bc2015

An LMIA will also get you over to Canada without having to clear those hurdles.

ChrisBan

But getting an LMIA is a hurdle in itself now

ExKiwilass

hmm, I was just remembering back in the day when i was a backpacker, there were people trying to stay longer than their holiday visa allowed. That was in the UK (kiwis and aussies who loved it and didn't want to return), Canada, Australia, not sure about NZ...they tried to find every way to stay legally they could .

I think this has always gone on, maybe just with the internet it's more out in the open. I know of at least one couple that married for each other's citizenship - one Australian, one Canadian.

rivingtonpike

The LMIA is to get you a Temporary Work Permit, not PR. My original question was whether the IEC Visa should be used in this way to bypass specific skills requirements that a TWP or PR applicant may have to demonstrate to get a visa in the first place.

JamesM

An LMIA requires an employer to want to sponsor you. In most professions that's a massive hurdle.

JamesM

+1.

bc2015

An LMIA doesn't require skills assessment.

JamesM

I have no idea of the process but the people I grew up with who went to Australia and ended up staying found gaining further status relative easy. I think employers have a better relationship with the immigration authorities.

Canada, for what ever reason, seems to be harder work.

rivingtonpike

In order to have an LMIA the employer has to demonstrate they have been unable to find a Canadian or PR to do the job. It isn't just any old job that can warrant sponsorship. An IEC on the other hand is dished out on a first come first served basis to anyone who meets the age criteria. Hardly a rigorous selection process if the objective of the individual is to get PR status, not just to have a 2 year working holiday.

Shard

This.

RP I think you're looking at it from the individual's perspective rather than the government's.

rivingtonpike

I personally don't have a problem with people pursuing PR on the back of an IEC Visa if that's what they want to do. I just don't think that is what it was intended for. Presumably IEC Visa holders will still have to meet the same rigorous criteria as someone applying for PR directly at some point. Would they still have to take the language test, medical etc?

bc2015

But having an IEC in itself is no advantage for PR - you still need to meet the rest of the criteria to get PR (LMIA/PNP nomination, language test, medicals, skills assesement etc..) as everyone else.

Realistically you would need to use the IEC to get a job in a NOC Code 0/A/B position and this is easier said than done. I know from experience that some employers treat IEC holders with a certain degree of caution.

If you get a job in one of those NOC codes using IEC then arguably you wouldn't find it too hard to get an LMIA (for example, I'm in NOC Code B position and there's been an ad up for a job on my team for about a year now).

rivingtonpike

That seems perfectly reasonable to me then. If you have the skills and experience needed and meet the other criteria for PR, I don't really see the IEC visa as a backdoor route at all.

TheAwesomeMatt

I don't know if I would call it a loophole tbh, it's been made easier for people to qualify for PR with a IEC permit over the last 5 years. I remember when I first applied for the working holiday it was split into 2 categories - 12 months for recent university graduates and 12 months for everyone, both of which needed reference letters. You could apply for both permits if you wanted to but you needed a 12 month gap between the two. Now anyone 30 & under can get 2 years.

But considering that Canada is getting educated/trained young people, doesn't it makes sense for them to keep IEC eligible to apply for PR?

beckiwoo

Yes if you want to work in certain jobs (children, medical etc) it's the same medical test that PRs take and it's only valid for one year so I have had 2 done so far.