Are Employers scared of providing me with a work permit?

[katester]

Hi guys,
I am really struggling to keep a positive mind set lately. I feel like I spend hours and hours each day applying to job over three different provinces of canada. I get emails back from places interested and asking if I have a work permit (even tho in my Cover Letter is says hoping to get into the Temporary Foreign Worker Program) and when I explain that in order to get the permit I need a job offer first... they drop off the face of the planet.

My boyfriend is in the Canadian Army and its hard enough being this far away from him as it is.... but add on all the stress he gets put under and deployment/months of course far away hanging over our heads. It would be nice to be able to deal with that together, have him come home to me, our home our life, and unwind. But instead we have all this bs to worry about. Is there any tips or pointers on how to get an employer not to be afraid to hire me just bbecause I am in the US?

 

[scylla]

They're not scared/afraid. The process to hire you is very difficult and time consuming - and that's why most employers aren't interested. What you are experiencing is normal and you should expect your job search to take a great deal of time and effort (with no guarantee you'll be able to find anything in the end).

In order to hire you, the employer must obtain something called an approved LMO (labour market opinion). To be approved, the employer must first advertise the job to Canadians and prove that no Canadian citizens or PRs could be hired or trained for the role. The employer the has to submit paperwork to Human Resources Canada to request approval to hire you (i.e. request an approved LMO). Not all LMOs are approved. If Human Resources Canada feels the employer should be able to hire a Canadian for the position - the LMO will be refused. More information about LMOs is here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/employers/lmo-basics.asp

Because the LMO process is time consuming and there is no guarantee of approval, many employers aren't interested in hiring people (such as yourself) who don't already have a work permit for Canada. Also, employers often have a pretty good idea of whether an LMO will be approved for a job (i.e. if it's pretty easy to find a Canadian for the position - they certainly won't consider a foreign worker).

 

[hopeful4]

strangely a good number of applicants manage to get arranged work in spite of that

 

[MSP2YYZ]

strangely a good number of applicants manage to get arranged work in spite of that

I would assume the percentage of applicants that don't get arranged work is going to be much greater. I am in Canada right now, and I can't even get an employer to give me a LMO after meeting them face to face, and establishing a relationship.

They just don't want to have to go through all those extra steps when there are qualified folks that don't need work pemits beating down their doors looking for jobs. It's not that they are lazy or afraid, there is just no reason to do it. If I were the employer, I wouldn't do it either, unless it was in my best interests.

I know it sucks, but that is the life we sign up for when we fall in love with a person of a different nationality.

 

[katester]

so, I found this job posting..at the bottom it says it is "It is unlawful to employ a person who does not have permission to live and work in Canada. Unless the advert states otherwise, please ensure you have this permission before applying." bestjobsca.com/bt-jobd-apss-14296.htm so how do I get a job offer if they are saying its unlawful if I don't have a permit before hand....when NAFTA and temporary foreign worker programs require the job offer first?

 

[MSP2YYZ]

It is not unlawful to apply, it is unlawful for them to hire you if you don't have a work permit. So if you don't have a way to ask them for a LMO, then there is no point in applying.

Do you have any connections in Canada that may be able to open any doors for you?

 

[katester]

No I don't not in the area's we are looking to move too. He currently in is Vancouver BC and we want to move more east, Ontario is preferred. So all the people we know from CA are in BC

 

[amikety]

I understand how you feel. There are many times I feel the fact I'm American puts me at a disadvantage as people want workers from certain other countries. I finally got a phone interview today and as soon as the woman found out I was American, she had to go....

It sucks, but it's still better than being back in the USA without my husband.

 

[SenoritaBella]

Hmm... under employment law, information about nationality/ethnicity/age/religion/sexual orientation, etc is protected and employers are not allowed to ask you this unless you volunteer the information.
Are you a permanent resident now? Perhaps, you could say that instead of nationality. Anyway, take heart and keep trying.

I understand how you feel. There are many times I feel the fact I'm American puts me at a disadvantage as people want workers from certain other countries. I finally got a phone interview today and as soon as the woman found out I was American, she had to go....

It sucks, but it's still better than being back in the USA without my husband.

 

[amikety]

No, I'm 'visiting.' The woman also asked me if I had kids and how old I was! The more I think about, the madder I get. I'm torn between attempting to report the business and putting it out of my mind.

 

[MSP2YYZ]

No, I'm 'visiting.' The woman also asked me if I had kids and how old I was! The more I think about, the madder I get. I'm torn between attempting to report the business and putting it out of my mind.

Those are not questions that anyone has to answer. Definitely unacceptable.

 

[amikety]

I agree, but if you're deseparate for a LMO, a lot of people will answer. Employers can take advantage of this. I personally answered the questions because I don't have kids and employers usually see that as favorable... I'm so bad.

In other news, I tried looking up her phone number to get more information - it was one of those blind "We are hiring with a LMO" ads on Kijiji. The phone number didn't come back to a business. It might've even been a scam! I guess I'm lucky she didn't want to talk to me after all.

Going to put that out of my mind and go back to seeking real, legitimate jobs.

 

[SenoritaBella]

Another possibility is that your nationality probably saved you from a scam.lol Times are so hard that even the most reasonable person can be deceived because scammers prey on HOPE!

Did you hear about the scam in Montreal targeting immigrants? The caller tells a new immigrant that his/her immigration application has some problems, etc and they will be deported if they don't take care of it, etc and offers to represent them for a fee.

I agree, but if you're deseparate for a LMO, a lot of people will answer. Employers can take advantage of this. I personally answered the questions because I don't have kids and employers usually see that as favorable... I'm so bad.

In other news, I tried looking up her phone number to get more information - it was one of those blind "We are hiring with a LMO" ads on Kijiji. The phone number didn't come back to a business. It might've even been a scam! I guess I'm lucky she didn't want to talk to me after all.

Going to put that out of my mind and go back to seeking real, legitimate jobs.

 

[amikety]

Another possibility is that your nationality probably saved you from a scam.lol Times are so hard that even the most reasonable person can be deceived because scammers prey on HOPE!

Did you hear about the scam in Montreal targeting immigrants? The caller tells a new immigrant that his/her immigration application has some problems, etc and they will be deported if they don't take care of it, etc and offers to represent them for a fee.

Oh YES! I heard about that. The phone number was from Colorado. I really want those jerks to call me so I can report them to the FBI. Using the telephone line to commit fraud is a Federal crime!!!

Unfortunately, my flat/southern accent will probably clue them in....