Did you get an LMIA?

[kikori]

Hello everyone. I'm currently holding an PWGP that's due to expire in October 2016 with a score of 448 points. I thought my odds might be good considering the cutoff during March 27, 2015 was 453, but after looking at the cutoff trend more closely at the online document "Express Entry results: Previous rounds of invitations", and it seems like the the cutoff never went below 450 even after 9 months. Because of this, I'm a little bit concerned about what I should do next.

I've been freelancing as a software developer, but now I think I should apply for a full-time job and have the employer back it with an LMIA. I wanted to ask if anyone has any success applying for it? How were you able to convince your employer to apply it for you. I've been told by lawyers that it's impossible to get one, but I'd like to think otherwise. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[JoacRy]

The reality is that an LMIA is costly, time consuming and places the entire burden on the Employer. The employee is not allowed to finance it. It is required to show that the Employer cannot recruit a Canadian to do the job. Next to impossible if you live in a big city and almost zero chance if you profession/occupation is saturated with qualified employees in the job market.

You are better off to seek a Provincial Nomination. This is also costly but places the entire burden on you (not the Employer). At the moment Ontario is sending PNP letters of interest to candidates with a CRS score of 400/or more.

Due to a technical glitch you may have to re-create your profile and select all Provinces in terms of where you choose to live.

I would advise you to.consider before applying as you should demonstrate a genuine intention of living in the Province.

Hope this helps.

 

[Georgesand]

Most lawyers also advised me that LMIA is almost impossible...But on the threat some people still get it but it does seem very hard.

As far as PNP is concerned, I am now in BC, in a business program. Seems like they don't have any PNP programs I am eligible for :'( :'( Most are just for sciences students and those who want to work in the oil industry. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[kikori]

"Due to a technical glitch you may have to re-create your profile and select all Provinces in terms of where you choose to live."

How do I know if I'm affected by this technical glitch? I guess I should just recreate my express entry profile just to be on the safe side?

With regards to the difficulty of getting an LMIA, I would imagine it's only slightly harder than getting an LMO. LMO also had a requirement that the Employer cannot recruit a Canadian to do the job, yet there were more than 30,000+ organization who received a positive LMO between 2010 and 2012 (i.e. Tim Hortons, Subway, Second Cup, RBC, etc..) I'm thinking that LMIA is just another form/application that's just another task list for the HR department, so the burden on the hiring manager shouldn't be as much. Obviously, it's also wishful thinking on my end. I do realize that it's still a hurdle.

I'll take a look more into the provincial nominee program. Hopefully, i'll get an invite for it. Let me know if I really need to recreate my profile due to a possible glitch. I didn't see any email/announcement regarding this...Thanks!

 

[JoacRy]

"Due to a technical glitch you may have to re-create your profile and select all Provinces in terms of where you choose to live."

How do I know if I'm affected by this technical glitch? I guess I should just recreate my express entry profile just to be on the safe side?

With regards to the difficulty of getting an LMIA, I would imagine it's only slightly harder than getting an LMO. LMO also had a requirement that the Employer cannot recruit a Canadian to do the job, yet there were more than 30,000+ organization who received a positive LMO between 2010 and 2012 (i.e. Tim Hortons, Subway, Second Cup, RBC, etc..) I'm thinking that LMIA is just another form/application that's just another task list for the HR department, so the burden on the hiring manager shouldn't be as much. Obviously, it's also wishful thinking on my end. I do realize that it's still a hurdle.

I'll take a look more into the provincial nominee program. Hopefully, i'll get an invite for it. Let me know if I really need to recreate my profile due to a possible glitch. I didn't see any email/announcement regarding this...Thanks!

Everyone who created their profile before a certain date (not sure what date that is) was supposedly affected by this technical glitch.

I have not done this myself but from what others wrote on the Forum once your re-create your profile and select that you are interested in living in 'All provinces', Ontario sends them a Letter of Interest to apply (if their CRS score is over 400).

Some people say they have got it straight away after re-creating the profile, others say they waited a few days and some say they have not received at all. As I say I have no personal experience because I chose not to re-create my profile.

 

[kikori]

I just read from "ontarioimmigration.ca/en/pnp/OI_PNP_EE_CAPITAL_HOW.html" that they only check for candidates who submitted an Express Entry profile on June 1st or after. Since I submitted it on Feb, I should definitely recreate my profile if I want to go for the PNP-EE.

How come you decided not to recreate your profile?

 

[JoacRy]

The thing is I got an ITA which I declined the first time with my score and I then got a 2nd one as well which I will probably decline. The system has given me more points than I'm entitled to for 1 year of experience. I will wait until my 1 year experience hits and then probably do it. At the moment its pointless for me as my score which I'm getting (even though not entitled to) is in the range that the last 2 draws have been. I might wait until my '1 year' of experience hits and then re-create my profile if the draw score goes higher than 466.