected surprises.

2. Universal Healthcare Program

If there’s anything more at risk than job security, it is an individual’s health. You can never tell when something may go awry, given the present generation’s style of living. Now, we all are aware how expensive healthcare can be. It is no easy task to get past the bills and expenses of just getting a regular check up done. This is another place where Canada steps up and has an edge over other countries. Not just its citizens, Impetusforfuture country offers healthcare benefits to even immigrants through a healthcare program that is directly funded through general tax revenue. Canadian companies are required to offer healthcare benefits to its employees at affordable rates. “

3. Maternity/ Paternity Leave Benefit

Many countries around the world have started to incorporate paternity leave, but Canadian citizens have been enjoying this benefit for years now. New mothers can take anywhere between 17-52 weeks of leave, depending on when they joined the company. Temporary residents who are working on a work permit are also eligible for parental leaves if they possess a social security number.

4. Affordable cost of living:

Canada may be one of the most developed countries, but it offers its citizens the most affordable cost of living. Every province in Canada differs slightly in its prices, so you must have a thorough check of each province before you decide on one. Gas, food, and automobiles are all relatively affordable in Canada. Please reach out to us in case you want to know more, we can help you pick the province best suited to your needs and best for your future.

5. Pathway to citizenship

This has to be the cherry on top. Having work experience in Canada automatically gets you ahead and puts you on the fast-track to obtaining a PR! The Canadian government gives immense value to the people who have already studied or worked in the country, since it implies that they are used-to the style of living in Canada and know more about the country than other applicants hoping to get a PR. Since you already have a study permit/ work permit, it also means you will be asked to submit fewer documents, since the government will already have your information. All Permanent residents or people with a valid work permit have to show proof that they have resided in Canada for a minimum of three years, or 1,095 days, in the last five years to apply for citizenship. Over 85% of permanent residents of Canada eventually become Canadian citizens.

If you’re skilled and hoping to immigrate contact us , Canada is looking for you! Let’s look at some of the ways through which you can get a Work Permit.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORK PERMITS

1. LMIA based Work Permit for Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada:

LMIA stands for Labour Market Impact Assessment. If we are to understand this simply, every job that goes to a foreign national could be a potential job lost by a Canadian or a permanent resident. The Canadian government tries to keep its citizens' best interests in mind, and wants to ensure jobs to its citizens too. This is why the government came up with LMIA, a mandatory document required for every immigrant wishing to work in Canada.

• Issued by the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the LMIA assesses the impact of hiring a foreign national on the overall job market of Canada. Most employers need to get a LMIA before hiring a temporary foreign worker.
• Obtaining a LMIA confirms two important things: first that the job at hand requires a temporary foreign worker.
• The second being that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available for the job . The employer has to apply for a LMIA, and show that they have taken adequate measures to hire local Canadian citizens. They must put up a job posting 28 days prior to applying for a LMIA, and it should be kept up even towards the filing of LMIA.
• A positive LMIA approves the foreign national for a job, and is also known as a ‘Confirmation Letter’.

Yes, certain jobs do not require both LMIA or a work permit. You will have to check LMIA exemption codes and work permit exceptions to know if your job category falls under any exemption. Traders, investors, or jobs that involve Canadian interests like Airline personnel do not require an LMIA. Additionally, entrepreneurs and business owners also do not have to apply for a LMIA. The international Mobility program lets employers hire foreign workers without a LMIA. There have been slight changes in the LMIA process in 2021, one of them being that job positions are to be differentiated into only two categories- high-wage and low-wage.

Applying for an LMIA can get tricky if you’re not well-aware of the process. This is why we’re here to help you finish your application with ease and with 100% success rate.

Now, let’s quickly go over some important documents required for a LMIA:

1. Proof of Recruitment.
2. Business Registration or Legal Incorporation documents.
3. Provincial workplace safety and insurance papers.
4. Additional Provincial documents based on the province where the company is registered.

2. Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWP):

True to its name, BOWP is a program that helps temporary foreign workers stay in Canada while they wait on their decision on their PR application.

A BWOP is an extension to the work permit a foreign worker obtains when he starts working in Canada. It acts as a bridge for immigrants to turn into permanent residents, by allowing them to work in the country even after their work permit expires. Naturally, BWOP is a god-sent for people who are already working in Canada and have applied for a PR, but their work permit expires soon. Applying for a BWOP allows them to continue staying in Canada while their PR application is being processed. This is the most sought after permit in Canada when it comes to work, since it is an open work permit. An Open Work Permit does not tie you to any employer, and also gives you the freedom to work for any employer, anywhere in Canada.

Another main reason why BWOP is sought after is that it is an LMIA-exempt visa, meaning a LMIA is not mandatory under this condition. This means you are neither restricted to a particular employer, nor a particular occupation. In short, you have 100% independence. Unlike a closed work permit, you do not even require a job offer, and can extend your services to multiple employers at a time too.

However, securing a BWOP is not a cakewalk. Canada is very selective in offering a BWOP. You must also submit the required processing fees and open work permit fee. You can login to your IRCC login portal and apply for a BWOP from anywhere in the world.

Let’s look at some of the criteria to apply for a BWOP:

1. You must be living in Canada, outside Quebec. (Quebec has its own process.)
2. You have a legitimate work permit and have been working in Canada legally so far.
3. You have a valid work permit set to expire in no more than four months, and have already submitted a PR application. If you already have a LMIA, the process      might differ slightly.

Instead of worrying if you meet the requirements and making the process unnecessarily confusing, reach out to us for a detailed evaluation of your profile, and assistance regarding BWOP.

