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For a large number of foreign workers in Canada, the aspiration is always to make a transition from a temporary work permit into a permanent resident status. One such route for the fulfillment of this aspiration is an LMIA. LMIA stands for a Labour Market Impact Assessment, which is a document that allows a Canadian employer to hire a foreign worker by proving there are no qualified citizens or permanent residents available for the job. But having an LMIA-based work permit is just the first step, with the further learning development of how to convert LMIA into PR.
What is LMIA and Its Importance?
An LMIA provides the foreign worker with valuable work experience in Canada, which may be utilized later for the purpose of applying for PR. While an LMIA is not a direct route to PR, it definitely gives a major boost to the applicant for permanent residency through other means of immigration. Once a worker has secured an LMIA, they are already in a good position where they can apply for PR through the Express Entry system or PNP.
Express Entry and LMIA
The most common way in converting LMIA to PR is through Canada's Express Entry system. It is how the country manages applications for three federal economic immigration programs that include the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.
Having a job offer supported by LMIA adds up to 200 points to your Comprehensive Ranking System score. As you already know, the higher the ranking in the Comprehensive Ranking System, the more the chances of being invited through the Express Entry system increase.
Steps to Convert LMIA to PR
Ensure You Are Eligible: Above all, verify your eligibility for one of the immigration programs serviced through Express Entry. You are usually expected to have the right combination of work experience, education, language, and a job offer supported by LMIA.
Create an Express Entry Profile: You will be required to create an online Express Entry profile where you fill in all the details related to work experience, education, language proficiency, and job offer under the Express Entry System. Your comprehensive ranking score will be determined in accord with your information.
Improve the CRS Score: The highest score one could achieve with an LMIA-supported job offer is as high as 200 points for better selection in the Express Entry draw.
Get an Invitation to Apply (ITA): Once your CRS score is high enough, you'll be given an ITA that will grant you the opportunity to apply for PR. You will have 60 days in which you can submit your complete application.
PR Application Submission: Once an ITA is issued, the applicant has to submit a complete application with their LMIA, job offer, and other requested documents. Usually, the government takes up to six months for the processing of a PR application via Express Entry.
Alternative Way: Provincial Nominee Programs
Apart from the above, if you fall in the category of an LMIA-supported job offer while working in a specific Canadian province, you can directly apply to that province for PR. A provincial nomination can add 600 points to your CRS score-a near guarantee you'll get invited to apply for PR through Express Entry.
Almost all the provinces have a stream dedicated to workers who already have a job offer in the province, which would be supported by an LMIA. Though the eligibility criteria varies for each province, provincial nomination is another good avenue to get PR from LMIA. Having experience in Canadian immigration services for several years, we can guide you in making a strong Express Entry profile or identifying the correct Provincial Nominee Program that fits your skillset and experience. We will guide you through the journey of permanent residency. Contact Oasis Resource Management today and take another step toward your Canadian dream!