Hi Guys,

I would really like to get your guys opinion on an issue I have with regard to working in Canada.

I'm 25 and have worked in Canada on 2 separate occasions, once with a gap year company for 6 months (not Bunac) and once I was sponsored for a skiing season (8 months)

Just recently I went over for a holiday and met up with my old boss who I had worked for during those two occasions. We got chatting and it came about that he would really like me to work for him again on a full time basis and I too would really like to work for him. (Getting back home has made me realise this even more!)

HOWEVER he is pretty reluctant to sponsor me again, for 4 reasons:
1) He said that it would cost about $3000 in admin/paperwork which he would have to take out of my salary - this would mean he wouldn’t be paying me a fair wage for the work I would be doing.
2) My sponsored work visa would only be valid at the company he is working for - if he ever decided to leave and work for another company while I was there I wouldn’t be able to move to the same company....
3) The company he is working for has been sponsoring other employees this year and are currently only getting 1 in 3 LMO's approved and he thinks getting a full time job sponsorship approved will be even harder!
4) He has other people working for him (particularly Australians) who he doesn’t have to sponsor they can just come and go as they please. - I'm guessing using this WHP - And he doesn't see why I am not able to-do that.

When he was telling me this I didn’t think it was a problem as I had heard about the Bunac non-student work holiday visa however I was gutted to find out that the applications have closed for this year (It was still open before I went for my holiday to Canada!!!!)

So my question to you guys is:

Are my only options of working in Canada....

A) To get a sponsored work permit?
B) To apply for Bunac?
C) To get full immigration status?

Because if they are I'm SOL....as....

Option A) The boss won't sponsor me..
Option B) The Bunac non-student program has closed (I can’t apply for the student program as it has been more than 12 months since I graduated!)
and Option C) This process takes too long, the boss has said that my Job would be available for me in September 2010.

The only other way around this that I can see is to enrol in a micky-mouse uni course over here in the UK, then defer the place and use the acceptance letter to get the Bunac Student visa, and hope that the program hasn't closed. Has anyone tried going down this route?????

I just wish I was Australian! I hope they know how lucky they are having that WHP....I want to know why we Brit's don’t have that??, we are all commonwealth countries after all!!!

So if anyone can offer me any advice it would be great! As I really don't want to spend more time than I have to in this place they call the UK!!!!

Thanks Guys

Simon

Blimey, that's quite a post! I'll attempt to answer some of it for you.......

Not sure where he's got this figure from. If he sponsors you for a temp work permit, it's free for him to apply for the LMO. Your cost for the TWP is then $150.

True, although you could apply for PR as soon as you arrive, that would come through in 6-12 months and then you'd have PR and be free to work wherever you like (apart from some government jobs that require citizenship).

All LMO's are for full-time jobs aren't they? Didn't think you could get one for a part-time position?

Well, you are able to do that, just not until this time next year as this year's Bunac program has closed. It only closed a couple of days ago as well, so that's a real pain as you've only just missed out.

A) Really don't understand why as it doesn't cost him anything to apply for a LMO

B) Yes, an option if you can wait

C) It won't take too long if you are eligible, SW applications take 6-12 months (most are processed in about 8 months), so if you got an application in asap you'd be there just in time for Sept.

Hope that helps, good luck.

Hi christmasoompa, firstly thanks for your reply, just a couple of things.

I think he was more referring to the cost of time to fill out the form / do the paper work. But useful to know it doesn't cost him any real $$.

Really?? Permanent residency in 6-12 months, I thought it took allot longer than that..

Sorry I meant full time year round position rather than a full time seasonal (which I presume is easier to get a positive LMO for).

You’re telling me - I'm gutted!! I'm just hoping that they will open again temporarily in a few weeks....does anyone know if they have ever done that before???

SW - Do you mean Skilled Worker applications take 6-12 months? I thought you had to have a positive LMO for this application too?

The only thing I can think to do is contact my boss and try to persuade him to complete an LMO for me, hopefully Ill be able to-do most of the paperwork for him.....

Thanks again!

Have a look at my reply on this thread - it may possibly give you some ideas as to how to get a temporary work permit here (or PR).

If where you are hoping to work is BC they have an expedited LMO program which lists Ski and Snowboard Instructors.

I just found this link for the Temporary worker NOC level C / D pilot project

Pilot Project for Occupations Requiring Lower Levels of Formal Training (NOC C and D)

You (the employer) may be allowed to hire temporary foreign workers for a maximum of 24 months through the Pilot Project for Occupations Requiring Lower Levels of Formal Training (National Ooccupational Classification C and D) when there is a demonstrable shortage of Canadians citizens and permanent residents.

In Canada, lower levels of formal training are defined as occupations that usually require at most a high school diploma or a maximum of two (2) years of job-specific training according to the NOC Classification system. These occupations are coded at the NOC C or D skill level. See NOC job description;

This may also be a way of getting a temporary work permit which you can use whilst you apply for PR if that is what you are aiming at.

can LMO's be completed for jobs like waitressing?

According to the NOC low skills project (only for Alberta and BC), yes.

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplace...lmoppone.shtml

"... The Expedited Labour Market Opinion Pilot Project was put in place to accelerate the application process to hire temporary foreign workers in certain occupations in Alberta and British Columbia. Labour Market Opinion applications from employers who qualify to participate in the Pilot will be processed approximately within five (5) business days of Service Canada having received them when all the information requested is provided.... "

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