CANADA – Stricter Requirements for Employers Hiring LMIA-Exempt Foreign Nationals
Canadian employers hiring foreign employees who are exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process will be required to submit additional items to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) beginning February 21st, 2015. Employers will have to submit information about their business or organization, submit the Offer of Employment form, and pay a $230 fee online to CIC. Please note that as of that date, foreign employees will not be able to obtain an employer-specific work permit until the employer has submitted all required items. Non-compliance may result in any number of serious consequences, including an administrative monetary fine, a ban from hiring foreign workers, and even criminal investigation and prosecution. It is important to note that the fee does not apply to employers who are hiring foreign nationals on open work permits. Rather, these foreign nationals will have to submit an additional fee of $100 online to CIC at the same time as the initial work permit processing fee, also to become effective on February 21st. For more information, please see CIC’s official notice.