February 21, 2020: The new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) pilot will allow employers and representatives to submit LMIAs online. The goal is intended to reduce the LMIA application processing time and to streamline the process. The online pilot will offer employers who are participating in the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program ability to register, manage their accounts, conduct transactions and liaise with Service Canada.

Employers can access the online portal with the same login credentials which they access the Job Bank for Employers. It will enable them to create an LMIA application, upload the requisite documents, and view the status of their application. It will also enable payment of the processing fees of CAD $1,000. Once Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has evaluated the application, the decision letter can be viewed in their inbox.

The LMIA online pilot was launched in August 2019 for the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) and the Primary Agriculture Stream, and was intended to expand once the system worked smoothly.

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that a Canadian employer requires before hiring a foreign worker.

A positive LMIA shows that a need exists to fill the job with a TFW. It also confirms that no Canadian or permanent resident have the necessary skills to do the job. A positive LMIA is also called an endorsement letter.

Once an employer gets the LMIA, the foreign worker can apply for a work permit.

To apply for a work permit, a worker needs:

• a job offer letter,

• a contract,

• a copy of the LMIA, and

• the LMIA number.

Do you want to hire a temporary foreign worker? Call us today and we will guide you through the entire process at JM Immigration +1 416 904 3815 / info@onecanadavisa.com