Canada’s immigration minister, Marc Miller announced that they plan to eliminate the advantage of job offers supported by Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) in applications for permanent residency (PR). The decision is made on aiming to restrict dishonest practices. Marc Miller announced this decision in a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday.
Let’s go through the whole blog to understand the motive of the Canadian government and the benefits of making this kind of decision.
What’s the Current Situation of PR Applicants in Canada?
Currently, PR applicants in Canada receive a minimum of 50 points under Canada’s Express Entry system. These points help them to have LMIA-supported job offers which improves their chances of selection.
What are the New Rules in Canada?
Canadian immigration authorities plan to remove the special advantage given to job offers supported by Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) in permanent residency (PR) applications. This change aims to reduce fraud and dishonest practices. Taking away the 50 points is expected to stop people from buying LMIAs. The New Rules in Canada will make the system fairer and more honest. The government did not specify a timeline for implementing these changes yet.
What will be the Impact of Canada’s New Rule?
Reports say that LMIA approvals increased to 71,300 in the first three months of 2024, up from 63,300 in the same period in 2023. The government plans to take steps to make the system more secure and reduce LMIA fraud. One of these steps is to stop giving extra points in Express Entry to candidates with job offers, according to the Hindustan Times.
What Will be the Benefits of the New Rules in Canada?
The announcement has received mixed reactions. Naresh Chavda, president of Globayan Immigration Corporation, agreed that the change might help reduce LMIA fraud but worried it could negatively affect skilled workers and their employers.
“The government should focus on better screening and other measures instead of completely removing LMIA points from Express Entry,” he told the Hindustan Times.
Immigration analyst Darshan Maharaja pointed out that LMIAs are openly “sold” on social media, which disrupts the job market. While he supported removing LMIA points as a step to tackle this problem, he warned, “The damage is so significant that we should not expect quick fixes.”
Why Are The New Rules in Canada Made?
The decision comes after reports of fraud involving LMIAs, according to the Hindustan Times. Some immigration agents have been accused of working with employers to issue LMIAs in exchange for payments ranging from CA$10,000 to CA$75,000.
A “positive” LMIA can help workers get a work permit or increase their chances of permanent residency (PR) through the Express Entry system.
The Express Entry system, run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), handles applications for skilled immigration through programs like the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program.
In November, Minister Miller said that Canada may end employers’ use of “unlimited” cheap labour as the government works to fix problems in the immigration system. These changes aim to address unfair treatment of foreign workers and reduce the country’s reliance on low-wage labour.
Final Words
The Canadian Government has announced new rules in Canada. It says the PR applicants in Canada will no longer be able to collect the 50 points for LMIAs job offerings. This decision is made on 17th December 2024. It is thought that this decision will help to reduce the dishonest practices on labour market. Stay tuned to AIMS Education for more details.
FAQ
What are the new rules for LMIA in Canada in 2024?
Ans: The wage limit for deciding between the high-wage and low-wage streams will go up by 20%. Also, starting October 28, 2024, employers can no longer use letters from lawyers or professional accountants to prove their business is legitimate.
Can I get PR with LMIA in Canada?
Ans: A positive LMIA letter helps skilled workers apply to IRCC for:
A permanent resident visa under programs like FSWP, FSTP, and CEC.
A work permit, so they can start working in Canada while waiting for their permanent resident visa decision.
Is LMIA points removed in Canada?
Ans: Express Entry candidates applying for Canadian permanent residency will no longer get extra points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for having a job offer supported by an LMIA. Before this change, they could earn an extra 50 or 200 CRS points for such job offers.
What is the validity of PR supporting LMIA?
Ans: Once a positive LMIA is issued, the temporary foreign worker has six months to apply for a work permit. No extensions will be granted. If the six months pass and they haven’t applied for the work permit, a new LMIA will need to be submitted.
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