Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) recently introduced changes to strengthen employer accountability under the International Mobility Program.
The International Mobility Program allows employers to hire or bring in foreign workers without the need of a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Examples of individuals who come to Canada under the International Mobility Program include:
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workers covered under international agreements, such as NAFTA,
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people taking part in exchange programs,
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international students who have graduated from a Canadian school,
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spouses of certain foreign students and foreign skilled workers, and
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certain foreign nationals who are already in Canada waiting for the finalization of their applications for permanent residence.
Starting February 21, 2015 employers seeking to hire foreign nationals through International Mobility Program streams that feature employer-specific work permits will be required to submit information about their business, an Offer of Employment form, and pay a fee to CIC. The fee has been set at $230. The fee does not apply to employers hiring foreign nationals who have open work permits.
If an employer is non-compliant, the employer could face a monetary penalty, a ban from hiring foreign workers, and a criminal investigation and prosecution.
Also, starting February 21, 2015 open work permit applicants must pay a new $100 fee in addition to the processing fee.
