Swede in Canada on working holiday visa that's about to expire...

[swede82]

Hi there. I'm a 30 year old man from Sweden here in Canada on a working holiday visa that expires on Sunday September 23.
For the last 3 months I have been working at a Canadian company within my trade (I went to school here and earned my diploma in web design) and they stated when I started that they were interested in hiring me, to provide me with a new visa once my current visa expires. The time has now come and Ive done some research on how to get my new visa. We originally planned to apply for an LMO and then apply for a temporary work permit. I thought since I have a job offer it shouldn't be a problem. However, now I have found out that my company probably isn't eligible to get a positive LMO since they don't have enough employees.. I'm stressing out because now I don't know what I should do. I have 11 months under my belt as a web designer in Canada and I heard that you only need to work 12 months in your trade to be eligible to apply for PR. My goal is to become a landed immigrant here in Canada and so I'm wondering if you guys out there can help me.. what are my options at this point? Can I still apply for the LMO and get my current status extended while I wait for notice from Immigration Canada so I can work and earn my work experience needed in order to get my PR? And if I do apply for the LMO knowing that it will be denied, will that cause any problems for my employer? My employer doesn't know anything about helping foreign workers and she's worried that if we do apply for the LMO they will get into trouble.
Any help is appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[Pouce]

Hi which province are you living? are you trying to renew your working permit?
you should apply for LMO and see how it goes. the thing is company has to show the effort for hiring(advertizing on local newspaper or job bank etc). as long as your comapny follow thwe rule, shuold be ok.
meantime, you have to make planB. if you dont get positive LMO, what will you do? i would suggest to apply for PNP.

 

[swede82]

Hi. Thanks for the quick reply. I live in Vancouver, BC. I just got off the phone with Immigration Canada.. Oh man its so confusing.. Everyone seems to give different information. Now I heard that there is no rule saying that the company has to have 5 employees to be eligible for a positive LMO. So I guess Im just gonna do what I originally had thought of (have my company apply for LMO and Ill apply for a temporary work permit) and hope for the best. I do have a plan B. If I get rejected, Ill leave the country, re-enter and should then get a 6 month visitors visa. once I have that Ill just look for another company that's willing to hire me and provide me with a new visa.. sounds way easier than it is in reality but hey, doesnt seem like I have a whole lot of other options. Ill definately look into the PNP thing too. Ah well.. Thanks again for your reply

 

[Leon]

You can apply for a work permit to be processed at the same time as the employer is applying for the LMO. You can read about this here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2012/ob152A.asp Scroll down to "Additional details regarding concurrent processing" and read there.

 

[Pouce]

Hey Swede82.
I am in BC as well. actually my application was rejected on July. they said company has to show the hiring effort.
so i was kinda stuck. but they recommended to apply for PNP.
if you became a nominee in BC, you dont need to go through LMO for working permit.
anyways, good luck for your permit.

 

[swede82]

Hi guys. Thanks for the advices. Today Ive made alot of calls to different lawyers to find out more information and they all say the same thing. I need to get an LMO in order to be able to stay here and work. My problem is that now my employer has talked to her accountants and other advisors and they've advised her not to do the LMO application because it would mean she would have to provide alot of peperwork etc after we apply for it. She said that they had told her Service Canada will tell her she needs to send in tax forms, t2, t4 and a bunch of other paperwork. But thats nonsense according to the lawyers I spoke to! Still she believes her advisors more than the lawyers.. what the hell.. stressing out here seriously.. I only got today and tomorrow to send in whatever application I decide to go with. :/