Hiring Foreign Talent? The Paperwork Must Be Perfect.
For Canadian businesses, the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is the biggest barrier to hiring global talent. A single error in your advertising or wage calculation can trigger a rejection or, worse, a Service Canada ban. For workers, a refusal means your career is on hold.
At Cambria Law, we act as corporate immigration counsel for employers and skilled professionals. We navigate the “High-Wage,” “Low-Wage,” and “Global Talent” streams so you can focus on business, not bureaucracy.
1. For Employers: LMIA & Audit Defense
Don’t Let Service Canada Block Your Hire.
Most work permits require a positive LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to prove no local worker is available. This is a strict, audit-prone process.
How We Protect Your Business:
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The “MCR” Audit: We review your job posting before it goes live to ensure it meets the Minimum Recruitment Requirements (wage, duration, platforms). One missing detail (e.g., omitting the business address) causes an instant refusal.
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Employer Compliance Inspections: If you receive an audit letter, we manage the response. We organize your payroll records and timesheets to prove you met the conditions of the previous LMIA, preventing fines or hiring bans.
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Global Talent Stream (GTS): Need IT talent fast? We use the GTS to get LMIAs approved in as little as 2 weeks for software engineers and specialized tech roles.
2. For Workers: Securing Your Status
From Job Offer to Work Permit.
Once the employer does their part, you must still prove you are admissible and qualified.
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Employer-Specific (Closed) Permits: We draft your application to match the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code duties perfectly, preventing “eligibility” refusals at the visa office.
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Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP): We help your spouse get authorization to work for any employer while you are employed in a high-skilled role (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3).
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Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWP): If your Permanent Residence application is processing and your current permit is expiring, we keep you on “Maintained Status” so you don’t have to stop working.
3. LMIA Exemptions (Skip the Line)
Not Every Job Needs a Labour Market Test.
We assess if you qualify for an International Mobility Program (IMP) exemption to save months of processing time:
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Intra-Company Transferees (ICT): Transferring executives, senior managers, or specialized knowledge staff from a foreign branch to your Canadian office.
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CUSMA (NAFTA) Professionals: Fast-track entry for US and Mexican citizens in specific fields (e.g., Engineers, Accountants, Consultants).
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Francophone Mobility: If you speak French and are working outside Quebec, you may skip the LMIA process entirely.
4. Transition to Permanent Residence
Don’t Just Work Here. Stay Here.
A work permit is a temporary solution. We structure your employment to support your future PR application.
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Arranged Employment Points: We ensure your LMIA or job offer is structured correctly to grant you the 50 or 200 CRS Points needed for Express Entry.
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OINP Employer Forms: We guide employers on how to complete the Employer Form for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program without exposing themselves to unnecessary liability.
Get Your Team to Work.
Whether you are an HR Manager needing to fill a role or a professional seeking a new life, the cost of a refusal is too high.
