YOUR PATHWAY TO SUCCESS…CANADA
LMIA - OWNER OPERATOR
Owner-Operator LMIA progra
What is the Owner-Operator LMIA program?
The Owner-operator LMIA program is one of the most effective pathways for permanent residency in Canada. The program allows the foreign national to score extra points for the IRCC Express Entry system, thereby increasing their chance of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence by the Canadian government. The problem with this idea is that it can be almost impossible for most foreign nationals to enter Canada on a work permit.
This is because employers in Canada require a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for the position. This requires the employer to advertise the position to Canadian workers. However, to solve this problem, the federal govt. of Canada has launched a program called Owner Operator LMIA.
How does the program work?
This program involves a two-step application process. In the first step, the business person should apply to the Employment and Skill Development Canada (ESDC) office to get a positive Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). After receiving the positive LMIA, the candidate will be granted an LMIA work visa to Canada with the validity of up to 2 years.
Once the applicant obtains the work visa, the applicant becomes eligible to apply for permanent residence through the IRCC Express Entry Program.
What are the conditions for the renewal of the Work Permit?
The foreign investors can renew their Canadian work permit for the next 2-6 years. The company in Canada can showcase its active involvement in the business and meet all its owner’s employment conditions abroad.
Eligibility Criteria
Who is eligible for the Owner-operator LMIA program?
To qualify for the Owner-operator LMIA program, the candidate must:
- Show that they are a sole proprietor or controlling shareholder in a Canadian business.
- Show that they are prepared to employ at least one Canadian or permanent resident.
- Show that they will be in a senior management position where they are not subject to dismissal (for example, CEO or Director of the business).
Application Process
What is the LMIA step-wise application process?
The step-wise process to get LMIA in Canada is as follows:
The applicant, as an owner-operator:
- Undergoes a business and immigration profile evaluation.
- Receives the comprehensive business plan and supporting business Intel.
- Receives a positive LMIA
- uses the positive LMIA to receive a work permit (WP)
- Creates the Express Entry (EE) profile and applies the WP to the profile.
- Receives the invitation to apply for permanent residence (PR).
It is important to note that no RCIC or lawyer can guarantee that you will be successful at any step in this process. Our strength is that we offer you highly experienced immigration and business consulting professionals with a proven track record and the necessary licensing from Canada’s regulatory bodies. Thus, we ensure you have the best possible chance of success.
It is also worth noting that the ultimate goal, permanent residency in Canada for you and your family, is well within reach, given the fact that the positive LMIA will add 200 points to your EE profile for your senior management position. For 2020, the minimum points needed to receive the invitation to apply for PR was in the range of 440 to 460. That means your EE points can be as low as 260 and keep you well within the range of receiving the invitation to apply.
