LMO (Labour Market Opinion) is one of the requirements before working in Canada and getting a working visa. How to get LMO and how long should you wait for the approval? How much is the processing fee in getting LMO? Those are just some of the questions you have in mind as a Filipino and as a foreign worker dreaming to work and live in Canada.
The good news is, your employer will be the one who will process this important document for you and you won’t need to pay any fee. If it’s approved, then you can process your visa at the Canadian embassy in the Philippines. Continue reading to know more about the process.
In this post, I’m gonna share some of the frequently asked questions about LMO and job requirements for OFW a.k.a. Overseas Filipino Workers who want to work in Canada.
What is LMO and why should you need it?
Labour Market Opinion is required for foreign workers to support a working permit in Canada. Some jobs don’t require an LMO but some jobs other than professional jobs like skilled usually require one. According to Citizenship Immigration Canada,
LMO is the opinion provided by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)/Service Canada to the officer that enables the officer to determine whether the employment of the foreign worker is likely to have a positive or negative impact on the labour market in Canada.”
In other words, hiring of foreign workers must not have a negative impact on Canadian labour market. LMO can be approved only if HRSDC finds no Canadian or citizen of Canada to fill the job or position or when there is skills shortage. It may not be easy to have LMO approved because like any other country, they prioritize their citizens first. But Canada is a very wealthy and generous country so employment opportunities will always come. Don’t lose hopes. There are millions of Filipinos working and living in Canada now. We love Canada as much as they love us.
Requirements in getting LMO in Canada – Labour Market Opinion
The employer must apply for the LMO by filing an LMO application form at his/her Service Canada Region (ie: Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec etc.) the employer then will receive confirmation and result of the application. If it’s a positive or neutral LMO result, then the employer must send a copy of the positive/neutral LMO to the foreign worker because it is needed in his/her application of working visa. On the other hand, if the LMO is negative, the employer can’t hire the foreign worker for that position anymore.
How long should you wait for your LMO application result?
It takes about a month or two. It could be faster or longer. It depends upon the amount of applicants and the processing circumstances.
What if your LMO was disapproved (negative)? Can you apply again?
The employer may request a review of the application and decision on a later date but it doesn’t guarantee approval. Result will always be assessed by the HRSDC.
What’s the next step after LMO approval?
If your LMO is positive or neutral, the employer needs to send you a copy of it together with your employment contract and job offer (signed by you and your employer). These documents are required for your application of visa at the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines. It’s your (OFW) turn then to do the processing of visa. If your visa was approved, you can proceed to register yourself as an official OFW at the POEA to have your PDOS and exit clearance.
To know more about applying a job in Canada, I recommend you read:
Direct Hiring in Canada for Filipinos
How to get LMIA in Canada – Requirements and Procedure
Share your LMO experiences or share your dreams of working in Canada by commenting below. Mabuhay!
