Getting a job in Canada
A job offer from a Canadian employer is typically the first step for most people in their immigration journey. It can be a great way for you to decide if Canada is a place you want to work for a few years or make it your long term home. Once you have a job offer from an employer in Canada here are some tips that can help you achieve your goals and help you find success.
You have a job offer - What’s next?
Confirm the job offer: The first step is to make sure that the job offer is genuine and from a legitimate employer. You can do this by checking the company's website, contacting them directly, via phone and email, or verifying the offer letter with the Canadian embassy in your country. A job offer must be signed by both the employer and you for it to be valid.
Check the job requirements: Make sure that you meet all the requirements for the job, such as: education, work experience, language proficiency, and any other skills listed. Take a close look at the job duties to see if the position is a good fit for you and your skills. If you have any doubts, you can consult with your employer for clarification or our team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC’s) for further guidance.
Employer approval - Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): Your employer may need an approved LMIA before you can apply for a work permit. Confirm if your employer has approval from the Government of Canada to hire foreign workers and confirm that your name has been added to that document.
Apply for a work permit: Once you have confirmed the job offer and meet all the requirements, you can apply for a work permit. This can be done online or through a paper application. You will need to provide various documents such as a job offer letter, a valid passport, proof of education, proof of funds to support yourself in Canada, among others. Your unique situation will dictate which documents you need. A list of documents can be found in the application checklist.
Prepare for your move: Once your work permit is approved, you can start preparing for your move to Canada. This includes booking your flight, finding accommodation, and arranging for your finances. Please consult with your employer, as they may have a custom arrival process. Make sure you and your employer arrange a date to start your new position. Do not resign from your current position in your home country until you and your employer have negotiated an appropriate start date.
Arrive in Canada: Congratulations, you have made it to Canada! Ensure that you bring all your immigration documents with you. You will receive your official work permit at the border when you arrive, so it is important to make sure you bring all your documents with you. It is best to print them so they can be easily accessible. All of this information will be available to you in your arrival kit.
There’s a delay - What do I do?
Delays can be caused by a variety of reasons, so it is often very difficult to predict what to do next without understanding what exactly is causing the delay. The strategies below can help you sort through the process.
Communicate with your employer: The first step is to communicate with your employer and find out the reason for the delay. It could be due to various reasons such as LMIA processing delays, immigration processing delays, changes to immigration programs, changes in company policies, or other unforeseen circumstances. It is important to have open communication with your employer to understand the situation. It is important to chat regularly during the process, as it can sometimes take several months.
Check your work permit: If you have already received your work permit, check the start date mentioned on it. If the start date has been delayed, you can contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to request for an amendment to your work permit or purchase a consultation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) to assist with advice.
Consider your options: If the delay is significant and you are unable to wait for the job start date, you may need to consider other options such as finding a new job or postponing your move to Canada. Do not resign from your current position until you know exactly when you will be ready to make the move. Open communication is the key to success, a phone call or video call may be helpful in addition to emails to help sort out any concerns.
Consider legal advice: If you feel that your employer is intentionally delaying your job start date or if you are facing any other issues related to your employment legal advice might be needed. It is best to try and reach out to your employer and find a resolution first. If you are working with a legal representative for your immigration or any other agencies, they can assist you as well. Seeking legal advice can become very costly quickly, so it should be considered carefully.