Getting sponsored for work in Canada

Faith

Hi all,

Firstly, I've read through the first few pages of threads in the forum so I'm sorry for probably repeating FAQs (but as always, none of the previous threads apply to me properly!).

Basically, myself and the OH would like to move to Canada to work. We would like to apply for jobs before we move. I'm in psychology/research and he's in film/production/media. My head is spinning trying to figure out what our options are. I know the IEC visa is closed for the year. I'm looking at the Federal Skilled Worker Visa - would that be suitable for us? I see mention of LMO? I think, but I don't understand it and would love if someone could explain it.

What I'm really asking is, can we just find jobs online, apply and have a reasonable expectation of getting sponsored? (As with a H1B visa in the USA, say). Is there a cap/time limit on this every year? How long would we expect the visa processing to take?

Thanks so much for any help!

COYVB

an LMO is where a company wants to hire from abroad because they can't find someone suitable in canada. It's very quick, very easy, and costs the company nothing, but they have to be able to justify the hire based on the canadian labour market. If you're both entry level, or don't have a high level of specialist knowledge that canadians wouldn't have, you're unlikely to be granted one

If a company decides you're the best candidate, and they have advertised the job in canada but not found anyone suitable, then they'll apply for an LMO for you. That takes 10 days for an ALMO (if the company has had an LMO before, they can apply for this) or 14-90 days for a regular LMO. Once the LMO is granted, they'll send you a copy, you bring it with you to canada, present it to the CIC agent at the port of entry, and they issue you your visa for the duration of the LMO

The company doesn't get you a visa, or sponsor you. They just hire you, and the government gives you the visa

Faith

Thanks for the reply! I'm not sure I'd be worthy of an LMO at this stage.

Does anyone know if you can apply for the Federal Skiller Worker visa without having a job offer? I took the self test and scored 89/100, even without a job offer, but I'm not sure if that's a condition of getting a visa. Never mind, it is possible.

Has anyone had experience with how long those visas (federal skilled worker) take to process?

COYVB

There's a list of waiting times on the CIC website somewhere - you're usually looking at 18-24 months though

DeclanClune

Faith wrote: »

Thanks for the reply! I'm not sure I'd be worthy of an LMO at this stage.

Does anyone know if you can apply for the Federal Skiller Worker visa without having a job offer? I took the self test and scored 89/100, even without a job offer, but I'm not sure if that's a condition of getting a visa. Never mind, it is possible.

Has anyone had experience with how long those visas (federal skilled worker) take to process?

Hi Faith,

In our experience, our Federal Skilled visas were coming through in 12 months or so. The program is closed at the moment and set to reopen in May - no doubt with many changes to the old system.

Regards,
Declan Clune

zweton

What is the general process for applying? Do I need a job offer before I apply? I notice my occupation is on the new list just released :-)

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/backgrounders/2013/2013-04-18.asp