nevee

Hi all,

my employer sent off a LMO application at the end of September. Before she sent the application she rang the local HRSDC office in Vancouver and asked about the processing times. She was told that if she faxed the application it would be put in the queue and processed quicker that way than mailing it. She was also told that she would be phoned within 1 week to answer questions about the application... That was 1 month ago and she hasn't heard anything back from them. So, she rang them today and was told that it is 'in the queue'. The person on the call today said that she 'may hear back from them once they started processing it' in 'about a week'.

Two completely conflicting pieces of information there from the same office. Can anyone tell me where to go to view the current processing times for LMO's (is there such a service/ site? - I couldn't find it). OR, does anyone know the current processing times for LMO's in BC?

And, if deemed positive, does anyone know how they determine how long to issue a new work permit for - 6 months / 1 year / 2 years? My position is a Web Marketing Specialist/ Manager but my job role is broader than web marketing (Project Management, Web Strategy, User Experience, Business Analysis) so I do believe that I will fall into NOC category 0 or A. In addition, the job was re-posted and although over 70 people applied, the majority did not have all of the skills required and out of the short-list I was the strongest candidate.

Any thoughts/ help/ advice?

Thanks,
N.

CanadaJimmy

The processing time depends on the job and how in demand it is. Since yours is a web-related job I'm surprised it wasn't fasttracked through but I guess marketing is just outside the IT bracket.

The length of the Work Permit will be either the time your employer specified in the Job Offer letter or the duration they give on the LMO (should they provide one). In my case I turned up at the POE without a duration on either, the Immigration Officer said she couldn't find a duration anywhere and sounded rather concerned, I assured her that 2 years had been verbally agreed upon, and she gave me a 2 year Work Permit.

nevee

Thanks for the reply Jimmy. Yes, I'm a bit surprised also. I do work in the Marketing department but a lot of my job is technical and very heavily web focused (all web focused in fact!) so I do work closely with our IT department and manage our external web design & development vendors. But because 'marketing' is in my job title perhaps HRSDC don't view it the same way.

Ok, so fingers crossed I get a positive LMO with a 1 or 2 year duration, or if no duration is specified I'll ask my employer to state that it's 2 years in the contract (which I don't see them having a problem with - it's a permanent role technically).

You seem to have been lucky with the Immigration Officer that processed you at POE.

CanadaJimmy

Well you can try 3 years, thats the longest TWP that they issue. I wasn't aware of this at the time when I got mine.

wolstie

Then again, my LMO had a 3 year job duration on it, and I only got a TWP for a year.

Apparently the Service Canada officer who issued the LMO put a note on the system telling CBSA/CIC to only issue a 1 year permit. I phoned the guy to find out what was going on and he said he wanted my company to re-apply again after a year - to make sure they were paying me correctly etc.

Why he didn't just give me an LMO for a one year job duration is anyone's guess. Maybe to instill false hope and have it cruelly snatched away at the Immigration desk on arrival.

nevee

Thanks all, the HRSDC rep rang my boss on Thursday and spoke with her for about 40 mins. My boss has to call her back next week with a further detail so it looks like a decision is imminent, fingers crossed... don't know what I'll do if it's negative.

JGK

I don't think you can really tell with LMO's and TWP's.

I got offered a permanent position but the maximum term the the LMO application would let you enter was 3 years, which my employer did. When the LMO was issued the duration was listed as 1 year so I only got a 1 year TWP.

I t just means another set of paperwork and an extra $150 in the govt's hand for renewal.

Kers1978

Yes, same with me. I applied for a 3 year and only got 1 year in Jan 2010. They said i had to re-apply in a years time and the reasoning behind that was similar to yours and the Foreign workers rights angle.
Not sure if i believe it but its good for the system in general. But i also heard it was to do with separating the serious people who want to stay from the ones that just want to have options covered. Who knows. I have just applied for me 2nd LMO as my visa is set to run out on May 21st 2011. I also have a concurrent PNP in process which I am hoping to hear about soon.
Good luck to you all.

clarebear2011

Hi,
I was just wondering if anyone knows the current wait time for the LMO in BC?
My employer submitted the request at the end of Sept. At this time we were given a 7-9 week wait time. My employer contacted the Vancouver office last week and was told that there is a big backlog and that they are only processing applications from Aug 7th.
I am wondering if anyone is also going through this process and has any more information?
I had really hoped to go home for Christmas but can't book my flights until I have some more information.
This process is extremely stressful.
Thanks,
Clare.

1ROBB

Hi

I am in a similar situation, albeit in Alberta rather than BC. My LMO application was sent off in the last week of September and we are still waiting to hear something. I am now into week 8 of waiting. I am really hoping that I will get a positive decision by the end November so I can go home for Christmas.

I agree that the process is extremely stressful - I have been struggling to concentrate at work with all this uncertainty on my mind. Hopefully there is some good news just around the corner.

Rob

clarebear2011

Hi Rob,

I completely agree.
It's so hard to concentrate on work when everything else seems so uncertain.

My big concern is the Christmas break.
If the LMO is not approved before then it will be January before we hear anything.

I am going to ask my employer to contact them again by the end of November.

Best of luck

Clare.

helcat12

In August 2010 my OH got his LMO in just under 4 weeks and although the job was Permanent he still was issued with only 1 year LMO and so 1 Year TWP.

When he came to renew last June (applied well in advance for LMO in case timelines had gone up or there was any difficulty) the LMO still came through in 4 weeks.
By this time, the criteria had changed and the forms had been changed also and this time the company faxed the application.

Te Officer telephoned to ask what the situation was with my OH and when he was told that it was certainly a permanent job and that his PR application was currently IN PROCESS he said,
"In that case, I had better give you an LMO for two years."

Just recently, my OH received his renewed TWP (it took 76 days to process the TWP using online application) and this reflected his LMO and was for 2 years.

I do not believe that it would do any harm to ask for the LMO for 2 or even 3 years but what you want makes no difference to HRSDC.

They will issue the LMO for the time they decide and even if the LMO is for longer than 1 year, Immigration may still only give you 1 year TWP.

You are very much at their whim on this, I'm afraid.

Kers1978

Thanks helcat12,

We have our PR's in processs under fast track. They said proccessing times are berween 8-15 months so fingers crossed it comes through before June 21st 2012.
Fingers crossed.
x

helcat12

Any time.
What fast track are you referring to, if you don't mind me asking?

PNP is taking as long as FSW at the moment from what I understand. They say FSW is between 6 and 18 months (from Immigration at the border).

neilottawa

I am waiting for an LMO from Vancouver. My application was received on the 22nd Aug (12 weeks today). Last week they were processing applications from the 3rd week of Aug (15-22). So hopefully this week is the week!