+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

Average wage while applying for LMIA

a3venom

Member
Feb 20, 2015
14
0
Hi guys,
my employer is going to apply for a LMIA for my position, admin assistant.
the problem in my mind is that the avg wage rate is 22$ according to the govt of alberta website while mine is only 16$

Is this going to be a decisive factor? Should I try to reword my job duties to fit in another NOC code?

I have been working here since 8 months, and I have a PGWP.
Express Entry is my only option for PR.

Im in Calgary.
 

Christine32

Star Member
Sep 3, 2009
143
5
Calgary, Canada
Category........
Visa Office......
Vienna, Austria
NOC Code......
4131
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
20-08-2009
Doc's Request.
14-10-2009
AOR Received.
29-01-2010
IELTS Request
29-01-2010
File Transfer...
14-10-2009
Med's Request
07-06-2010
Med's Done....
24-06-2010
Passport Req..
10-01-2011
VISA ISSUED...
13-01-2011
LANDED..........
19-May-2011
a3venom said:
Hi guys,
my employer is going to apply for a LMIA for my position, admin assistant.
the problem in my mind is that the avg wage rate is 22$ according to the govt of alberta website while mine is only 16$

Is this going to be a decisive factor? Should I try to reword my job duties to fit in another NOC code?

I have been working here since 8 months, and I have a PGWP.
Express Entry is my only option for PR.

Im in Calgary.
Hi,

I think your employer has to offer you the minimum wage that is required by the Government. However my biggest concern is how they will be able to get an LMIA for an admin assistant position in Calgary? How are they going to prove that they are not able to find Canadian person for this job?
 

arowberry

Hero Member
Nov 25, 2012
491
36
Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
Sydney, Nova Scotia
NOC Code......
1254
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
17-03-2014
AOR Received.
04-04-2014
Med's Request
26-09-2014
Med's Done....
03-10-2014
LANDED..........
27-11-2014
Agreeing with Christine. I would be incredibly surprised if you were able to get an LMIA as an Admin Assistant. The CIC had so many admin assistant CEC applicants last year that they removed the eligibility.

If you were able to use another NOC, that would probably be advisable. Can't see the company being able to pretend that they didn't receive heaps of applications for your position (unless there is a degree of specialisation, perhaps).
 

Christine32

Star Member
Sep 3, 2009
143
5
Calgary, Canada
Category........
Visa Office......
Vienna, Austria
NOC Code......
4131
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
20-08-2009
Doc's Request.
14-10-2009
AOR Received.
29-01-2010
IELTS Request
29-01-2010
File Transfer...
14-10-2009
Med's Request
07-06-2010
Med's Done....
24-06-2010
Passport Req..
10-01-2011
VISA ISSUED...
13-01-2011
LANDED..........
19-May-2011
Yeah, I used to work on my company's Temporary Foreign Workers Program and even 2 years ago it was very difficult to get an LMO. Now as I heard it is even more complicated to get an LMIA even for skilled jobs that Canada really has a shortage of. I honestly think it's impossible to get an LMIA for an admin position. Lots of foreign skilled workers will need to leave Canada within the next 2 years as the Government does not allow their Employers to extend the employment of these people and so they cannot get their work permit extended. It's getting harder and harder to come to Canada as an immigrant.
Even if there is another NOC code that can be used the Employer will still need to prove that they were not able to find Canadian for the job. Unless it is a high demand skilled job, I do not believe there is any chance to get an LMIA but I may be wrong.
 

a3venom

Member
Feb 20, 2015
14
0
Well my duties certainly dont match NOC for Admin assistant, but that was the position which was advertised initially when i joined.
my duties are -
1. Checking product costs/prices and revising when necessary.

2. Putting new prices on products.

3. Designing and distributing sales material [ Flyers, Catalogs, Ads etc. ]

4. Providing product information to sales team.

5. Talking to suppliers to ensure best cost for products.

6. Negotiating with freight providers for best rates.

7. Maintaining company's iPad app for sales persons.

8. Naming new products.

9. Checking on orders to ensure profitability.

10. Distributing flyers and other media to customers to attract more business.


Is there any possible NOC that can be fitted loosely around my duties that is acceptable at wage rate of $16/hr.

Employer has lots of TFW workign for him as labor, he has applied for LMOs previously.
 

mf4361

Champion Member
Apr 17, 2014
2,458
130
Category........
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
18 Nov 2015
Nomination.....
12 Oct 2015
AOR Received.
25 Feb 2016
IELTS Request
Sent
Med's Request
28 Oct 2016
Med's Done....
14 Nov 2016
Passport Req..
27 Feb 2017
VISA ISSUED...
15 Mar 2017
LANDED..........
16 Mar 2017
It's not only minimum wage, it's Median wage of a certain NOC of a certain region. Lower than that, LMIA is very likely to be rejected.

And yes, LMIA is even more difficult to get approved than LMO. I heard of an immigration consultant who applied dozens of LMOs in the past without rejection, he got less than 50% hit rate after LMIA is in place.
 

a3venom

Member
Feb 20, 2015
14
0
Yes im sorry i meant median wage not minimum,
is there a NOC that relates loosely to those duties and can be $16 - $18 median wage?
Finding the NOC is the only thing stopping me from getting a LMIA applied
and i know the change in place, so i want to make sure my application is strongest before i apply for it [ i mean my employer does ]

Are my chances much better if i add a "Bilingual - Hindi / English" requirement to my job? I am often required to use Hindi at work, and that basically eliminates any non Indian from applying to my position.
 

mf4361

Champion Member
Apr 17, 2014
2,458
130
Category........
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
18 Nov 2015
Nomination.....
12 Oct 2015
AOR Received.
25 Feb 2016
IELTS Request
Sent
Med's Request
28 Oct 2016
Med's Done....
14 Nov 2016
Passport Req..
27 Feb 2017
VISA ISSUED...
15 Mar 2017
LANDED..........
16 Mar 2017
If your NOC doesn't match your your job description, you are going to be rejected anyway. There is a saying of your job must be at least 70% match with the NOC's descriptions, but this is ultimately at VO's discretion.

That's why EE is harsh on new grads.
 

a3venom

Member
Feb 20, 2015
14
0
I can change my job description - not completely false but a little , just to support my LMIA, I am on very good terms with my employer and he wants to keep me.
So i would appreciate if someone knew of a low paying skilled NOC code which could be matched by modifying my duties here and there.
 

Andrew1982

Star Member
Nov 2, 2013
116
12
In order to apply for an LMIA high skill in Alberta, 22 dollar/per hour is one of the lowest actually.. as far as I know there is not any high skill job at 16 per hour.
They split the high skill and low skill with the wage (for LMIA applicants only)(for Permanent residency still valid the NOC system)

The wage must match..... Last year it was the most common mistake on the negative result LMIA's.

I suggest to hire a lawyer. You can't manage to get a positive LMIA on your own.. (My Opinion)..

Good luck and greetings from Calgary.
 

a3venom

Member
Feb 20, 2015
14
0
So my employer agrees to pay me $22, i think i should rather apply in noc 1452 - Advertising Clerk.
Median is $21.

he is going to advertise if i ask him to go forward with this NOC, I am the only person responsible for any sort of advertising within the office, and he will modify my official duties if needed to match up.

So is this a good option now, should I ask him to go forward with it.
Also he has his own lawyer that will take care of the process.