The Love Story That Brought me to Canada and why we Became Immigration Consultants in Vancouver

All of the travel experiences I had in my childhood and youth have shaped my thoughts on immigration and what it means to join Canada in its security, prosperity and diversity. If you haven’t already, you can read about this in the article Spinning the globe: Landing on Canada – A Guide to How We Became Vancouver Immigration Consultants

The Great Outdoors Was Calling

I was drawn to immigrate to Canada for its wealth of outdoor sports and activities that provide year-round enjoyment: mountain biking, camping, snowboarding, skiing, swimming in lakes, ice skating or ice fishing on a frozen lake are some examples of the allure of Canada to me. 

I first came to Canada in 2003 on the International Experience Class (IEC) visa. I met my now-wife and business partner, Miho, at that time while she was working as the regional manager for SWAP, the Student Work Abroad Programme, through which my visa and travel had been arranged. In time we fell in love and decided to build a life together and start a family.  Canada offered us the opportunity to do that. This is the beginning of our journey to becoming Vancouver immigration consultants. It is a journey built on love, of people and a country.   

Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast: Two Great Places to Live

Settling in Vancouver was the best move we made. Living in Coal Harbour (map link), we had the ocean, Stanley Park, restaurants and all the downtown has to offer.

Later, as we decided to start and raise a family, we moved to the Sunshine Coast, which is a great place for children to grow up, as it’s a collection of small and very safe communities nestled in among the great outdoors I so dearly love.

In addition to outdoor lifestyle, there are other socio-economic factors that attracted both Miho and myself to Canada. This part of the story is very similar to migration factors I noted in this article: Spinning the globe: Landing on Canada – A Guide to How We Became Vancouver Immigration Consultants [LINK]

A Diverse Economy Rich in Commodities  

Canada is rich in natural resources, from rare metals to timber, hydrogen production and more. The country was built on a frontier spirit, but now it needs foreign workers with the skills needed to transition to a carbon-neutral economy. As immigration consultants in Vancouver (and the Sunshine Coast) we are perfectly placed to help you move to British Columbia or Alberta, the two western-most Provinces that are so resource rich.

Tolerance and the rule of law

Canada’s immigrants help to shape a country where tolerance and the rule of law are valued. Corruption is rare, and institutions like banks are regulated and stable. Liberal democratic values in the government are designed to (hopefully) benefit every Canadian, however recently they’ve become a resident.

Opportunity knocks 

Canada gives immigrants the ability to seek a better life, whether that be pursuing new opportunities, building a business, owning a home or starting a family. Networks of global migrants cultivate new connections and innovation thrives. Fresh air, clean water and strong environmental protection means that Canada’s beauty is accessible to all.  

Canada is by no means perfect, but it is a place where new immigrants can contribute to a stronger, more inclusive country by rubbing shoulders with other Canadians, bringing economic benefits through experience and knowledge, contributing to the tax base and receiving world class education and health care.

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Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) — Top Reasons for Refusal

Top Reasons for LMIA Application Refusals and Rejections

Top 5 Reasons for LMIA refusal

 

An LMIA, or Labor Market Impact Assessment, is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that allows an employer in Canada to hire a foreign worker. LMIA applications can be refused for various reasons, but here are the top five common reasons for refusal:

#1 – Insufficient or inadequate recruitment efforts e.g.; non-continuous advertising or erroneous NOC code analysis

ESDC expects employers to make genuine efforts to hire Canadian citizens or permanent residents before seeking foreign workers. If it is believed that the employer has not made sufficient efforts to recruit locally or has not advertised the job adequately, the LMIA application may be refused.

ESDC have stringent rules on the duration that recruitment advertisement must run and that they run continuously.  A failure to fully meet these requirements can result in refusal.

Another common mistake in LMIA recruitment drives is to fail to advertise in appropriate publications where Canadians might be seeking employment.  For example an LMIA application that is recruiting for a specialist occupation such as a Visual Effects Compositor or a Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) role would necessitate that the recruitment advertisements run in the relevant publications, journals and website that are relevant to that particular field.

It is also important that each component of the recruitment drive have unique value and reach different audiences   and national in scope.

#2 – Not meeting the prevailing wage (believe it or not)

Wage and Working Conditions: The employer must offer wages and working conditions that are consistent with prevailing labor market standards in the specific occupation and region. If the wages or working conditions do not meet the minimum requirements, the LMIA can be refused.

It is best practise to slightly exceed the prevailing wage for a given occupation by a few cents if possible as the prevailing wage associated with a particular training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) code can and do change periodically.

 

#3 – Incomplete application

Insufficient or Inaccurate Information: If the application is incomplete, contains inaccurate information, or fails to provide all the required supporting documents, ESDC may refuse the LMIA.

An example of this for high wage applications is failing to include the mandatary transition plan or in the case of low wage occupations falling to include information on housing, transportation and employment agreement.

