LMO for two month paid research internship at a University for an IIT student ?

[ujjwalraghuvanshi18]

Hey,

I am a student of IIT Kharagpur. I have been selected for a 10-week Research Internship Position at the Memorial University of New Foundland.
I have been asked by the professor to acquire the required Visa and Work Permit to enter Canada as a student intern.

I will be paid as I assist them in this research project. The project that I will be working on is related to my department at IIT KHARAGPUR.

I am confused whether I require a LMO or not? My professor said that student intern positions for short term employment do not require the LMO.

Am really confused, what all documents will be required and under what exemption will I not be requiring a LMO. Any other suggestions?

 

[ThreeSquareImm]

At first glace, it would appear that you are LMO exempt according to Regulation 205(c)(i) which reads:

205. Canadian interests - A work permit may be issued under section 200 to a foreign national who intends to perform work that

(c) is designated by the Minister as being work that can be performed by a foreign national on the basis of the following criteria, namely,

(i) the work is related to a research, educational or training program

However, when reading the detailed description of Section 5.37 in the Foreign Worker Manual, there is a "Note" that states:

"This provision only applies to course requirements of Canadian institutions, for students actually studying in Canada. A foreign student who comes to Canada for a year or a term may qualify for C30 if the employment forms an essential and integral part of their course of study in Canada. If the employment is only a requirement of the foreign institution, C30 does not apply."

You may have another option depending on your status as a student right now. If you have your Ph.D or are working towards it, you may be LMO exempt from 205 (c)(ii) Public policy, competitiveness and economy.

Subsection D of 5.38 of FW1 states:

"Post-doctoral fellows holding a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) or its equivalent are appointed to a time-limited position granting a stipend or a salary to compensate for periods of teaching, advanced study and/or research. It is work designated to obtain the highest expertise possible in a particular discipline and candidates are chosen on the basis of academic excellence.

The applicant must have completed, or expects to complete, their doctorate shortly and be working in a related field to that in which they earned, or are earning, their Ph.D, to be exempt from an LMO - as long as the Canadian university has accepted the person as as post-doctorate fellow"

Hope this clarifies things for you.

 

[ujjwalraghuvanshi18]

Thanks for your reply.

Wanted to get a few things clarified :

How do MITACS students go without LMO?
How is my case different from theirs?
I am doing a project related to my field of study, I am not picking up any permanent job. I had a similar research interest and hence I contacted the professor to help me broaden my horizon. He helped me by inviting me to assist him in his project.

Its not because of money but knowledge that this is happening, also the salary is there for me to sustain myself in Canada for 2 months. Isn't there a clear cut mention of my situation, difficult to find links related to my situation and someone who can actually clarify the situation. No proper guidance available at the website.

 

[ThreeSquareImm]

Well it looks that MITACS support post-doctoral fellows. Hence, I think that they would qualify for being LMO-exempt under 205 (C)(ii)(D)

I think you should read and download the Foreign Worker Manual for yourself. Google, "FW1 Foreign Worker Manual."

You should approach it in this manner. I work in this field and have seen similar cases to this:

1) Get as much documentation as you can from the school inviting you such as invitation letters, letters of support and so on.
2) Comb through the FW1 and pick out the relevant sections that are helping your case (similar to a research paper)
3) Apply for a Work Permit
4) Construct a cover letter where you outline why you are LMO-exempt according to the passages you have sourced in step 2.

That is all you can do. You can hire a lawyer or consultant but at the end of the day, we will be doing those 4 steps for you, at a fee. If you are English-speaking and educated, which you are, then you should be able to do this yourself.

Similarly, but I don't think will be that feasible, is you could apply for a study permit which allows you to work on-campus. However, you will need a letter of acceptance, which I don't think the school would provide.

You will have success applying for a work permit without an LMO given you provide a compelling argument and have demonstrated that you:
1) Have sufficient grounds to return home (ties to your country)
2) Have clearly gone through the manuals and the IRPA to find evidence supporting your claim
3) Your contribution to the school with help Canada in some way (through exchange of knowledge)

Hope this helps

 

[ujjwalraghuvanshi18]

Thanks a ton.

I think this helps even the embassy replied with some similarity, I may be exempted if I show that I benefit CANADA in some social, cultural & economic way (my case).

Well will be hiring a Consultant to do all the paperwork, all this will help me knowing my chances. Thanks again

 

[sue_in]

Hey,

I am a student of IIT Kharagpur. I have been selected for a 10-week Research Internship Position at the Memorial University of New Foundland.
I have been asked by the professor to acquire the required Visa and Work Permit to enter Canada as a student intern.

I will be paid as I assist them in this research project. The project that I will be working on is related to my department at IIT KHARAGPUR.

I am confused whether I require a LMO or not? My professor said that student intern positions for short term employment do not require the LMO.

Am really confused, what all documents will be required and under what exemption will I not be requiring a LMO. Any other suggestions?

As the project I am supposed to work on was going to start this September but my PhD studies wil start in Jan 2013, I had asked my prof if I could come to Canada to assist him in the research work early. He has specifically told me that I'd be requiring a work permit for that duration. I am not aware about the LMO requirements, but the best way is to clarify things from the embassy itself. Consultants don't help much. And the procedures for most of things are pretty straightforward.

 

[ujjwalraghuvanshi18]

Yeah LMO is not needed...consulted the embassy....they replied in an email.