cost for obtaining an LMO/work visa or use consultant?

[burntoinge]

Hi there,

I am just wondering how much it costs in fees to try to obtain an LMO/work visa for an employer. I want to be able to pay for the fees myself so an employer would be more likely to help me with applying for the LMO, but I want to know how much it costs because I hear there are criminal background checks and etc.

Is it good to hire a consultant to handle all of that paperwork if you don't want your potential employer to have to deal with it or do consultants/lawyers charge a hefty fee just to do something I could do myself? And could I even do the paperwork myself for the employer? or is it just the employer or a consultant that are able to apply for the LMO?

I have read that consultants are a bit cheaper than lawyers, but can they handle any paperwork or do they just give advice? Funds are rather limited for me. :/

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hi there,

I am just wondering how much it costs in fees to try to obtain an LMO/work visa for an employer. I want to be able to pay for the fees myself so an employer would be more likely to help me with applying for the LMO, but I want to know how much it costs because I hear there are criminal background checks and etc.

Is it good to hire a consultant to handle all of that paperwork if you don't want your potential employer to have to deal with it or do consultants/lawyers charge a hefty fee just to do something I could do myself? And could I even do the paperwork myself for the employer? or is it just the employer or a consultant that are able to apply for the LMO?

I have read that consultants are a bit cheaper than lawyers, but can they handle any paperwork or do they just give advice? Funds are rather limited for me. :/

1. There are no fees for an employer to apply for an LMO to HRSDC.
2. It is only the employer that can apply for an LMO>

 

[burntoinge]

Ok, but what if I am from the USA? I was under the impression that I would need to get a medical exam, background check, etc. and those cost money I thought?

My boyfriend just obtained his LMO and his employer went through "Montreal International." I am wondering if anyone knows what that company is? It's hard to really tell from their website, in my opinion.

So if I were to be looking for a work visa, I would have to find a company who would be willing to take the time to send the paperwork for my LMO? They would not have to pay anything?

 

[imatwkrp]

Those of us from the USA almost always need a prospective employer. We do not always need medical exams, which entirely depend on the nature of the job you've been hired for.

I quote the CIC http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-eligible.asp#outside website:

Eligibility to apply from outside Canada
To apply for a work permit from outside Canada, you must submit the following documents:

•a job offer from a Canadian employer
•a completed application, that shows that you meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, and
•written confirmation from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) that the employer can hire a foreign worker to fill the job. This confirmation is called a positive labour market opinion.
◦In most cases, it is up to your employer to get that written confirmation. Information on the labour market opinion is found under Information for Canadian employers on the right-hand side of this page.
◦In some cases, you do not need a labour market opinion. (See Jobs that require a work permit but no labour market opinion.)

 

[imatwkrp]

Also, ALL employers who are in a position to hire you have to be willing to take the time to submit the paperwork for an LMO! They can't hire you unless they do (legally). Any company that tells you they need money from YOU to file for an LMO is fraudulent. They are trying to talk you into giving them money for something which every employer has to do if they are considering an application from a non-Canadian.

My experience was that I saw a job ad for a position in Canada. I wrote and sent in my application for the job. Then the prospective employer asked to interview me, decided to offer me the job, and once I accepted it, only then did they submit the paperwork for the LMO.

You do not hire a company to file for an LMO. You apply for a job. When you get the job, then the hiring company applies for the LMO.

Once the (free) LMO came back to the employer as a positive result, then I paid only the application fee for my Work Permit, which is $150. Any consultant or handling company will charge you further money over and above that fee. So if you get a job offer letter from a Canadian employer, you will have to pay the application fee for the work permit. If you then also wish to hire a consultant or immigration specialist to help with your application, then you'll be paying them for the appilcation fee as well as their services. Save yourself some money and just pay the fee and file the application, yourself!

I hope this helps. I know that it all feels mysterious and confusing.