FAQs for Express Entry and Canadian Employers

FAQ – Express Entry & Canadian Employers

In this article, I will address a few popular questions and answers for Canadian employers who actively seeking employees through Canada’s Express Entry program. Many Canadian employers often search outside of Canada for employees. Through applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment in order to hire a foreign national worker, they are essentially telling the Canadian government that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is available to fill the intended position. Furthermore, Express Entry was created as a faster path to obtain permanent residency as a foreign skilled worker. In order to discover more information about Express Entry and Canadian employers, please continue reading this article. Essentially, the intention of this article is meant to clarify any questions or information you would like to know with regards to Express Entry and Canadian employers.

Q: What are Canadian employers role within the Express Entry program?

A: Thankfully because of all of the changes that have occurred in the Express Entry program, Canadian employers have more opportunities to actively participate in the process than ever before. For instance, candidates that have applied for Express Entry can now increase their chances of being invited to apply for permanent residency by actively promoting themselves to Canadian employers through job search websites, such as the Job Bank of Canada. Additionally, Canadian employers can select and invite certain candidates for employment if the candidate has successfully shown an interest in immigrating to Canada. This is done with the help and assistance of the federal and provincial government.

Q: If the Canadian employer selects a candidate, who is responsible for paying the immigration processes?

A: The payment of government fees and other fees can be determined between the candidate and the Canadian employer. However, the Canadian employer is not obligated to pay any government fees that relate to the immigration process of the candidate.

Q: What happens if the Canadian employer decides to terminate the employment of the candidate?

A: This is entirely possible and is permitted. It is important to remember that the termination of employment for any Canadian employer is the same for a temporary foreign worker, a permanent foreign worker, a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. The labour laws of Canada apply in these scenarios and as long as the Canadian employer is duly abiding by these laws, this is permitted.

Q: If the Canadian employer would like to select a candidate from Express Entry, do they have to offer them a permanent job offer?

A: No, they do not have to offer them a permanent job offer. If a Canadian employer would like to select a candidate from Express Entry, the valid job offer should be for at least one year after the foreign national receives permanent residency in Canada.

Q: Is it possible for a Canadian employer to recruit internationally, outside of the Express Entry pool?

A: This is possible. Once the Canadian employer has successfully chosen a foreign national worker and would like to offer them a permanent job in their company, the foreign national worker must then apply under Express Entry and submit their valid job offer. Once this is done, they may be issued an invitation to apply for permanent residency. Another option for Canadian employers is to recruit internationally, and then once they have chosen the foreign national worker they would like to hire, they can bring the foreign national worker temporarily to Canada by getting a work permit for the foreign national.

Q: How can Canadian employers search for potential candidates who are already in the Express Entry pool? Is there a way to communicate and interview potential candidates?

A: There are three possible ways for Canadian employers to search for potential candidates who are already in the Express Entry pool. They can first search for candidates through their own recruiting services including private sector job boards. If this is not feasible, they can search Canada’s Job Bank which can help the Canadian employer seek out potential candidates based on their skills, education and work experience. Lastly, another option for Canadian employers is to work in conjunction with provinces and territories through provincial nominee programs.

Q: Is it mandatory to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in order to hire a foreign worker as a Canadian employer?

A: It is not mandatory to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in some cases when hiring a foreign worker. However, in most cases, Canadian employers should obtain a positive LMIA prior to the foreign worker obtaining a work permit. Keep in mind, the Canadian employer can use an existing LMIA in order to hire a temporary worker permanently only if the LMIA is still valid.

Q: When selecting a candidate from the Express Entry pool, does the size or location of the Canadian employer matter?

A: When a Canadian employer decides to select a candidate from the Express Entry pool, the business size or location does not impact whether they can select the designated candidate. All businesses in Canada, regardless of size or location, can select candidates from the same Express Entry pool.

Contact Akrami & Associates

Should you have any further questions or need further information about Express Entry and Canadian employers, it is important to properly research and ask several questions before applying for one. By doing the appropriate research and asking several questions beforehand, this will ease your worries and assist you with the application process. Many immigration applications are difficult to pursue on your own and it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to apply. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many Canadian employers obtain foreign national workers for their businesses in Canada. If you believe that you may be eligible, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advice.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!