The Covid-19 pandemic is certainly the biggest challenge the world has faced in a very long time. Yet, it is not the end of modern civilization, which means you need to start planning for the future. And you should prepare for the Post-COVID Canadian Economy.
Unlike past pandemics, we have avoided horrendous casualties by sacrificing economic growth. As we win the war over the virus, the top priority of all countries, including Canada, will be economic revival.
This is the perfect time to explore new options for your business, like hiring a foreign worker for positions with no qualified workers within Canada. Read ahead for an overview of the steps involved in the process.
Also Read
Future After Covid-19—Start a New Life by Immigrating to Canada
Looking to Hire a Foreign Worker? 4-Point Overview of the Canadian Immigration System
Assess LMIA and Program Requirements
Your choice of a Canadian immigration program for hiring a foreign worker will depend on whether the position is exempt from LMIA i.e. Labor Market Impact Assessment.
If exempt, then you can hire through the International Mobility Program (IMP) or the International Experience Canada program (IEC). However, LMIA exemptions are pretty restrictive, which means most employers will have to complete the LMIA process and hire the foreign worker through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
The LMIA process involves
- Determining the duties and responsibilities of the job position.
- Detailing the educational qualification and work experience required for the position.
- Identifying whether the position is a high-skilled or low-skilled job.
- Fulfilling the prescribed norms related to advertisement of the position and efforts to find a Canadian worker for the position.
- Submitting the LMIA application with all required documents.
LMIA and Work Permit—Not the Same
The LMIA process exists to ensure Canadian firms don’t hire foreign workers when there are workers in Canada qualified and willing to do the job.
A work permit, the other hand, is not position-specific but a worker-specific document. It is proof that the foreign worker you have appointed for the position is eligible to enter, live, and work in Canada.
Apart from fulfilling the requirements for the position, the worker must have a clean police record, be in good health, and should not be otherwise inadmissible into Canada.
The Work Permit Process
Once you finalize the foreign candidate, you will have to enter into an employment contract detailing all relevant terms and conditions.
The selected candidate will have to apply for the work permit and the application should include payment of applicable fees, a copy of the employment contract and the LMIA approval received by the employer, and other documents and information related to applicant’s identity, health, character, and dependents.
Processing periods vary depending in the employer’s choice of immigration program and the country from which the worker is applying. Applicants for occupations covered under the Global Talent Stream can get their work permit within just ten days.
Once the work permit is approved and issued, the selected foreign worker and permitted dependents can enter Canada based on the employment visa issued and collect the work permit by presenting the approval letter to the authorities at the Port of Entry.
The smartest option for any employer would be to work with an experienced immigration professional for not just hiring a temporary worker but for further planning regarding the worker’s permanent residence application ahead. This guide should prepare you for the Post-COVID Canadian Economy.
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