A legal document that any employer in Canada need to get before hiring a foreign worker. A positive LMIA will show that no Canadian or permanent resident is available to do the given job and will show that there is a need for foreign worker to fill the job. A positive LMIA can also be known as “Confirmation Letter” sometimes. Usually, LMIA’s are of 2-year duration but there are seasonal & other LMIA’s also.

Employer needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in most cases to support job offer for Express Entry but some jobs do not need an LMIA. Employer doesn’t need an LMIA to support job offer if you have been working full-time for the employer on your work permit for at least 1 year (or an equal amount of part-time work), you have a valid job offer, you already a valid work permit that is exempt from an LMIA under an international agreement, a federal-provincial agreement, or the “Canadian interests” category.

Few examples for LMIA-exempt are charity and religious worker, general (such as professional coaches and athletes working for Canadian teams)

PGWP is a program for international students who would like to get Canadian work experience after their graduation. A post-graduation work permit might get issue based on the length of the study program that fluctuates from minimum of 8 months up to a maximum of 3 years. While figuring out the length of a post-graduation work permit, officers may consider the length of the program of Canadian study and verify it with supporting documents.

In accordance with International Mobility Program, a person holding open work permit can work for any employer for a specified duration. An open restricted permit may not restrict the employer but can restrict the location or occupation.

In this case, there is exemption for international students who may find themselves unable to meet the cost of their studies in Canada, be it their day-to-day needs or their tuition, due to situations beyond their control. While academic organisations do grant some flexibility on compulsions such as residence and tuition fees, to subsist in these circumstances working may be the only solution.

Every case should be well-thought-out on its own discrepancy. Some cases will be undisputable such as cases of war, upheaval in home country, collapse of the finance system, etc., while others will require additional elucidation by the candidate, typically at an interview with an immigration officer.

An open work permit may be issued for the determinations of short-term relief only and should accord with the extent of the present term of education (not for the interval of the entire program of studies, or for the duration of the study permit).

If you’re being mistreated or at risk of being abused in relative to your work in Canada, you may be entitled for an open work permit for vulnerable workers. An open work permit lets you work for any employer in Canada, except for one that is listed as unqualified on the list of employers who have failed to fulfil with the conditions or often offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages.

This work permit helps protect your rights as a worker in Canada by helping you leave an abusive situation to find a new job. However, it’s a temporary solution and has an expiry date and can’t be renewed.

If you’re approved for this work permit, it should give you enough time to find a new employer and apply for a new work permit. You must apply for another work permit before this one expires if you want to stay and work in Canada.