Seeking a Job?

[Pharoh]

Greetings all,

I'm open to the idea of getting a work permit (upon getting a job offer from an employer, who was able to get an LMO). I've yet to apply anywhere, but I figured if I can get a work permit, I can work and be with my spouse (whilst processing under outland), as opposed to sitting on the couch while waiting for PR, while she works.

I'm curious, when doing a cover letter (or sending an email, detailing myself, my profession, my background, etc), is it appropriate to mention the need for an LMO, in the event "a canadian employer" is interested in me? I feel like most employers wouldn't know what an LMO is, though the people I'd be dealing with probably wouldn't have much to do with that, as it'd be mainly Human Resources, I think.

I would think it'd be important to note that "I'm ineligible to work until I've received permanent residency, or received an LMO-approved job offer...", but maybe I'm wrong.

Please advise.

Thanks!

 

[arron]

I want to say that in the interest of being up front and honest, you should mention it right off the bat, but...

Chances are that if you are in a pool against several candidates around the same qualifications and experience, the HR person is going to pick the one who can start work right away without messing around with a LMO. Of course it really depends on the job, the qualifications necessary for it, and the amount of people going for it. If it is something very specialized then I think you could probably mention the need for a LMO. Because isn't that the reason for LMO's in the first place? You start looking for people outside the normal canadian work force only when you really can't find anyone qualified and available.

 

[Pharoh]

Thanks for the response, arron.

I guess I'll include the need for an LMO in my letters. I do work a specialized profession (not quite as specialized as say, a brain surgeon), but a skill that not everyone has, and every company needs.

I don't see very many threads about getting LMO's on here, when it comes to waiting out the PR process with your spouse. I'm guessing that's due to the difficulty of actually getting hired? Do most people just figure it's not worth the effort?

 

[scylla]

Pharoh -

I think the main challenge is the length of time it takes to obtain an LMO. Most job openings are posted with the intention of filling the roll as soon as possible (i.e. yesterday) and the idea of waiting several months often just isn't possible. If you have specialized/rare skills, then I think that's certainly a big benefit and you may find an organization that's willing to go forward with the LMO.

I've been involved in the hiring for several roles where we received applications from candidates that required LMOs. However because they were for positions that we could fill easily with Canadian candidates (e.g. project managers, senior business analysts) we didn't even consider the LMO candidates.

You should definitely try! I also very (very) strongly agree that you should mention the LMO requirements in your covering letter. Good luck!

 

[Pharoh]

Hey scyllia,

Thanks for the information. As I mentioned in another thread, I'm an IT Professional... or IT Analyst... or Computer Support Technician... I don't know what my official title is, and I've been with my company for years. I work at a help desk, for a company of about 200, and walk around the building fixing computer stuff, taking phone calls, etc. I've got certifications, experience, and a degree, but there's plenty of Canadian IT people, so getting a job before my PR may be difficult.

There's plenty of 'geeks' to be found up North, so there's probably no need for someone like me, at least that would require going through the pain of an LMO. I'm probably not as 'specialized' as I originally thought.

 

[Siouxie]

Would it be possible to work remotely (doing work over the internet or telephone for a foreign based company or own company)? If you could, as long as you are paid into a bank account outside of Canada then you wouldn't be contravening the work permit requirements.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/fw/fw01-eng.pdf section 5:1

Examples of activities for which a person would not normally be remunerated or which
would not compete directly with Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents in the
Canadian labour market and which would normally be part-time or incidental to the reason
that the person is in Canada include, but are not limited to:

• volunteer work for which a person would not normally be remunerated, such as sitting on the
board of a charity or religious institution; being a ‘big brother’ or ‘big sister’ to a child; being on
the telephone line at a rape crisis centre. (Normally this activity would be part time and
incidental to the main reason that a person is in Canada);

• unremunerated help by a friend or family member during a visit, such as a mother assisting a
daughter with childcare, or an uncle helping his nephew build his own cottage;

• long distance (by telephone or internet) work done by a temporary resident whose employer
is outside Canada and who is remunerated from outside Canada;

• self-employment where the work to be done would have no real impact on the labour market,
nor really provide an opportunity for Canadians. Examples include a U.S. farmer crossing the
border to work on fields that he owns, or a miner coming to work on his own claim.

There may be other types of unpaid short-term work where the work is really incidental to the
main reason that a person is visiting Canada and is not a competitive activity, even though nonmonetary
valuable consideration is received. For instance, if a tourist wishes to stay on a family
farm and work part time just for room and board for a short period (i.e., 1-4 weeks), this person
would not be considered a worker.

We recognize that there may be overlap in activities that we do not consider to be work and those
activities which are defined as work not requiring a work permit in R186. However, the net effect
(no work permit required) is the same

Part 9, Division 3 – Work without a permit
R186 and R187 describe the types of work which a foreign national is authorized to do without
having to obtain a work permit.

R187 states:

(3) For the purpose of subsection (1), a foreign national seeks to engage in international business activities in Canada without directly entering the Canadian labour market only if

(a) the primary source of remuneration for the business activities is outside Canada; and
(b) the principal place of business and actual place of accrual of profits remain predominately outside Canada.