Canadian Work Permits & Student Visas
We work with both Canadian HR departments and global professionals to facilitate cross-border hiring. We’re often able to bring staff in under short term exemptions while their work permit is being processed.
There are two kinds of work permits: those requiring approval by Service Canada ("Labour Market Opinion"), and those which can be issued without an Opinion. If the mandate of the position is not "exempt", then one needs a work permit, which is issued by Canada Immigration.
An employer can extend a job offer to a foreign worker after establishing that Canadians are not readily available. An employer will need to provide evidence to support either one of the two conditions:
- Reasonable efforts were made to recruit and train qualified Canadians for the position;
- the foreign worker possesses a combination of skills and experience not readily available in Canada. The employment of the foreign worker is critical for the company to maximize its human resources in creating or maintaining jobs and/or transferring specialized knowledge and skills to the company's labour force.
You may work on campus at the institution where you study without a work permit if:
- you are engaged in full-time studies at a Canadian university, community college, CEGEP, a publicly funded trade or technical school or a private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees;
- and you have a valid study permit.
If you are studying in Manitoba, New Brunswick, or Quebec, you may apply for an off-campus work permit. The work permit allows you to work up to 20 hours a week during regular academic sessions (15 hours a week in Quebec), and up to 40 hours a week during regular breaks (e.g., winter or summer holidays and spring break).
Permanent Residency Strategies:
With a growing backlog at Canadian visa offices around the world, applicants should look at Arranged Employment Offers or "stepping stone" strategies in order to accelerate the immigration process. Moreover, the proposed Canadian Experience Visa signals the Government's immigration priorities. Contact us for more information.
Pathways to Permanent Residency:
Emigration is the most important event in your life.
It's too important to go it alone.
Immigration law is complex and constantly changing. It's important to retain a professional advisor who monitors legal developments on a full-time basis.
You need an advocate to protect your rights during the process;
don't go it alone.
- The Labour Market Opinion process can lead to inordinate delays;
- We can fast-track your case by providing the Temporary Foreign Worker Unit with a compelling narrative;
- We can provide you with guidance on how to use Canada Student Visas as an immigration strategy;
- We try to match you with LMO exemptions or look at alternatives such as NAFTA visas or a Provincial Nominee Program.
Our Canadian Immigration Services:
- Powerful legal strategies to fast-track your emigration to North America;
- Jobsearch consulting and assistance with prospective employers;
- Rapid Response customer service and online access to your eDocket;
- Total Consulting™ including pre-immigration tax planning;
- Peace of mind through our Money-Back Guarantee† for our legal fees.
