Canada’s work permit pathways include two most prominent paths: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the International Mobility Program. Even though Canada offers around a hundred immigration pathways for foreign nationals, most of them fall under these two above categories only.
The primary aim of IMP and TFWP is the same, that is, economic growth. However, the two programs have individual eligibility criteria and policy objectives.
Canada’s work permit pathways- key differences between TFWP and IMP
Let us learn about the significant differences between these programs, IMP and TFWP.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program- its objectives
The primary goal or objective of the TFWP is to assist the Canadian job market by giving significant opportunities to employers to hire foreign nationals. These foreign workers are the main source of combating Canadian labor shortages in their specific industries. Moreover, it is to fill job positions for which no adequate Canadians are available so that they can fill labor gaps.
The chief idea of this program is to provide a chance to Canadian employers who ardently require workers to fill urgent job positions. However, this program prioritizes permanent residents and Canadian citizens to fill in the vacant positions. Moreover, TFWP doesn’t provide reciprocal benefits to Canadians overseas, similar to the advantages they provide to Canadian employees. The TFWP emphasizes meeting the Canadian labor market requirements for targeted occupations and regions.
International Mobility Program- its aims and intentions
The International Mobility Program came into existence to promote Canada’s policy aims related to its economy, society, and culture. This program manages to do so by permitting foreign nationals to enter Canada to solidify bilateral and multinational ties between Canada and the global community. The country intends to encourage Canadian art, culture, religion, and sports. Additionally, the International Mobility Program works with the aim to provide Canadians (staying abroad) with reciprocal benefits. IMP is successful in doing so through multilateral and bilateral agreements with different countries; for instance, the CUSMA.
CUSMA came into action in 2020 as a replacement for NAFTA, that is, the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA is an attempt to develop and strengthen economic connections between Canada and two other countries having the same continent.
Canada’s work permit pathways- do they require an LMIA?
Essentially, LMIA, or the Labour Market Impact Assessment, is a requirement from a Canadian employer. Usually, the companies need to demonstrate through an LMIA document that hiring a specific foreign employee will not negatively impact the Canadian labor force.
- TFWP– This program does need an LMIA document from its employers. Employment and Social Development Canada bears the responsibility to provide the LMIA. On the other hand, IRCC looks after the work permit application followed by the LMIA process.
- IMP– The International Mobility Program doesn’t require the LMIA from its employers or applicants who are willing to work in Canada. However, IRCC is the governing body for work permit applications, similar to its role in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Leading the programs
The ESDC governs and supervises the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, while IRCC leads and governs the International Mobility Program.
The impact of wages associated with job positions on program’s eligibility
If we talk about the TFWP, then yes, it determines a person’s eligibility for the program through the wage of the job position rather than NOC. Conversely, for IMP, it is not the same because it doesn’t consider the wage while determining the applicant’s eligibility.
Canadian work permit pathways and their types
The TFWP is an employer-specific program, further implying that foreign nationals seeking a Canadian job will have to work under a single employer. Also, this employer must be the same under whom you receive the LMIA and temporary work permit. Contrarily, International Mobility Program consists of work permits that offer both employer-specific and Open Work Permits. Overall, the work permit type depends on the applicant’s particular circumstance or agreement. This implies that they will either be subject to work under a single employer or granted permission to work with multiple employers across Canada.
Conclusion
It is quite a task for employers to search for the appropriate candidate for TFWP and IMP. Also, it takes a lot of accuracies to complete the work permit procedure successfully for each program as a worker. Hence, it would be wise to contact an immigration lawyer and get his assistance for the same.
