Labour Market Impact Assessment LMIA

What is the LMIA?

The Labour Market Opinion (LMO) is now known as the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). It allows an employer to hire a foreign worker. It is hard for an employer to get the permit because it is hard to convince the government that there are no better local professionals that can do the job. Additionally it will cost the employer $1000. If the employer is planning to hire a high-wage professional then they will need to give a transition plan on how they will hire more Canadians. The employer should not underpay you. The employer should pay out the prevailing wage but if you give higher, the application has a higher chance of success.

When the employer applies they should demonstrate:

• Their efforts to hire local workers
• The wage that the employer is offering you is consistent with the prevailing wage of that occupation
• The occupation you are being hired for meets up to the standards of the current provincial labour market assessments.
• The potential benefits it will give to the Canadian labour market

You can use the labour market impact assessment to attain a work permit. But this can only happen if the employer successfully sends the application and it is accepted.

In some cases you will be required to have a temporary resident visa depending on the country you live in to enter Canada. Despite being accepted for the job, you can be denied at the border because of your inadmissibility. If you know you are inadmissible you should apply for the temporary residence permit which will allow you to overcome your inadmissibility. Additionally based on the job or the conditions you lived in, you may need to undergo a medical examination.

The basic documentation that you should provide at the border includes:

• Proof of identity (i.e. citizenship, passport, etc.)
• A copy of the job offer or the signed employment contract
• A copy of the Labour Market Opinion
• And any other applicable fees ($150 for processing a work permit application and $75 for a temporary residence visa and $75 for each accompanying family members)

Contact Akrami & Associates

Having a legal professional on your side can make this complicated procedure easier and can increase the chance of success. Feel free to contact us at 416-477-2545 to assist you with your immigration needs.