Hey guys
I've been offered a 4 month position as a visiting scholar at a Canadian university. The invitation letter I got from the university says I need to present the letter to an immigration officer at a visa post to determine what type of visa I need. I live in Scotland and would really prefer to avoid having to travel to London. Especially since it may turn out I could have done it online anyway.
Everything I've read online seems to indicate I fall under the Foreign worker - IMP program, meaning I can go ahead and apply online. The only issue with the online application though, is that I definitely need an LMIA-exemption form and the Employer Compliance Fee needs to paid for this. Is there a chance I can avoid these if I go to the visa post in person to sort it? The fact that my position is completely un-salaried is what makes me think there may be alternatives. However, with the new rules from 21/02/2015 where all LMIA-exempt applicants need to pay the Employer Compliance Fee makes me even more unsure.
I've contacted the Visa Post in London and they either just refer me to the CIC website or tell me to contact the High Commission. And the High Commission contact apparently prohibits enquiries about visas. So I can't get any official help without travelling to London. I would really appreciate if anyone has any insight regarding this type of situation. Thanks
I've been offered a 4 month position as a visiting scholar at a Canadian university. The invitation letter I got from the university says I need to present the letter to an immigration officer at a visa post to determine what type of visa I need. I live in Scotland and would really prefer to avoid having to travel to London. Especially since it may turn out I could have done it online anyway.
Everything I've read online seems to indicate I fall under the Foreign worker - IMP program, meaning I can go ahead and apply online. The only issue with the online application though, is that I definitely need an LMIA-exemption form and the Employer Compliance Fee needs to paid for this. Is there a chance I can avoid these if I go to the visa post in person to sort it? The fact that my position is completely un-salaried is what makes me think there may be alternatives. However, with the new rules from 21/02/2015 where all LMIA-exempt applicants need to pay the Employer Compliance Fee makes me even more unsure.
I've contacted the Visa Post in London and they either just refer me to the CIC website or tell me to contact the High Commission. And the High Commission contact apparently prohibits enquiries about visas. So I can't get any official help without travelling to London. I would really appreciate if anyone has any insight regarding this type of situation. Thanks