Certain in-demand and specialized occupations are eligible for fast work permit processing in Canada. The Global Talent Stream is the name of the program that facilitates fast Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing both by Service Canada and by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). For instance, LMIA applications filed under this particular stream are not subject to a minimum advertising duration which constitutes three months on a regular high wage or low wage LMIA and are processed within 13 business days, by Employment and Social Development Canada, a branch of Service Canada, of receiving a complete application. Furthermore, workers with approved LMIAs under the Global Talent Stream (GTS) are eligible for 10 day speed of service on a work permit application. In other words, the entire process can be completed in four weeks.
The first stage of this particular program is for the employer to apply for and receive an LMIA which is an authorization for the employer to hire a foreign worker instead of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for a particular job. There are two categories under GTS which allow an employer to do so. They are as follows:
Category A
An innovative company located in Canada is referred by one of the Global Talent Stream's designated referral partners on the basis that the position being requested requires unique and specialized talent to help the firm scale-up and grow. The designated referral partners are most of the city and provincial governments, some Canadian non-profit organizations and business service providers all across the country. Contact us for a list of all organizations.
Category B
Employers looking to hire highly skilled foreign workers with education and/or experience in one of the occupations on the list of designated occupations for Category B are eligible to apply for this type of LMIA. A referral is not required to be eligible for Category B. The eligible occupations are:
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
- Computer engineers (NOC 2147)
- Mathematicians and statisticians (NOC 2161**sub-set only)
- Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171)
- Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
- Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
- Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
- Computer network technicians (NOC 2281)
- Information systems testing technicians (NOC 2283)
- Producer, technical, creative and artistic director and project manager – Visual effects and video game (NOC 5131**sub-set only)
- Digital media designers (NOC 5241**sub-set only)
Employers who decide to use either of these categories must be prepared to pay the prevailing wage to any temporary foreign worker who they ultimately hire. They would also be subject to reviews of compliance to program requirements on an ongoing basis. One Canadian company that has adapted this program well and which is at the forefront of hiring professional Software Engineers from all around the world to work in Canada is called the MobSquad. They operate out of Calgary, Alberta and provide LMIA and work permit support for foreign workers experienced in the Tech industry, particularly those who are software engineers.
Employers willing to pay approximately $80,000 annually for certain specialized skills and talents that may not be readily available in Canada can benefit from this program. It is a fast way to fulfill short-term needs and would absolutely lead to permanent residency for certain eligible employees thereby providing the possibility of making the arrangement long-term. Moreover, it is not just Tech occupations such as those listed in Category B that may apply but also specialized knowledge kind of occupations which may be fulfilled through cooperation with a local governing body who are usually more then willing to assist companies in their quest to grow and create jobs for Canadians whether those jobs are top tier management roles or creating possibilities for training and other lower-skilled occupations as applicable for growing companies.
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