News
Temporary Workers receive helping hand from Canuck government
Applicants for Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker visas have been handed a boost with the introduction of increased funding, as the government attempts to speed up processing times and make the hiring of foreign workers less costly to employers.
The changes, which were announced in November 2008, also mean that temporary foreign workers, including those with little formal training, are able to work for 24 months instead of 12. In addition to increased working times, new offices have also opened in a number of major Canadian cities - Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Moncton and Toronto - to speed up the processing times.
At the request of employers, foreign worker applications for highly skilled work will now be processed at the same time as the Labour Market Opinion (LMO). This should speed the process up, as previously an applicant would need to have waited for their LMO to be approved before they could apply for a work permit. An LMO provides proof that an applicant's particular skills are needed in Canada.
Another boost for temporary workers is the introduction of the Canada Experience Class visa (CEC). This visa means that temporary foreign workers, and some foreign graduates, with work experience in managerial, technical, trade and professional fields, will have the chance to apply for permanent residence without having to leave Canada.
The difference with the Canadian Experience Class to other programmes is the ability for foreign workers and students to be able to include their Canadian work or study experience as a key selection factor when immigrating to Canada.
This article is written by the Canadian High Commission (CHC). To find out more about these changes, and to read much more information from the CHC, visit www.emigratemagazine.co.uk
08 April 2009