Some of the most surprising changes to the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing times across the several streams were released on the 11th of September, 2024. In the same manner, the latest update which focuses on Canadian immigration has brought some fresh air to the employers and foreign workers, with most immigration streams experiencing a reduction in the processing time and therefore making Canadian employment easier and quicker.
What is LMIA, and Why Does it Matter? A Guide to ESDC’s Role and Importance
An LMIA is an essential tool that Canadian employers require in order to employ foreigners to work in their companies. In general, it proves that the decision to hire a foreign worker does not contribute to the state’s loss of residents’ jobs. Since LMIA is of huge significance, faster processing timelines can greatly affect the hiring schedules and strategies of companies recruiting foreign employees.
Updated LMIA Processing Times
Here’s a detailed look at the latest LMIA processing times by stream:
- Global Talent Stream: It has now reduced by 1 day now that it is at just 7 business days, making this stream remain the quickest, for employers, who are in dire need of highly skilled workers.
- Agricultural Stream: Execution times have even decreased to a 14-business day and this has been done in a very impressive manner. This is therefore good news for Canada’s agricultural industry, which depends on migrant and temporary workers, mostly during the peak season.
- Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program: While it used to take six business days to process a visa application, the new streamlined process would further reduce the time to a maximum of five business days resulting in faster approval of employers and timely entries of seasonal workers.
- Permanent Residence Stream: The only stream where there is increase in the processing time, which now stands at 97 business days and increased from 12 business days. This increase underlines the fact that extra attention needs to be paid to the planning for those who look for the permanent residence opportunities.
- High-Wage Stream: A slight reduction of 1 day down to 51 business days provides a marginal but much needed relief for employers of high-wage jobs.
- Low-Wage Stream: This has helped to cut down processing time to 53 business days down from 57 thereby providing faster approval for positions that are normally occupied by foreign personnel.
Why Do These Changes Matter?
These new processing time frames are further testimony of ESDC’s continued effort to increase efficiency of the LMIA process for employers, and foreign workers. When implemented in an organization, faster processing times can enable companies to fill important positions faster thus minimizing downtime and increasing the overall efficiency. To the applicants, this would mean shorter waiting times that will translate to a faster track to getting a job in Canada in relation to their desire of a better future.
Although Visa Changes for the Permanent Residence Stream have led to a longer time in processing the applications, this means that applicants should therefore always plan ahead and possibly consider other options in case time is of essence.
Navigating LMIA with Confidence
What does it mean for the business or applicant? Well, as we have seen LMIA processing times change from time to time, being updated is important. This is the information that employers and foreign workers must take into consideration in order to make good decisions within the frame of their objectives. Whenever it is choosing the Global Talent Stream to get an expedited process or select any of the long processes to get the permanent residence, the right advice is crucial.
Get Expert Help with Your LMIA Applications
As seen, LMIA requirements may not be easy to comprehend, but with d’Goldberg, it is possible. At Gunness & Associates, our focus is on helping employers navigate the LMIA process in (ESDC), that way they get a smooth, efficient and effective application. This can be either from the side of the employer who needs foreign personnel to hire or from the side of the worker who plans to find a job in Canada.
If you want to know more details about “ESDC updated LMIA processing times,” you can contact one of our immigration specialists at Gunness & Associates.
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