The Step-by-Step Guide to Immigrating to Canada on a Temporary Foreign Worker Visa
There are many immigration programmes available to foreign nationals in Canada, particularly worker immigrants who wish to live and work in the country. If you are interested in working in Canada, even on a temporary basis, you are free to apply for any of these programmes.
Because of this, if you want to find employment in Canada, you need to be familiar with the process of migrating to Canada in the capacity of a temporary foreign worker. What this also means is that in order for you to be eligible to live and work in Canada, you will be required to have a temporary work permit.
In order to maintain financial stability while you pursue your goal of becoming a permanent resident of Canada, you will need a temporary work permit. In order to accomplish this goal, you will need to submit an application for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada.
This is one of the immigration routes that enable people from other countries to migrate to Canada in order to live and find work there. As a result, you will gain a deeper understanding of the TFWP and the processes involved in moving to Canada in the capacity of a temporary foreign worker after reading this article.
Program for Employing Temporary Foreign Workers
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is an immigration programme in Canada that was developed specifically for foreign nationals already residing in Canada who have the intention of working in Canada for a limited amount of time.
To put it another way, if you want to work in Canada but are neither a citizen of Canada nor a permanent resident of the country, you need to submit an application for this programme. This programme assists the government of Canada in finding a solution to the problem of a severe lack of available labour in the country.
A foreign worker participating in this programme is required to possess a current visa as well as a work permit. In addition to this, the worker is required to work for a single employer and to comply with all laws that are in effect in Canada. In the event that you are still interested in remaining eligible for this programme, you are required to submit an application for an extension prior to the program’s conclusion or you will be required to leave Canada.
Prerequisites for Participation in Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada has a lot of criteria that applicants must meet before they can be considered for a job there. This is done to ensure that the employment opportunities of citizens and permanent residents of Canada are safeguarded.
Therefore, the government of Canada has established a great number of prerequisites for non-Canadian citizens who are interested in finding employment in their country. An individual who is authorised to work in the country on a temporary or permanent basis must first obtain a favourable Labor Market Impact Assessment.
Labour Market Impact Assessment
A positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that the Canadian government requires from a Canadian employer in order for that employer to be permitted to employ a foreign worker.
This document is required to certify, among other things, that the employer has made an effort to fill the position with a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. However, there was not a single qualified Canadian citizen in the country who was available to apply for the position.
Simply put, it indicates that there are insufficient qualified workers available in Canada to fill the position, and the employer therefore needs to hire someone from outside the country. Because obtaining an LMIA can take several months, a business owner should begin the application process as soon as possible.
Additional prerequisites for participation in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
In order to be eligible for the TFWP, you will likely need the following requirements, in addition to the Labour Market Impact Assessment.
- Obtain a legitimate job offer in Canada from an employer who is eligible to hire you
- Provide evidence that you intend to settle and seek employment in Canada
- The means to support yourself during your time in Canada
- That you are in a financial position to return home once the opportunity to work in Canada has run its course
You are required to not have any prior convictions on your record.
- There should not be any potential danger to Canada’s national security.
- Maintain a healthy state of well-being.
- You are required to provide evidence that you will not seek employment with a company that engages in the provision of striptease, erotic dance, erotic massage, or escort services.
How to migrate to Canada temporarily as a worker from another country
You will be able to migrate to Canada as a temporary foreign worker by following the steps that are outlined below. They are as follows:
Step 1. Obtain a formal job offer from a Canadian employer who meets the requirements.
First things first: in order to submit an application for a work visa in Canada, you need to have a legitimate job offer from an employer in Canada.
Once you have made the decision to find employment in Canada, the next step is to look for a job with a company based in that country. You are able to proceed to the next step now that you have a valid letter of employment.
Step 2. Your employer must get a valid LMIA
In order for you to successfully migrate to Canada in the capacity of a temporary foreign worker, this is one of the most essential steps. Your potential employer is unable to hire you because the Canadian government requires them to have a Labor Market Impact Assessment first. Therefore, your employer is required to obtain an LMIA demonstrating that you are the most qualified candidate for the job among other candidates who include Canadian citizens and permanent residents in order to satisfy this requirement.
Step 3. Submit an application for a work visa and permit.
Once the LMIA has been obtained by your employer, you are now able to compile the necessary supporting documents and submit an application for a temporary work visa. You are required to submit your application through the Canadian Consulate that is located in your country.
