Recommendation by Bar association of Canada to cic :
The EE program is unlikely to assist Post-Graduate Employment Work Permit (PGWP) holders.
These individuals will not likely have sufficient Human Capital and Transferability points to
justify ITA without a LMIA. They are also unlikely to qualify for LMIAs. PGWP holders were
previously eligible for LMIAs with waiver of advertising if an employer was offering permanent
employment. That waiver was removed in April 2014.
The overhaul of the Foreign Worker Program in June 2014 imposed new salary requirements
and a more rigorous assessment of availability of Canadian or PR applicants for advertised
employment. A PGWP holder who is a recent graduate from Canadian university is unlikely to
obtain an LMIA in support of a work permit or in support of a permanent offer of employment.
CIC representatives have stated clearly that there is a policy shift for foreign students
graduating from Canadian postsecondary institutions. There is no longer to be a smooth
passage to PR status.
In light of the fact that Canadian universities and other postgraduate institutions have
aggressively recruited foreign students to Canada with the enticement of progression to PR
status, we recommend that CIC clearly and promptly notify these institutions that the EE
program will not support most PGWP holders and that easy progression of foreign students in
Canada to PR status is no longer supported by government policy.
RECOMMENDATION:
7. That CIC clearly and promptly notify designated postsecondary institutions
that the EE program will not support most PGWP holders and that easy
progression of foreign students in Canada to PR status is no longer
supported by government policy.
The EE program is unlikely to assist Post-Graduate Employment Work Permit (PGWP) holders.
These individuals will not likely have sufficient Human Capital and Transferability points to
justify ITA without a LMIA. They are also unlikely to qualify for LMIAs. PGWP holders were
previously eligible for LMIAs with waiver of advertising if an employer was offering permanent
employment. That waiver was removed in April 2014.
The overhaul of the Foreign Worker Program in June 2014 imposed new salary requirements
and a more rigorous assessment of availability of Canadian or PR applicants for advertised
employment. A PGWP holder who is a recent graduate from Canadian university is unlikely to
obtain an LMIA in support of a work permit or in support of a permanent offer of employment.
CIC representatives have stated clearly that there is a policy shift for foreign students
graduating from Canadian postsecondary institutions. There is no longer to be a smooth
passage to PR status.
In light of the fact that Canadian universities and other postgraduate institutions have
aggressively recruited foreign students to Canada with the enticement of progression to PR
status, we recommend that CIC clearly and promptly notify these institutions that the EE
program will not support most PGWP holders and that easy progression of foreign students in
Canada to PR status is no longer supported by government policy.
RECOMMENDATION:
7. That CIC clearly and promptly notify designated postsecondary institutions
that the EE program will not support most PGWP holders and that easy
progression of foreign students in Canada to PR status is no longer
supported by government policy.
