+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

googler

Star Member
Nov 1, 2012
52
1
Hello senior members

I am currently working full-time for a Canadian employer in a professional job with a post-graduate work permit. I was wondering if I need to obtain an LMIA (or LMO) if I want to get the extra 600 points in the express entry system.

I found this link on CIC website for the current FSW program:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=698&t=6

Also, Canada Gazette page for the express entry defines the "qualifying offer of arranged employment" as this:

“qualifying offer of arranged employment” means an offer of employment, in an occupation listed in Skill Type 0 Management Occupations or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification matrix, that is made to a foreign national by an employer other than an embassy, high commission or consulate in Canada or an employer that appears on the list referred to in subsection 209.91(3) of the Regulations, for full-time work in Canada that is non-seasonal and indeterminate and that is supported by an opinion that was provided by the Department of Employment and Social Development.

http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2014/2014-12-01-x10/html/extra10-eng.php

Thanks for your comments on this.
 
This question has already been discussed to death here several times. If you want the 600 points then you need an approved LMIA.
 
scylla said:
This question has already been discussed to death here several times. If you want the 600 points then you need an approved LMIA.

Agreed!
 
scylla said:
This question has already been discussed to death here several times. If you want the 600 points then you need an approved LMIA.

I think what you mean is that this question has been argued to death here several times, with people usually ending up throwing personal insults at others when reaching the end of their arguments.

There is nothing to DISCUSS, really. The published Ministerial Instructions and CIC itself could not have been much more clear: to get 600 points you need to either have Provincial Nomination or a "qualifying offer of arranged employment", which is defined in the Mins. Instructions as a job offer with LMIA.

There is no way around the LMIA requirement. It applies to everyone, regardless of whether they're already in Canada working. If your job offer doesn't have LMIA, it's not worth the paper it's printed on as far as Express Entry is concerned.

The former foreign students now on work permits are deluded if they think they're going to get 600 points without LMIA. It's gonna be fun to watch them claim 600 points in their EE profile, only to find out they're going to be asked for LMIA Case Approval Numbers from CIC when it's time to apply. And without that, rejection letters will reach their mail boxes.

On a related topic, Express Entry in itself is open to a lot of abuse that will eventually make it highly ineffective. If you think about it, it's free to create a profile, and anyone in the whole wide world can create one (possibly many profiles). There are no occupation restrictions any more so there'll be the same flood of profiles as applications before the 2008 reforms when anyone could apply. I suspect a lot of people will be putting in several fake or embellished profiles what won't hold up to scrutiny if an application was filed based on an invitation to that profile.

All in all, CIC might find that as much as 90% of the applications resulting from the invitations have resulted in refusals since the initial profiles were misrepresentations of the real candidate's skills. Then maybe the light will dawn: no matter how you administer the federal skilled worker program, it's stupid. Skills aren't up to Canadian standards and don't readily transfer into the Canadian job market.
 
Wow... Such an eye opening read.


marcus66502 said:
I think what you mean is that this question has been argued to death here several times, with people usually ending up throwing personal insults at others when reaching the end of their arguments.

There is nothing to DISCUSS, really. The published Ministerial Instructions and CIC itself could not have been much more clear: to get 600 points you need to either have Provincial Nomination or a "qualifying offer of arranged employment", which is defined in the Mins. Instructions as a job offer with LMIA.

There is no way around the LMIA requirement. It applies to everyone, regardless of whether they're already in Canada working. If your job offer doesn't have LMIA, it's not worth the paper it's printed on as far as Express Entry is concerned.

The former foreign students now on work permits are deluded if they think they're going to get 600 points without LMIA. It's gonna be fun to watch them claim 600 points in their EE profile, only to find out they're going to be asked for LMIA Case Approval Numbers from CIC when it's time to apply. And without that, rejection letters will reach their mail boxes.

On a related topic, Express Entry in itself is open to a lot of abuse that will eventually make it highly ineffective. If you think about it, it's free to create a profile, and anyone in the whole wide world can create one (possibly many profiles). There are no occupation restrictions any more so there'll be the same flood of profiles as applications before the 2008 reforms when anyone could apply. I suspect a lot of people will be putting in several fake or embellished profiles what won't hold up to scrutiny if an application was filed based on an invitation to that profile.

All in all, CIC might find that as much as 90% of the applications resulting from the invitations have resulted in refusals since the initial profiles were misrepresentations of the real candidate's skills. Then maybe the light will dawn: no matter how you administer the federal skilled worker program, it's stupid. Skills aren't up to Canadian standards and don't readily transfer into the Canadian job market.