Dear Mr Brown,

I have seen a company in Jamaica advertising about professional jobs available in Canada for immigrants. I was quoted a figure of US$5,000. I want to know your thoughts on whether this is legitimate. I am an accountant and would like to live in Toronto.

— DMDear DM:

— DM

Dear DM:

The opportunity to work in Canada is never a guaranteed process. A positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required for a work permit in most cases. A LMIA states whether the issuance of a work permit to a foreign worker will have a neutral or positive effect on Canada’s economy.

The employer must show recruitment effort and results, explanation of how the company would benefit from a foreign worker’s employment, such as profitability, employee skills and positive spillover affecting Canadians. It considers wages, working conditions, the availability of Canadians or permanent residents to do the work, the transfer of skills and knowledge, and the creation of jobs.

LMIA factors

LMIA factors

The relevant factors to consider for the issuance of an LMIA include:

• Verification of a genuine employment offer;

• Recruitment efforts to hire a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;

• Job creation or job retention of Canadian citizens or permanent residents;

• Transfer of skills and knowledge for the benefit of Canadian or permanent residents;

• Filling labour shortages in the Canadian market due to a skills shortage; and

• Sufficient wages and working conditions to attract Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Accordingly, that would seem unlikely to obtain for work in Toronto as an accountant, unfortunately. Moreover, although registration/legal fees may be appropriate, it is against the laws of Canada for an applicant to pay for a job. Please be guided accordingly.

Also, most jobs are for the Farm Work Programe, so be mindful if there is a situation in which all applicants are required to pay thousands of foreign dollars for a process in which most applicants will not be successful for work.

You should always receive Canadian immigration advice from an authorised immigration representative. Under Canadian law, only authorised immigration representatives can charge a fee to assist someone to apply for visas, permits, permanent residence and/or citizenship. Accordingly, local employment agencies, travel agencies or education agents in Jamaica must be authorised agents to provide any form of immigration advice. Otherwise, they are contravening the laws of Canada.

Fraud Prevention Month

Fraud Prevention Month

The Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) is the regulatory body responsible for governing the conduct of immigration representatives. The Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC) is the national coordinating body for provincial and territorial law societies in Canada. Together with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, these organisations help safeguard potential immigrants from unauthorised immigration representatives who pose a threat to the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.

Not licensed? Not legal!

Not licensed? Not legal!

The month of March is Fraud Prevention Month in which the ICCRC promotes awareness of the dangers of using an unauthorised immigration representative. The theme this year is: “Not Licensed? Not Legal!”

Each week in March, ICCRC will release a new video to alert the public of immigration fraud. Each day of the week, the video will be re-released with different subtitles to engage English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, and Hindi audiences.

Authorised representatives

Authorised representatives

The Canadian immigration regulations prescribe which immigration representatives may (or may not) represent or advise, for a fee or other consideration, a person who is the subject of either an immigration proceeding or a visa application.

Examples of advice and representation would include:

• Advertising that they can provide immigration advice for a fee;

• Explaining and/or providing advice on someone’s immigration options;

• Providing guidance to a client on how to select the best immigration stream;

• Providing guidance on completing and submitting immigration forms, such as a visitor’s visa, work permit or study permit;

• Representing a client in an immigration application or proceeding;

• Making interventions on behalf of the applicant during processing; and

• Requesting information from the embassy about the progress of the application.

Unauthorised representatives

Unauthorised representatives

An unauthorised representative is an individual or company that receives a fee for advising or representing a client on immigration matters. These people are not members of the ICCRC or a law society and are not permitted to provide any of the services outlined above.

Consumers are encouraged by the ICCRC to file complaints against unauthorised representatives at

iccrc-crcic.info/complaints/

Please visitjamaica2canada.comfor additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programmes, including Express Entry, the Study and Work progamme, Visitor’s visas or Appeals, etc.Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is an immigration counsel and an accredited Canadian education agent of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM — a Canadian immigration & education firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to jamaica2canada@gmail.com

Please visit

jamaica2canada.com

for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programmes, including Express Entry, the Study and Work progamme, Visitor’s visas or Appeals, etc.

Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is an immigration counsel and an accredited Canadian education agent of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM — a Canadian immigration & education firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to jamaica2canada@gmail.com