Skip to main content

How do I get a work permit for Canada?

click link, complete
Dear Mrs Powell,
I read all the time about opportunities in Canada because of the shortage of people to work there. How do I apply for a work permit to go to Canada?
AT
Dear AT,
There is indeed a labour shortage in some places in Canada, for certain occupations. As a result, the government of Canada have been issuing work permits to qualified individuals based on their education, skills and based on the applications of employers who are able to demonstrate a true need for the worker.
Work permits are issued to individuals who are outside or inside of Canada based on their status, education and skills. Therefore, your ability to get a work permit would depend on some important factors.
Types of Work Permit
Students: If you are applying for a permit to study at one of the designated learning institutions, you do not need to apply for a separate work permit unless co-op work is an integral part of your studies. If you are granted a work permit, you are authorised to work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the school term and full time during the school holidays.
Valid Job offer
If you have a valid job offer from an authorised employer, you may apply for a temporary authorisation to work in Canada for a specific period. The job offer must be a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Although the government of Canada recognises that there is a labour shortage in some places, some employers need to apply to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) report, before they can offer an international person a job offer. You will need to submit a copy of the job offer and the LMIA from your perspective employer.
Some jobs do not need an LMIA report. If you have already been working full time for the same employer, on a work permit for at least one year or work part time for an equal amount of time, then your employer does not need to give you an LMIA report in support of the application to renew the work permit.
There are also jobs that may be exempt based on an international agreement, a federal-provincial agreement or the 'Canadian interests' category. Due to limited space, I will not go into details about these categories in this article, except to say that some charitable and religious work are exempted.
click link, complete
Express Entry
Many skilled and professional individuals who can qualify under the federal skilled worker programme, federal skilled trade programme, Canadian experience class and some provincial nominee programmes, do not need to have a job offer in order to apply to live permanently and work in Canada. This is the most popular route utilised by many international workers to work permanently in Canada. You do not need a work permit in order to apply, if you have the education, skill and language proficiency in at least one of Canada’s official languages (English and French). You may sign up on my website at www.deidrepowell.com for more information about these programmes. Or you can  FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY TO COME TO CANADA click link, complete.
Submitting your application
You will be required to submit a complete application online or at the nearest visa application centre. You must ensure that you include all the necessary supporting documents with your application. Specifically, you will be required to submit proof that you have the experience and qualifications to do the job in accordance with Canadian standards.
Your application will be reviewed to ensure it is completed accurately, truthfully and to see if the relevant supporting documents are enclosed then a decision will be made on whether to grant you the permit. If you submit an incomplete application, your application may be rejected.
You may also be required to submit a medical and police report. In some cases, a visa officer may decide that an interview is necessary. If this is required, you will be informed and given instructions on when and where you should appear. You should take the originals of documents that you submitted online. However, most applications are completed without an interview.
I hope that you find this helpful. Should you or a perspective employer require additional information, it may be useful to consult an immigration lawyer to assist you based on the finer details of your case.

click link, complete
Deidre S. Powell is a lawyer, mediator and notary public who is a member of the Jamaican and Ontario, Canada bars, with main office located in Ottawa, Ontario. She is on the roster of Mediators for Ottawa, Toronto and the Dispute Resolution Foundation of Jamaica. Email: info@deidrepowell.com. Subject line: Immigration Call 613.695.8777 or contact her on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Immigration Corner | What is an Authorisation to Return to Canada?

Immigration Corner | What is an Authorisation to Return to Canada? : Dear Miss Powell, I used to live in Canada, but I was sent home. My cousin is getting married and I have an invitation to attend the wedding. Can I reapply for a visitor’s visa? What are the chances of my application being successful? Thank you Dear WW, A foreign national who has contravened the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and its regulations can be the subject of a removal order from Canada and may need to apply for an Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC), and a Temporary Resident (visitor’s) visa. The success of your application depends on the reason that you were “sent home”, the type of removal order that was issued against you, the length of time that has passed, as well as your current social and economic situation. At the time of your departure from Canada, did you notify the Canadian Border Services Agency? Did they give you a letter confirming your departure? You should have received

Immigration Corner | Married to a Canadian, will they harass me?

Immigration Corner | Married to a Canadian, will they harass me? : Dear Miss Powell, I am married to a Canadian citizen. Before we were married, I had my visitor’s visa, so I was going back and forth, and he did the same. That works out good for both of us as we are very busy with our work, plus my husband says he... The immigration officer will not “harass” you because you are now married. However, you should expect to provide explanations about the reason for your visit and whether you are considering living or working in Canada. You should be honest with them as you could be barred from Canada for approximately five years for misrepresentation and have difficulties with future applications.

Immigration Corner | Good news for truck drivers, nurse aides

  BOOK A ZOOM CONSULTATION Dear Mrs Powell, I am a 28-years-old truck driver, and my wife is a nurse aide. We have one son. We are interested in moving to Canada, but we are not sure how to go about applying. We read your articles all the time and we are hoping you would answer our question in  The Gleaner . We are law-abiding and have been saving our money to make sure we have the required savings. We are just not sure if our occupation would qualify us to apply. Please let us know how we could qualify. Thank you. CW Dear CW, There are various programmes available for individuals and couples who are interested in living and working in Canada. The key is to apply for the correct programme based on your work experience, education, and other credentials. The most popular route to apply to become a permanent resident is via the Express Entry System. This portal manages applications from individuals who can demonstrate that they are eligible to enter the pool of eligible candidates, so tha