The LMIA process for Temporary Foreign Workers can be finished within just ten business days. IRCC often uses the Temporary Foreign Worker Program when there is a workforce shortage. This applies to situations where organizations might lack adequate Canadian workers with the right qualifications.
LMIA process for Temporary Foreign Workers
When foreign workers receive their work permits through the TFWP, their employers must undergo the LMIA process. Under this process, Canadian employers hiring foreign nationals must prove that their recruitment will only positively or neutrally impact the Canadian labor market.
Overall, the processing of LMIAs took place over 21 business days for the seven streams by IRCC. This holds true as of December 2022. Also, the seven streams included the Agricultural stream, Permanent Residence stream, Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, High-Wage Stream, Global Talent Stream, Low-Wage Stream, and In-home caregivers stream.
However, there are three situations under which the LMIA processing time can speed up to ten business days. Even though there are situations where the process can expedite to ten days, employers must adhere to the standard program requirements. The employers of the following categories must fulfill the requirements as part of the TFWP assessment criteria:
High-Wage Skilled Trade Occupations
Employers who are hiring foreign workers in the following skilled trades who are paying a wage at or above the median wage in the province or territory where the job is located are eligible for the expedited 10-business-day service standard. These skilled trades are considered vital to the development of Canada’s infrastructure and the extraction of its natural resources.
This category includes the following eligible skill trade occupations:
- Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades, and telecommunications professions
- Supervisors, logging and forestry
- Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
- Contractors and supervisors, other installers, construction trades, repairers and servicers
- Carpenters
- Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
- Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
- Supervisors, mining, and quarrying
- Contractors and supervisors, drilling services-oil, and gas
- Logging machinery operators
- Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
- Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing
- Central control and process operators, metal and mineral processing
- Power engineers and power systems operators
- Water and waste treatment plant operators
- Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
- Sheet metal workers
- Ironworkers
- Fabricators and fitters for structural metal and plate work
- Welders and related machine operators
- Electricians (except industrial and power systems)
- Industrial electricians
- Power system electricians
- Electrical power line and cable workers
- Telecommunications line and cable workers
- Telecommunications installation and repair workers
- Plumbers
- Steamfitters, pipefitters, and sprinkler system installers
- Gas fitters
- Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- Heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning mechanics
- Railway carmen/women
- Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
- Elevator constructors and mechanics
- Crane operators
- Drillers and blasters for surface, mining, quarrying, and construction
- Water well drillers
- Underground production and development miners
- Oil and gas well drillers, testers, services, and related workers
- Petroleum, gas, and chemical process operators
LMIAs for employees who earn at least the top 10% of salaries
Employers who pay foreign workers a salary that meets or surpasses the top 10% of salaries earned by Canadian citizens or permanent residents in the province or territory where the job is located are eligible for the expedited 10 business day service standard. This type of temporary foreign employee has been recognized as possessing high levels of job-specific skill, which is hard to find in the Canadian labor market.
Each Canadian province and territory’s median hourly salaries as of April 30, 2022 (2019 wages) are as follows:
Alberta (AB): $28.85
British Columbia (BC): $26.44
Manitoba (MB): $23.00
Ontario (ON): $26.06
Quebec (QC): $25.00
Saskatchewan (SK): $25.96
Prince Edward Island (PEI): $21.63
New Brunswick (NB): $21.79
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL): $24.29
Nova Scotia (NS): $22.00
Northwest Territories (NT): $37.30
Nunavut (NU): $36.00
Yukon (YT): $32.00 A
LMIA process for Temporary Foreign Workers in short-duration occupations
Employers who aspire to hire a foreign worker for little more than 120 calendar days might use the expedited 10 business day service standard. Similar to the first category mentioned above, in this case, the wage provided to the foreign worker must be at or above the provincial or territorial median in the area where the job is located.
Jobs dealing with repairs, warranties, or using manufacturing equipment are a few examples of those that fall under this category and are appropriate.
