October 25, 2011
International graduates holding a work permit under Canadian immigration’s Post Graduation Work Permit Program, will now catch a break when it comes to transitioning to an LMO based work permit.
If the job offer at hand is in an NOC level 0, A or B, the employer will be exempt from demonstrating advertising and recruitment efforts. The Canadian employer must hire a candidate whose post-graduate work permit will soon expire, in order to qualify for this exemption.
The uncertainty of a transition from an open work permit, to one requiring labour market verification, is often troubling for those on such permits. The new rules help alleviate this uncertainty and will make the retention of young talent coming off a post-graduate work permit, an even more attractive option to Canadian employers.
This advertising exemption can be helpful to individuals currently on post-graduate work permits for a number of reasons:
1. Individuals who want to remain in Canada as a temporary foreign worker can extend their stay by obtaining a new LMO-based work permit. The four-year limit on being in Canada on an LMO-based work permit will only start when the individual switches from the post-graduate work permit to the LMO-based work permit.
2. For those individuals who only had a one-year post-graduate work permit, obtaining an LMO-based work permit for another year can help them qualify for the Canadian Experience Class, which requires 2 years of full-time work experience in Canada in a skilled occupation.
3. For individuals who would like to apply for the Federal Skilled Worker program on the basis of arranged employment, their work permit must be valid on the date of application and on the date the decision is made. This LMO-based work permit can help individuals bridge the gap so that they can remain in Canada while their application is being processed.
