Pearl Law Group Global Immigration NewsFlash
Service Canada announces changes to its LMO Program.
Effective April 1, 2012, Service Canada will allow LMO applications to be submitted online and most excitingly, offer an Accelerated LMO Process (ALMO). The online service will significantly cut down on paperwork and the ALMO will dramatically decrease the processing times for LMO applications. LMO applications have been taking up to 12 weeks recently, which has been a tremendous burden on companies hoping to bring foreign workers to Canada under the program or extending expiring work permits. Service Canada has promised a 10 day processing time for those companies who meet the following criteria:
- previously had at least one LMO approved within the last two years;
- a clean compliance history with the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, and are not currently under audit; and
- not been the subject of an investigation, an infraction, or a serious complaint, and do not have any unresolved violations under provincial laws. Finally, the employer must consent to participate in a subsequent audit process. (Until now, there has been a voluntary compliance program when submitting an LMO).