Special Programs

The Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program focuses on hiring foreign workers for a particular job that is not filled at the moment due to a shortage of Canadian workers. Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) administers the program. The TFW program is regulated by Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. A few important points to note about the program are as follows.

• For employers to hire foreign workers, there must be no Canadian worker available at the moment
• Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) conducts a thorough assessment through LMIA
• Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) include factors like work conditions, salary offered, region, type of occupation, skills of the person being employed and overall impact on the Canadian labour market.
• Temporary is conducted in case of low-wage labourers hired for less than 120 days

Employers can hire foreign workers only upon positive LMIA results.

With a growing economy, Canada hosts a wide range of opportunities for foreigners. Thousands of people are hired on a temporary basis by Canadian companies and organizations to fill up the ever increasing job positions that are not filled by the existing workforce. However, to obtain a temporary visa, you have to meet certain eligibility criteria, which are as follows.

• Ensure to leave the geographical boundaries of Canada as the term expires
• Get a Police Clearance Certificate and have a valid passport until the end of the term
• Show financial backing for you and your family
• Proof that you are not involved or have no intentions of getting involved in any illegal matters
• Proof that you shall not be a danger to the security of the country

It is important to prove to the immigration officer that you are worthy of the job that is being offered to you in order to get the application approved.

An employer-driven program, the Atlantic Pilot Program was introduced in July 2016, by the Minister of Immigration along with the government heads of the four Atlantic provinces- Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. Under this program, people are hired to fill the resource gaps in the labour market and local communities. Once the employer finds a candidate suitable for particular program criteria, the job is offered to them. Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is not necessary to obtain under this program. The Atlantic Pilot Program is further classified into different criteria depending on the work experience, education and specific job requirements.

• Atlantic Intermediate Skilled Program (AISP)
• Atlantic High-Skilled Program (AHSP)
• Atlantic Internation Graduate Program (AIGP)

All candidates must possess Level 4 Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in English.

Canada has been recognized as one of the leading destinations for students seeking to attain internationally recognized degrees. From Bachelor’s degree to Master’s. PG Diploma or special degree programs, the Canadian Universities are recognized for their affordable tuition fees and high standard of living. A few fast facts for study visa requirements Canada based, as highlighted by Canada Ministry of Immigration, can be summarized as follows.

• A student can take up only part-time jobs
• A weekly 20 hours of part-time work is allowed
• The remuneration might vary from CAD 10 to 12 per hour on an average
• The student work visa has to be obtained before entering the country and can be renewed only when renewing the visa

Most students travelling to Canada obtain a work permit. IELTS with a minimum band score of 6.5 is necessary for all students.

Almost all temporary foreign workers with Canadian work permits require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before travelling to the country. LMIA is a verification process conducted by the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This is done to ensure that the worker doesn’t impact the Canadian labour market negatively.

The LMIA is a two-step process. First, the employer has to submit an application to the ESDC for an assessment, which is followed by a second application to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for the actual work permit. Upon authorization, an employer can hire the foreign worker. A few other points to remember are included as follows.

• After June 2014, foreign workers with work permits require an LMIA only for a period of 1 year for low-wage occupations
• The process of obtaining LMIA takes 10 days.
• Employers wishing to hire a temporary worker has to pay a processing fee of CAD $1000.
• The job vacancy has to be listed four weeks prior to applying for the LMI
• The physical location where the job is to take place should have an unemployment rate of 6%

Airlines hiring foreign pilots have to face additional requirements.

For smooth Visa processing under the special programs or to get an in-detail information about these programs, get in touch with our expert Canadian immigration specialists at GreenTech.