 

#4 – Not meeting program requirements

A genuine and acute skills shortage is a perquisite to apply for an LMIA, if it is not the case then the Service Canada office will quickly discover this and refuse the application.

Impact on the Canadian Labor Market: ESDC assesses whether hiring a foreign worker for the specific job will have a positive or negative impact on the Canadian labor market. If the assessment shows that hiring a foreign worker may negatively affect job opportunities for Canadians or permanent residents, the LMIA may be refused.

Ineligible Occupations: Certain occupations may be ineligible for an LMIA due to policy considerations or labor market conditions. ESDC maintains a list of occupations that are ineligible or have specific restrictions, and applying for an LMIA for one of these occupations can result in a refusal.

For low wage occupations not meeting the cap on the proportion of low wage occupation positions that are foreign workers is a common reason for refusal.

#5 – Ill-preparedness for the interview

It’s crucial for employers to prepare for the employer interview with ESDC.  The Service Canada agents use the interview to cross examine the information in the application.  The employer ideally should have an annotated copy of the application to hand for the interview and have intimate knowledge of the rationale for making an application, a detailed knowledge of the job description and prevailing wage and recruitment drive.

Failing to prepare for the interview can be preparing to fail.

In conclusion then it’s crucial for employers to carefully review the LMIA application requirements, conduct thorough recruitment efforts, offer competitive wages and working conditions, and ensure that all necessary documentation is included to maximize the chances of approval.

The LMIA application processing fee is $1000 per applicant and the consequences of a delay at best or at worst not getting it approved and leaving an acute skills shortage unfilled for a business in need is a severe consequence of having an application refused.

Consulting with a qualified immigration professional or legal expert can also be beneficial in navigating the LMIA application process. Keep in mind that the rules and regulations regarding LMIA may change over time, so it’s essential to refer to the most up-to-date guidelines provided by ESDC or the Canadian immigration authorities.

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Spinning the globe: Landing on Canada – A Guide to How We Became Vancouver Immigration Consultants

Vancouver immigration consultants spinning the globe

I remember sitting at the kitchen table with my father. He spun our blue and tan globe, I closed my eyes, and ran my finger along its surface until it stopped. When I opened my eyes I was pointing at Canada.

We would play this game often and he’d tell me stories about the countries to which my finger pointed. I’d learn about its weather, what it produced, and its religion, politics and more. It was the beginning of a lifelong passion for travel and adventure – and, later, a purpose. A purpose summed up by this memory: I remember asking him why there were so many lines on the map, and whether you could cross them.

More than 15 years after we started our own business we are still helping others navigate immigration borders. Helping people realize their dreams of a better future is the “why?” behind Canada Immigration Partners. To this day we still get the same amount of enjoyment at helping people achieve that happiness, which is why we are still Vancouver immigration consultants in 2023. 

You might recognize your own motivations for immigration to Canada below, or in my story on how I immigrated to Canada. If you can relate, we are well placed to help you permanently cross those lines on the globe. Immigration is a narrative with human relationships at its core. Let Canada Immigration Partners contribute to your story.

Vancouver Immigration Consultants, our take on why people immigrate

I’ve been fortunate enough to realize my childhood dreams of travel and adventure. Wherever I went there were immigration stories happening right in front of me. Now, I get to hear those stories on a daily basis. Understanding them is at the core of a successful immigration plan.

Vancouver Immigration Consultant Matthew Sell and Miho Shimizu

Economic Betterment

When I was 12 years old my Dad took me on a motorcycle trip to Spain. From the back of his bike I remember seeing North African immigrants cooking over an open fire with only tarps for shelter, undergoing considerable hardship in pursuit of the opportunity to seek a better life.

Years later, I taught English in Hong Kong. Visiting Central Park Avery on Sundays, I would see hundreds of Filipino workers sitting on blankets with picnic baskets and talking to one another in Tagalog. Many had left home in order to earn money that they would then send home to their families.

According to the World Economic Forum: “Migration is motivated, first and foremost, by lack of economic opportunities at home.” It’s also a win-win situation: despite representing just 3.4% of the population, immigrants are responsible for over 9% of global GDP. Thankfully, enlightened countries like Canada recognize that fact.

To Avoid Inefficiency or Corruption

While in India at 18 years old, I waited for nearly six hours in a stuffy room with a tired fan watching my passport being passed from desk to desk. I was attempting to get a visa that would let me cross a line on the map – only to be told that the officer whose stamp I needed to complete the application had gone home and wouldn’t be back till tomorrow morning. As it turns out a bribe would have gotten me a visa in less than half the time.  

Canada’s bureaucratic process is not as difficult to navigate as India’s, but it can be incredibly complex. Applying for immigration to Canada has been compared to removing your own appendix with an incomplete “how-to” manual. You might pull it off, but you’d be a lot better off with professional help. 

An international education and a path to residency

At university in Oxford, I was privileged to learn alongside a host of students from all around the world. Each offered a different perspective and made my university experience so much richer.  

