FAQ – Frequent Asked Questions
1. How to apply for a Canadian work permit ?
Step 1: Determine if you require a work permit or not
Step 2: Determine if you are eligible to apply for a work permit
Step 3: Determine if you should apply online or by paper
Step 4: Obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from your potential employer if required
Step 5: Obtain a job offer from your potential employer
Step 6: File your application
2. Can I work in Canada without a work permit ?
It is possible if you are a full-time, post-secondary students in a DLI school in Canada. You can have a work permit exemption is as long as you continue to hold a valid study permit and continues to study at the school.
The work permit exemption also applies to students who are working as teaching assistants or research assistants.
In order to work, all students need to have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
3. What is Express Entry ?
Express Entry is a system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for permanent residence programs. The Express Entry system is used to manage federal and provincial applications for skilled workers and other types of candidates
4. How is the job market in Canada and which industries are hiring ?
The following sectors are having good job prospects: Health Care, Engineering, Financial Services, IT, skilled trade in Construction, Machining, Heavy Equipment, and essential Food Services. Many corporations are currently advertising available positions in Canada’s leading newspapers, trade journals and through online postings.
5. Are the applicants required to travel to Canada under their immigration processes ?
Although it is not a must, it will benefit yourself a lot if you can familiarize with the Canadian landscape and with the place of your intended destination.
Business immigrants applying under the the Entrepreneur or Self-Employed Class are particularly encouraged to undertake exploratory visits to Canada and participate in information sessions took place by the provinces. By doing so, it will indicate positively on an candidate’s ability to meet program’s terms and conditions.
6. Will a skilled immigrant need to show net worth during the selection process?
You must provide evidence of sufficient funds for the family to travel and settle in Canada as a skilled worker. The minimum fund is called LICO (Low Income Cut-Off) which is published by Statistics Canada and is adjusted annually.
You will be exempt from this requirement if you have received an approved job offer in Canada.
7. Are the Canadian immigration programs and policies ever-changing ?
Not only the programs and policies ever-changing, but also the immigration laws and regulations. Whenever there is a change in government after an election, laws and regulations governing the immigration are likely to amend in certain directions. However, the policies, the processes and the program criteria could see updates in weeks, if not in days.
8. Am I able to work in the United States legally after becoming a PR in Canada ?
Although you can work in the United States as a Canadian PR or citizen, you need to acquire a work visa which is a Trade NAFTA (TN) status stipulated in the North American Free Trade Agreement. Qualified Canadian citizens can apply for TN status to the United States, the process is easier than most of the foreign workers who are from the other countries.
9. What benefits are there for a new immigrant to Canada ?
There are quite a few benefits, namely: Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for families who have kids between the age from 6 through 17; Free medical coverage; Registered Education Saving Plan (RESP); General Sales Tax (GST) refund; Daycare subsidy; Canadian Learning Fund (CLB) and etc. For a PR cardholder, he or she can get access to some free settlement programs, such as: language learning in English or French; job search; college or university bridging study.
10. What differs the Canadian social system from the America’s one ?
Generally speaking, in the U.S., the country is running under a Capitalist system, the corporations are powerful and people are expected to earn more money in order to pay for their medical insurances and some other expenses. Despite some similarities between the two countries, Canada tends to lean more on the Socialist side. For example, the medical expenses are covered almost 100% by the government, and the poor and disadvantageous persons (such as refugees) are being protected better.