3. Secure Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Work Permit:

Like the name suggests, this is a work permit which securely allows you to move to Canada to work for the same company/employer. This route is well suited for foreign business owners who wish to further expand their operations in Canada.

ICT is a temporary permit that allows foreign workers employed with an MNC to work in Canada for a limited duration. It is an immigration pathway, and falls under IMP (International Mobility Program). This is a company specific, or a closed work permit, and is non-transferrable. If the MNC you work for has its subsidiary/ affiliate / parent in Canada, you can apply for a BWOP if you wish to transfer and work in Canada. ICT’s greatest advantage is that it eliminates the need for a LMIA, which can be a strenuous and costly affair.

Additionally, after a full year of working in the Canadian company, you are eligible to apply for a PR through the express entry program. This program is specially designed to give the people who have already studied/ worked in Canada an upperhand in the PR application process since they are already attuned to life in Canada. However, there are certain conditions that need to be fulfilled before you can apply for a BWOP. .

Let’s look at a few:
1. Must be employed with the company that intends to transfer you to Canada in a full-time role for at least one year.
2. Must be seeking transfer to fill in a senior managerial role or executive position.
3. Have been working for the company intending to transfer you to Canada for a minimum of 1 year before applying for ICT.
4. You are seeking a transfer on a temporary basis only at the time of application.

We take pride in connecting professionals to Canada, and would be happy to help you secure the work permit best suited to you.

4. Temporary Foreign Worker Program:

The Canadian government always ensures job security to its citizens first. But in a case where there are no available local citizens for a job role, it allows Canadian employers to hire a foreign worker on a temporary basis for a specific mentioned time period.

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program comes to the aid of Canadian Employers in a case where there is a labour shortage. Launched by the Canadian government, this program does require the employer to complete the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) first. A LMIA is a document that every Canadian employer needs to produce before hiring a foreign worker. A positive LMIA shows that there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident available for the job role, which is why the employer is hiring the foreign worker.

Through the LMIA, the employer attests that the immigrant worker will either have a positive impact on the job market, or no impact at all.

Certain conditions must be fulfilled in order for you to be eligible for a TFWP.

Let’s look at some of the criteria:
a) You must have a job in Canada.
b) You intend to leave Canada and go back to your home country after your work permit expires, and do not intend to stay back.
c) You are in good health, and have a medical report.
d) You are working for a legitimate employer.
e) You have a clean criminal record and in no way prove a threat to the national security of Canada.

There are 4 major streams through which foreign workers can be hired under TFWP:

• High-wage Workers: There is a median hourly wage in each province in Canada. A high wage worker is when the foreign worker is being employed for a job profile that pays the worker above the median hourly wage of the province they are in. Obtaining a LMIA is the first step to getting a visa under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
• Low-wage Workers:span> Hiring for job profiles that pay less than the median hourly wage of the province they are in. There is no dearth of opportunities in the low wage category as well, and significant efforts are put in by the government to make up for the workforce shortages. Since this is a low wage job position, employers have to show that they will ensure workplace rights and safety of the low wage workers.
• Global Talent Stream (GTS): This program was launched in 2017, with an intention to put Canada a step ahead and boost its economy. Through the GTS, highly skilled foreign nationals can be hired, allowing Canada to compete on an international level. To be hired through this stream, you must be nominated by a designated partner.
  
  

  Some designated partners that can refer talent for GTS are:

  • The Business Development Bank of Canada.
  • Invest in Canada.
  • Council of Canadian Innovators
  • Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service
  The GTS stream also encourages employers to be more inclusive of diversity in workplaces, which means that a fair chance is given to everyone, irrespective of race or gender.
  
  
• In-home Caregivers: This stream of the TFWP is jointly managed by the Imigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

There are many cases where a Canadian National or permanent resident is not available to work as a caretaker for children, senior citizens, or people with certified medical needs. As we are aware, it is a big responsibility to work as a caregiver, and it is not a position that can be managed for long without a person in charge. This is when the householder/ employer can request the government to hire foreign caregivers in order to provide care to children, senior citizens or people with physical or mental disabilities.

Under the TFWP, the caregivers must fulfil the below criteria:

• Must work a minimum of 30 hrs per week.
• Work in a private household.
• Meet additional requirements set by the IRCC and ESDC both.

Canada has three main caregiver programs:

• Live-in caregivers
• Home Support Pilot
• Home Child Care Provider

Under the TFWP as well, caretakers can use it as a pathway to obtain a PR if they so wish.

5. Work Permit for Spouse or Common-law Partner:

Canada gives foreign nationals the luxury to bring along their spouse and/or children with them when they come to study. Not just that, the government also allows their spouse to obtain a work permit, enabling them to earn while their spouse studies! Clearly, the Work Permit for Spouses is an additional cherry on the top.This is an open work permit, meaning that it is not job-specific. With this open work permit, your spouse can take up employment with any Canadian employer, anywhere in Canada. There are a few important points to note here:

• Your spouse is a full-time student at a public post secondary school, such as a college or university. Please note that the institution must be a Designated Learning Institute. (DLI)
• Your work permit will only be valid for the duration of your spouse’s study permit.
• Your spouse will need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before they can start working. This ensures that the job being offered to you is in no way hampering the job opportunities for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

An open work permit can take months to get approved, and it can get tricky when applying by yourself we will be your mentor in achieving your dream. Many spouses first come to Canada as visitors and then apply for a spousal work permit. We can help you save time and effort by processing a spousal work permit at the same time as a study permit.

Reach out to us to obtaining your work permit in the fastest and most efficient route.