Current LMO processing times Jan 2014

[stopDA]

Hello All,
My employer applied for my LMO application on February 6,2014. And they asked to update the Overtime wages on the application form on March 24,2014. got the positive response on March 28th.
Location: Ontario/NOC code :3142
Good luck everyone

Was this a named or unnamed LMO?

 

[SSPT]

Named ! My head office is in Northern Ontario ! So I guess it may have an impact on the time line as well

 

[amelia1727]

I know the reason why it was faster for you to get the LMO. NOC code is 3142hysiotherapist. Since you are a skilled worker and Canada is lacking for people with those skills thats why government gave you the lmo because they needed people that are considered highly skilled.

I am in Canada and processing LMO for workers in the hospitality industry so based on my experience answering question for employers is pretty basic its just needs to have a back up and employers should have lots of knowledge getting foreign worker.

Its not about the place since all places in Canada has locals so basically they have workers (for low skilled workers). It also depends on the employer's background like how many did they fired out for the past few years.

In Canada, lots of people are misused the TFW system. Especially agencies - they will get lots of money from the applicant eventhough we all know that is ILLEGAL. But being transparent to TFW, having a good opportunity outside of your country is well ok'd to pay heck of $$$. Ex: Agency usually get $4000-$6000 per employee. Initial contract in Canada will be 2 years so basically you'll just paying $250 per month (6000x24months) in order to stay and work here. Plus, you have the right to immigrate not unlike other countries.

 

[stopDA]

Plus, you have the right to immigrate not unlike other countries.

In all honesty, this long LMO process is beginning to make me feel unwelcome by Canada. By 'Canada', I'm referring to both the government and some of the locals (i.e. employers who are extremely rude or smug when rejecting foreign applicants). I've actually lost quite a bit of respect for Canada as a result of this. Had I not lived in Canada before, I'd probably think that most or all Canadians are like this.

 

[amelia1727]

Actually, the main objective of the government why they hire foreign worker is NOT to replace any locals but instead filling up the needs for the business to function. Having said that, government also avoid companies to use TFW especially if they will have locals to take in the job.

Being on the side of the TFW - getting and waiting for LMO is hard - actually to difficult to get in right now, but its also for your own good. Numerous situation where there are 1000+ of TFW are being employed by Canadian employers that are always on the hardest position since there permit to stay in Canada is only based on their permit. Employers tend to misuse them. Most employer will ask you work beyond what's written on your permit with the rate that is much more lower for the task that your usually asked for. Some TFW, are being paid in half than what they should have. Some employers don't even pay for OT. And this is ILLEGAL! But if you are a TFW its so hard to get an employer to issue a new LMO so TFW are staying with those bad employers. If LMO is easy employers will get this chance to overused TFW in any way. Also, TFW will not stay with the current employer even with slightest reason because its easy to move jobs.

This are the things why the government have to be strict. Anyway, LMO is application by employer not by the applicant. So, we don't have to be stressed about it.

I remember the time that it was so easy to go here. There's an employer employed me during that time (I was in the USA), they provided me with LMO so I applied for working visa. I got the visa so I thought everything was checked only to found out that employer who signed on my contract and provided me with lmo DID NOT even know that they are hiring me. When I got here, since its too hard to find a job an employer in SK employed me as Front Desk Clerk with under the table payment. The rate supposedly $10/hr during that time but when I started he only gave me $5 since he told me that I don't have yet a proper documentation here in Canada. On that $5 I have to think my accommodation rent, food, transportation and not entitled for medical insurance. If you were in my situation you and barely new in the place whereas you don't know anyone, you also have limited access to cash. Do you think that doing the right is the option? Of course not, you'll be forced to stay with $5 employer. Everyone doesn't want to be in a situation of hardship and this are the things that the government is trying to avoid.

Just shedding some thoughts and actual experience.

 

[amelia1727]

In all honesty, this long LMO process is beginning to make me feel unwelcome by Canada. By 'Canada', I'm referring to both the government and some of the locals (i.e. employers who are extremely rude or smug when rejecting foreign applicants). I've actually lost quite a bit of respect for Canada as a result of this. Had I not lived in Canada before, I'd probably think that most or all Canadians are like this.

