Employer Wants Me to Volunteer Before LMIA: Risks

[CN2025]

Hi everyone,

My PR application was recently refused, and my employer couldn’t support me with an LMIA to extend my work permit. I have since applied for a Visitor Record, and before leaving Canada, I’m trying to secure a new job with an employer willing to go through the LMIA process.

I had an interview that went well, but the potential employer asked if I would be open to volunteering with them first so they can assess my competencies before committing to an LMIA. They mentioned it would be unpaid, but it could lead to an LMIA if things go well.

I really don’t want to do anything that could jeopardize my future immigration applications (including LMIA or PR). Has anyone been in a similar situation, or knows if volunteering in this context could be considered unauthorized work? What would be the best way to handle this?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[YVR123]

Yes. It's unauthorized unpaid work. Any job, paid or not, that would have been paid for is considered work.
Volunteer is only for positions that's NOT being paid regardless of who is doing it. (e.g. charity event that have volunteers to greet attendants, hobby club executives that wouldn't been a paid position anyway. )

 

[canuck78]

Hi everyone,

My PR application was recently refused, and my employer couldn’t support me with an LMIA to extend my work permit. I have since applied for a Visitor Record, and before leaving Canada, I’m trying to secure a new job with an employer willing to go through the LMIA process.

I had an interview that went well, but the potential employer asked if I would be open to volunteering with them first so they can assess my competencies before committing to an LMIA. They mentioned it would be unpaid, but it could lead to an LMIA if things go well.

I really don’t want to do anything that could jeopardize my future immigration applications (including LMIA or PR). Has anyone been in a similar situation, or knows if volunteering in this context could be considered unauthorized work? What would be the best way to handle this?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

This is not an option your employer would be employees someone without status and you would be working illegally. I’m not sure the employer realizes that they would be technically employing someone without status even if you volunteered.

 

[scylla]

Hi everyone,

My PR application was recently refused, and my employer couldn’t support me with an LMIA to extend my work permit. I have since applied for a Visitor Record, and before leaving Canada, I’m trying to secure a new job with an employer willing to go through the LMIA process.

I had an interview that went well, but the potential employer asked if I would be open to volunteering with them first so they can assess my competencies before committing to an LMIA. They mentioned it would be unpaid, but it could lead to an LMIA if things go well.

I really don’t want to do anything that could jeopardize my future immigration applications (including LMIA or PR). Has anyone been in a similar situation, or knows if volunteering in this context could be considered unauthorized work? What would be the best way to handle this?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Others are correct. This will be classified as illegal work.

 

[CN2025]

Thanks, everyone!