LMIA stands for “Labour Market Impact Assessment.” Formerly known as “Labour Market Opinion” (or LMO), LMIA is a document that a Canadian employer may need to obtain before hiring a foreign worker.
Anyone who has ever given any thought at any time in their life to an idea of immigrating to Canada has heard about LMIA program. No surprise you might have been wondering what that is. Today, we will tell you all you need to know about LMIA, why you need it and how you can get one.
An employer, wishing to hire a foreign worker, submits an application to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). ESDC then reviews the application and issues an assessment or a report that is called LMIA. This report outlines the impact that hiring a foreign worker will have on Canada’s labour market.
Any employer, who wishes to hire a foreign employee, must obtain an LMIA from ESDC. If the assessment by ESDC is positive, the Labour Market Impact Assessment will outline the conditions of the job being offered, the name of the employee in question, and an expiry date.
>Once the Canadian employer receives LMIA, it is then forwarded to an overseas employee. Only once Labour Market Impact Assessment is obtained, can overseas employee initiate a visa and work permit application. If the person is already employed in Canada, it allows them to file a work permit in Canada renewal application.