Canada does not need to welcome everyone. Not all Canadians are like that don't worry.

 

[ramrey5264]

I been waiting for a LMO in Alberta for 20 weeks now. the application was submitted in the middle of October 2013 by an immigration consultant office, I been told from them, that the process is been slow, because due to the changes the government is been making to immigration issues, last November and December they stop LMO processing, and then they start to process again in January. Does any body knows if this is true?.

 

[amelia1727]

I been waiting for a LMO in Alberta for 20 weeks now. the application was submitted in the middle of October 2013 by an immigration consultant office, I been told from them, that the process is been slow, because due to the changes the government is been making to immigration issues, last November and December they stop LMO processing, and then they start to process again in January. Does any body knows if this is true?.

Yes this is true. Tried submitting LMO for one of my client on September got a response in February and its negative LMO. They are strict nowadays compare to early last year. Early trimester of 2013 government has been given opportunity to companies to hire foreign worker. like LMO in a heartbeat. Now, companies are asking to lighten the burden of hiring tfw, there is a news for ALberta that they lighten the process by end of april. There is no confirmation yet coming from the government side.

 

[stopDA]

Canada does not need to welcome everyone. Not all Canadians are like that don't worry.

Canada "does not need" to welcome everyone? Exactly what are you implying when you say that? It doesn't matter if it's their country or not, if an employer' answer is "no", they don't have to be rude or smug about it. Sometimes, it makes me wonder whether this image of acceptance and non-xenophobia that the government and people like to brag about, is nothing but a big lie. They just probably feel safer being rude over the phone to a foreigner who's very far away and can't make them look bad. If you're not willing to hire a foreign worker, just simply say "no". There's no need to be rude or arrogant.

About your other post regarding the need for changes to the TFW program. Yes, I'm glad that new safety measures are in place to protect foreign workers. But again, I don't like your choice of words when saying, "Canada does not need to welcome everyone." It sounds like you're implying that Canadians can be as rude and uncivil as they want to anyone who actually wants to move to Canada and be a productive member of society. Basic civility and professionalism shouldn't be a privilege reserved only for Canadian job applicants. I was highly enthusiastic about moving back to Canada and making my fair contribution to a society I liked by working at my job, paying my taxes, spending my money into the local economy to help support economic growth and reinforcing the trend of friendliness and modern progressivism (qualities that made Canada a great place in my books). But nowadays, it seems like people are acting like it's a very grave crime to even want to move to Canada at all (whether you intend to be productive or a social drain). The belief in Canadian friendliness and inclusion fueled my enthusiasm about contributing and the combination of rude/snarky/smug/arrogant/xenophobic employers with excessive government red tape is really putting a strain on those beliefs. Thankfully, I managed to find a few employers who were nice and humble every step of the way. However, I really call into question whether this is the norm (albeit a hidden, behind-closed-doors one) or if those were just outliers.

 

[amelia1727]

Canada "does not need" to welcome everyone? Exactly what are you implying when you say that? It doesn't matter if it's their country or not, if an employer' answer is "no", they don't have to be rude or smug about it.

i dont know what kind of meaning you put into it. but it does not mean any harsh at all. Some people are just based on the choice of words used without thinking the biggest picture behind it. Yes, Canada do not need to welcome everyone and i dont see any negativity from those words, thats why they have strict rules on going here.

Thats why they have "rejected" and "approved" application. If they see everything is good with your application then they will permit you. Try watching Canada Border show to give you an insight how immigration officer how to deal with all entrants. Its not being rude sayig those things but its just the reality.

 

[stopDA]

i dont know what kind of meaning you put into it. but it does not mean any harsh at all. Some people are just based on the choice of words used without thinking the biggest picture behind it. Yes, Canada do not need to welcome everyone and i dont see any negativity from those words, thats why they have strict rules on going here.

Thats why they have "rejected" and "approved" application. If they see everything is good with your application then they will permit you. Try watching Canada Border show to give you an insight how immigration officer how to deal with all entrants. Its not being rude sayig those things but its just the reality.

You don't seem to have understood my post. I'm mainly referring to how rude and smug some of my potential employers were during my job hunt. A very high proportion of them were unnecessarily rude and smug in a xenophobic way and this is beginning to make me think that the people of Canada don't want immigrants living there at all, despite this image of friendliness and inclusion that they so love to claim and brag about. Just because they permit you to be there, it doesn't mean that they're not reluctant to have you in their country.

