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INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY PROGRAM CANADA

Canada counts as one of the world’s largest booming economies of today. Such a boom explains the country’s need for workers, both temporary and permanent, to fill the gaps in the Canadian job market. As a result of such a need for workers, the Canadian government has formulated several plans, the International Mobility Program Canada, being one amongst them, to bring foreign workers to fill the gap in the labour market. 

INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY PROGRAM CANADA

WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY PROGRAM? 

The International Mobility Program Canada refers to a an employment program framed by the Canadian government, that allows employers to recruit temporary foreign workers with an open work permit, to work in Canada without requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application. 

The basic features of the International Mobility Program Canada are listed as under-

  • It enables an employer to hire a foreign worker with an open work permit.
  • Non-Canadian workers, under the International Mobility Program Canada, can temporarily live and work in Canada, without having to apply for the Labour Market Impact Assessment. 
  • It therefore makes visa exemptions for workers who no longer require a work permit, thereby opening newer opportunities for highly-skilled foreign workers. 
  • The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides all details concerning the procedure and requirements for the International Mobility Program Canada, depending on the place of origin of a given worker. 

WHAT IS THE LABOUR MARKET IMPACT ASSESSMENT? 

The Labour Market Impact Assessment refers to an official document, provided by the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which states that the Canadian employer may hire a foreign worker on a temporary basis, as no skilled Canadian worker is available for the said position. 

A Labour Market Impact Assessment is not required when a candidate applies under the International Mobility Program Canada. 

INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY PROGRAM CANADA ELIGIBILITY- 

To gain eligibility for the International Mobility Program Canada, a foreigner is expected to meet the listed criteria- 

  • Valid passport 
  • Be from a place of origin which has either trade relations with Canada or an understanding that allows for international movement. 
  • Have been offered a job by a Canadian employer, who is excused from submitting a Labour Market Impact Assessment to the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and can thereby prove his eligibility 
  • Meet all other requirements stated by the Immigration, Refugees, and CItizenship Canada (IRCC). 

INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS- 

Similar to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the first step in the application process for International Mobility Program Canada begins with your Canadian employer.  

  • An official job offer in Canada must be submitted by the employer, in the Employer portal. 
  • For any Canadian employer to hire a foreign worker under the provisions of the International Mobility Program Canada, he must meet the following conditions- 
  1. Provide evidence that the worker is exempt from Labour Market Impact Assessment. 
  2. He must pay the compliance fee of $230 
  3. Submit an official job offer under the tenets of International Mobility Program Canada (if needed). 
  •  The worker has to apply for a temporary work permit. Offer of employer number is needed to complete your application. Upon approval, you will receive the following-
  1. A letter of introduction, and a Canada work permit from Canada Border services officer, or
  2. A new Canada work permit  

Note- A work permit does not however ensure your entry into the country. You must carry a Visitor Visa, or an Electronic Travel Authorization. 

INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY PROGRAM CANADA PROCESSING TIME- 

After the submission of documents, application form, and other necessary items, the candidate must wait for processing. Ideally, the processing time can range from 3-27 weeks, depending on your place of origin. After due passage of time, you will receive the decision from the Canadian Consulate. 

IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY PROGRAM CANADA- 

  • The International Mobility Program Canada allows Canadian employers to hirre temporary foreign workers, to fill in the gaps in the Canadian labour market, due to the unavailability of skilled Canadian workers. 
  • Since, workers are hired with an open work permit, they do not require an application for the Labour Market Impact Assessment. 
  • Another major advantage of such a process at work, is an easy hiring process, that does not require much time. 
  • It increases the professional prospects, in addition to chances of employability in the target country. 

SHOULD I OPT FOR TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS PROGRAM OR INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY PROGRAM?

Both the Temporary Foreign Workers Program and the International Mobility Program Canada seem very similar, in terms of how both the programs allow for workers to live and work in Canada for a fixed period of time. However, they are significantly dissimilar as well-

Temporary Foreign Workers ProgramInternational Mobility Program 
Labour Market Impact Assessment is neededLabour Market Impact Assessment is not needed
Closed work permitWork permits could be open/closed
Employers hiring high wage workers must provide a transition plan No transition plan needed 
Reviewed by Employment and Social Development Canada (EDSC)Reviewed by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Processing time may take months, unless an applicant is among the top 10% wage earnersProcessing time is usually two weeks. 

Note- You will be exempted from a work permit  if you work within TEER levels 0 or1 of the National Occupation Classification (NOC) and for under 30 days. If you are in Canada to work for a publicly-funded Canadian degree-granting institution or any given affiliated research institution, you may be granted up to 120 days to work without any work permit.

WHY ALWAYS CONSIDER BASICS OF IMMIGRATION?

  1. Expert Visa counselors provide Step-by-step guidance through a secure, online process.  
  2. Apt evaluation of credentials and faster visa processing. 
  3. Identifying all potential hazards and roadblocks in securing a visa. 
  4. Assistance with documentation, immigration rules, citizenship, and border control procedures.
  5. Multiple case assessment for better conflict resolution.
  6. Designated process managers to provide personalized guidance.

Just like the basics of anything act as “building blocks” forming a strong foundation for constructing complex structures. The Basics of Immigration serve as the foundational elements of moving abroad, for any aspiring immigrant.