You have the option of submitting your application electronically through their website or physically by going to the Consulate office in your country. The following forms are required to accompany your application:
- IMM 1295, which is known as the Application for a Work Permit Made Outside of Canada;
- Form IMM 5645, which is known as the Family Information Form;
- Schedule 1: Application for a Visa to Reside Temporarily in the United States;
- IMM 5409, the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union, if it is applicable;
- IMM 5476 – Form for the Use of a Representative (if it’s applicable);
- If applicable, an IMM 5475 authorising the release of personal information to a designated individual;
Supplemental materials in support of an application for a temporary visa
The following are examples of possible supporting documents for a TFWP application:
- A passport that is valid for at least six months after the date on which you intend to enter Canada
- A photocopy of your passport, including all of its pages and your signature.
- Two photographs that meet the criteria outlined in the Photo Requirements
- A verifiable job offer from the company you currently work for
- Documentation attesting to one’s current immigration status
- Police record certificates
- Your resume or CV
- The diplomas and certificates you’ve earned in your studies
- A copy of your official certificate of marriage
- Certified copies of each child’s birth certificate
- A Certificate of Acceptance from Quebec, also known as a CAQ, if you plan to work in Quebec.
- Any and all additional documentation that is requested by the Canadian Consulate
Step 4. Carry out the medical checkup in its entirety.
To continue with the process of migrating to Canada as a temporary foreign worker, the next step is to get a medical exam. This will serve as proof that you are in sufficient physical condition to work and live in Canada.
In addition to this, you are required to provide medical evidence to demonstrate that you are able to adjust to the climate and working conditions in Canada. You are required to go to a licenced doctor for your medical exam, and that doctor is required to provide you with a medical report; otherwise, you will not be permitted entry into Canada.
Step 5. Participate in an interview in connection with your visa application.
The next thing you’ll need to do is respond to an invitation from the Canadian consulate in your country to attend a visa interview. Because of its significance in determining whether or not you will be granted a work visa, the interview is very important. You are required to provide evidence that the details and information contained in your documents, including your personal information, are accurate.
If you are unable to provide evidence of this, it is possible that you will not be granted a visa. In addition to this, you are required to provide evidence that you are prepared to leave Canada once the validity of your temporary visa has expired.
Step 6. Attend your visa application to be processed.
After you have completed your visa interview and handed in all of the supporting documents, you will have your visa. The next step is to wait for the processing of your visa. The time it takes to process a visa is typically between three and six months; however, there is a possibility of delays if certain documents are missing from your application. Or if you communicate inaccurate information to others. Therefore, double check that all of your information is accurate and comprehensive.
If, after reviewing everything, the consulate decides to accept your application, you will be contacted with a response that includes any additional instructions. If, on the other hand, the consulate decides not to approve your application, they will explain in their letter why they did not approve it and send it to you.
Step 7. Travel to Canada
Traveling to Canada is the next step in the process of migrating to Canada in the capacity of a temporary foreign worker. You will be able to start making preparations to move to Canada as soon as you receive an email informing you that your application has been accepted. Don’t worry about getting a work permit; you won’t be able to do so until you enter Canada through one of the country’s official ports of entry.
You will be interviewed by the immigration officers who are stationed at the port of entry. In addition, they may ask to see your documents. Provide them with all of your documents to examine, and respond to all of the questions that they pose to you. You have reached the last test, and if you do well on it, you will be granted a visa and a permit to work in the country.
Questions That Are Typically Asked
How much does it cost to process an application for a temporary foreign work permit in Canada?
The application fee for a temporary work permit in Canada is $150 Canadian dollars (CAD). When you use the services of a third party, you will also be responsible for paying the third party’s fee. In addition, if you are requested to provide biometrics, you might be required to pay a biometrics fee that is equivalent to $85 CAD.
When applying for a work permit in Canada, how long does the processing usually take?
The time it takes to process an application for a work permit in Canada ranges from three to six months. It’s possible that it will take longer if there is a holdup in the process because some documents are missing.
How long does a permit to work temporarily in a foreign country in Canada remain valid?
A temporary work permit for foreign nationals in Canada typically lasts for a period of six months. Nevertheless, you have the ability to submit a request for an extension before the deadline. You are not required to leave Canada in order to reapply; rather, you are only required to provide all of the required documentation. The length of the moratorium is going to be decided by the Canadian government. However, the maximum stay allowed is only for four years, after which you are required to go back to your home country.
Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, am I able to bring my family with me to Canada?
Using the TFWP, you are able to bring your family and dependents to Canada, so yes, you can do that. In order to accomplish this, you will need to provide the application with copies of the documents pertaining to your dependents. You are permitted to bring along your minor children, as well as your spouse or common-law partner.
Conclusion
Finally, once you have proven that you are qualified for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada, you are eligible to submit an application for a temporary foreign worker permit in that country. On the other hand, you will supply the required documents. Follow our guide on how to migrate to Canada as a temporary foreign worker if you do this, and if you do this, follow our guide.
