Canada Work Permit Visa Consultant

A Canada work visa is essential for anyone who wants to work in Canada. These visas are part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

The program has been created by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to deal with shortages in the labour market by helping Canadian employers find and recruit foreign employees to work in Canada.

For those considering applying for a Canada work visa, there are four options within the TFWP:

• High-skilled employees
• Low-skilled employees
• Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
• Live-In Caregiver Program

The regulations of the TFWP insist that foreign employees seeking a Canada work visa must get an approved offer of work as well as their work permit prior to their arrival in Canada.

Both IRCC and the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) are keen to make sure Canadians are not overlooked for work in Canada because of an influx of foreign labour.

Canadian employers must apply for an LMIA in order to get approval before hiring a worker from overseas. This is to ensure jobs aren’t been filled by foreign employees when there are already Canadians and permanent residents available to work in Canada.

There are exceptions to this though. Foreign workers may be exempt from the LMIA depending on their situation and the various programs available.

One great advantage of the TFWP is that it allows those who are granted a Canada work visa to bring their family to Canada too.

While each family member will need to complete a separate application, all the forms may be submitted at the same time.

If any family members wish to work in Canada, that is possible, but they must first secure a Canada work visa.

Similarly, if a foreign worker has children who wish to pursue studies in Canada, a student visa will be needed.

OWPs are a type of Canada work visa that the spouse or partner of a foreign worker may be eligible for, enabling them to secure work in Canada with some limited exceptions.

A benefit for employers is that they can hire an OWP holder without applying for an LMIA.

The foreign employee’s skill-level is a major factor in their spouse’s eligibility for an OWP.

If a foreign employee is highly-skilled and can legally work in Canada for 6 months or more, then their spouse may be eligible.

Spouses or partners of low-skilled employees will likely be ineligible; however they may qualify for active pilot projects. This will also be the only way any dependent children will be able to get an OWP.

Individuals who have received a job offer from Canada should research their needs and rights to know exactly what is required before securing work in Canada. Canadian employers who wish to hire foreign workers must also ensure they fulfil the guidelines set out by the IRCC before hiring foreign workers.