Question about LMO, Work Permit, etc.

[jeffchwai]

Dear all,

I came across this website when I am searching internet for LMO and Work Permit issues. I found this forum helpful and I might get some advices here. My case is a little bit complicated and thus I'd like open a new topic here.

I am an international student studying in Alberta and I have been living in Canada for 10 years. I received my B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering in 2008 and applied a Post Graduation Work Permit which expired this May (2011). I could not find a full time job till June 2009 and I decided to go back school to pursue an M.Sc. degree. So I kinda wasted my PGWP while I am studying again. I expect to finish this degree by the end of this semester and I have applied for PR under Canadian Experience Class (FYI, using research assistant) a few weeks ago.

I have been looking for full time jobs these days, and I had an interview last week. It went well and they contacted my references and today I received an email that I am not given an offer purely because of the LMO thing:

...
Unfortunately, we cannot offer you a position at XXX at this time. Our decision was difficult and at the end, was purely a question of being able to defend an LMO with the number of candidates available. We were very impressed with you in the interview, and you did well on both tests.
...

I wonder if anyone knows there are any tricky pieces in my case that could give me a little bit more advantage to turn this around or to have better luck to hunt for job in the future? I do not have many work experience and I believe it will be tough if I am looking for entry level/ junior level jobs. I also do not know if I hold any implied status for any good use.

Finally, if in the future I received a positive LMO from company Y, can I work using my off campus work permit while I am applying the temporary work permit?

Thank you alot for your help.

Regards,

-Jeff

 

[jeffchwai]

no one?

 

[JGK]

What they are saying is that because they have many applicants who are either Canadian or already have PR they cannot offer you the job as Service Canada would never approve the LMO.

Entry level jobs in any field will be extremely hard to get for a foreign worker, as any employer will have to show they couldn't get an entry level employee from the available workforce. As Canada doesn't have 0% unemployment this will be nearly impossible.

 

[jeffchwai]

I wonder how did international students get the LMO years ago when they finished their study in Canada.

 

[PMM]

Hi

I wonder how did international students get the LMO years ago when they finished their study in Canada.

1. Prior to 2002 there was no PGWP, so students had to get LMOs to work in Canada. More jobs. Less temporary workers. 93K TWP in 2005 and over 200K in 2010.

 

[JGK]

Also based on my experience many students on PGWPs finish their studies and start work with enough time on the PGWP to qualify for PNP or get through and Inland PR application before it expires.

 

[HBK]

what you think about entry level position in oil and gas industry in canada? is there shortage for this industry?