In layman's terms, I'm beginning to think that your average Canadian is very xenophobic. This xenophobia probably manifests itself in a very subtle way if you're already in Canada, but if you're overseas, they're more likely to tell you what they really think of you. Therefore, I feel less welcome by Canada and quite frankly, I'm beginning to lose respect for the country since I have sufficient reason to believe that Canada's probably not the country I thought it was. I never had this problem with rude, smug people when I was living there. But then again, they could have just been more subtle about what they really thought of foreigners to prevent getting any bad press that attacks their superficial image of immigrant-friendliness.

 

[stopDA]

Actually, the main objective of the government why they hire foreign worker is NOT to replace any locals but instead filling up the needs for the business to function. Having said that, government also avoid companies to use TFW especially if they will have locals to take in the job.

Being on the side of the TFW - getting and waiting for LMO is hard - actually to difficult to get in right now, but its also for your own good. Numerous situation where there are 1000+ of TFW are being employed by Canadian employers that are always on the hardest position since there permit to stay in Canada is only based on their permit. Employers tend to misuse them. Most employer will ask you work beyond what's written on your permit with the rate that is much more lower for the task that your usually asked for. Some TFW, are being paid in half than what they should have. Some employers don't even pay for OT. And this is ILLEGAL! But if you are a TFW its so hard to get an employer to issue a new LMO so TFW are staying with those bad employers. If LMO is easy employers will get this chance to overused TFW in any way. Also, TFW will not stay with the current employer even with slightest reason because its easy to move jobs.

This are the things why the government have to be strict. Anyway, LMO is application by employer not by the applicant. So, we don't have to be stressed about it.

I remember the time that it was so easy to go here. There's an employer employed me during that time (I was in the USA), they provided me with LMO so I applied for working visa. I got the visa so I thought everything was checked only to found out that employer who signed on my contract and provided me with lmo DID NOT even know that they are hiring me. When I got here, since its too hard to find a job an employer in SK employed me as Front Desk Clerk with under the table payment. The rate supposedly $10/hr during that time but when I started he only gave me $5 since he told me that I don't have yet a proper documentation here in Canada. On that $5 I have to think my accommodation rent, food, transportation and not entitled for medical insurance. If you were in my situation you and barely new in the place whereas you don't know anyone, you also have limited access to cash. Do you think that doing the right is the option? Of course not, you'll be forced to stay with $5 employer. Everyone doesn't want to be in a situation of hardship and this are the things that the government is trying to avoid.

Just shedding some thoughts and actual experience.

Anyway, I'll give Canadians the benefit of the doubt for now and just write off all those rude and smug prospective employers as outliers. For all I know, I could have probably just been looking in all the wrong places and ended up encountering the very people who these LMO changes are targeted at (people who misuse the TFW program), who are probably not very nice to begin with.

Now, on this whole LMO waiting issue, I'm really getting tired of waiting. After all the waiting, the failed LMOs, approved LMOs which my name didn't end up on, and the rude potential employers (none of whom I'm waiting on anymore), I'm just at the end of my tolerance and would like for it to be over already. Tomorrow makes the 12-week mark and I think that my employer did everything right this time. How long can I expect to wait for this LMO result? A week, a month, a year?

 

[Pippin]

Does it make any difference to processing if the employer has offered the position before the LMO application is made?

 

[stopDA]

Does it make any difference to processing if the employer has offered the position before the LMO application is made?

I'm not quite sure what you're asking but if you're asking if LMO processing times are affected by whether it's a named or unnamed LMO, then yes. It makes a difference whether your LMO is named or unnamed. I heard that it's much faster when the employer applies for unnamed LMO positions and then adds the names later.

 

[Pippin]

I'm not quite sure what you're asking but if you're asking if LMO processing times are affected by whether it's a named or unnamed LMO, then yes. It makes a difference whether your LMO is named or unnamed. I heard that it's much faster when the employer applies for unnamed LMO positions and then adds the names later.

Yes that's exactly what I wanted to know. Actually pleased if that is the case although I don't understand why? Have you any ideas why?