Canada hosts more than 600,000 international students each year and provides a route to permanent residency through study and the Postgraduate Work Permit program. If that’s a channel you’re interested in exploring, we’ve got a full guide. 

Talent ignores borders

A stint with an investment bank gave me a front row seat to the cosmopolitan nature of talent, where specialist and knowledgeable workers at the top of their fields came from all corners of the globe. I quickly came to recognize its importance in bridging cultural divides and fueling innovation. 

So has the Canadian government. Canadian businesses are experiencing severe talent shortages across industries and regions. Those skills gaps are set to increase as an aging workforce retires. The Global Talent Stream, Temporary Foreign Worker Program and a host of trade agreements have been established to encourage immigration and ease the shortage. They’re important routes for working in Canada and moving towards permanent residency. 

Security

More recently, we’ve been receiving urgent calls and emails from families in Afghanistan, Ukraine and Russia wanting to learn more about how to move to Canada. It has highlighted the peace and security on offer in this country that many Canadians take for granted.

Canada Immigration Partners — removing borders to your Canadian immigration dream. Your Vancouver Immigration Consultants Partners

By sharing my backstory, love of travel and helping people, and by highlighting the driving factors motivating migration hopefully you are informed enough about our honest motivations and love of giving other people the same joy we felt and winning our permanent residency and then citizenship. Every time we receive a card or a testimonial from happy clients it always makes us smile.

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Immigrate to Canada: How IRCC Used to Process Applications in Vegreville

Immigrate to Canada

Many years ago, on a road trip home to Vancouver from Regina, I stopped at one of the country’s immigration case-processing centres in Vegreville, Alberta. This office closed in 2018, with much of the staff being relocated to Edmonton. Prior to this, it’s where many people wanting to immigrate to Canada would have submitted their applications.

Centralization and ‘cost-cutting’ is nothing new, but AI is presenting novel changes when it comes to case processing efficiencies.

This blog post takes a look at the human side of Canadian immigration case processing. Part 2 will look at its increasing digitization and how a machine is still likely to think like a human as it has been created by one.

The importance, I believe, of this blog post is it highlights the work of a case processing officer and the need for your application to be detailed in how you meet the program requirement and supported with as much evidence and documentation as possible if you want to successfully immigrate to Canada.

Once Upon a Time in the West

The former case-processing centre at Vegreville dealt with Family Sponsorship, Permanent Residency and Temporary Residency applications.

I arrived at 7.30 am. I intended to just drive around the block, but it was such a beautiful morning I thought I’d get out and take some photos. As I did so, the immigration department employees started arriving for work: mainly middle-aged women with their Tim Horton’s coffee cups, replete with ID lanyards around their necks. As I took photos, the centre manager came out and asked if I was press or if I had submitted an application to this Canadian immigration centre. He mentioned that people would drive across the country to find out the status of their Canadian immigration application.

I answered his questions and told him that I was a regulated Canadian immigration consultant, that we (Miho and myself) had applications in process at the centre, and that I was passing by and wanted to take a look at this fabled institution for myself.  It’s worth noting at that point in time, we were sending nearly all our applications to Vegreville. This Immigration.ca article does a great job of explaining the work carried out at the centre and how it helped people immigrate to Canada.

Meanwhile, back in Vegreville… Once he [the manager] knew I wasn’t press or a disgruntled client, he invited me in for a tour of the facilities and to see for myself Citizenship and Immigration processing in action. He walked me through the processes involved from start to finish.

A Bureaucratic Journey: How Visa Officers Used to Process Your Immigration Application

The first stop was the mailroom, where all incoming applications were received, date stamped and collected into bundles to be assigned to visa officers.

After seeing the entry point for Canadian immigration applications, we walked through a massive office, lit with overhead neon lights, that was divided into cubicles containing large tables. Visa officers, with glasses perched on their noses, sat with their coffees in front of them, with red pens in hand, ticking, crossing and annotating paper applications that were being cross-referenced for completeness against a checklist.

Because Canadian visa officers have a defined quota of applications they need to process each day, the completeness check is an integral part of how IRCC employees approach their job. It is far quicker to return an incomplete application than to check off numerous complete applications. Therefore, they look for anomalies in order to fulfil their quota. The point of highlighting this is not to discredit visa officers but to underscore the need for applicants to submit complete and accurate applications. This is where we can help. 

After this walk-through, we went to his office, drank coffee and talked about the opposite ends of the same industry in which we work. We discussed issues such as program integrity, processing times, and IRCC communications that I can remember.

All told, this tour and conversation lasted less than an hour, but it gave me an invaluable experience into the working of the very system that is Miho’s and my lifeblood. 

I share this story for a number of reasons:

  1. Firstly because of the invaluable insight into the workings of how the Canadian government processes people’s applications to immigrate to Canada.
  2. Because it underscores the people processing your applications are as human as you and I.
  3. That attention to detail, evidencing relationships, and submitting information in a timely manner are incredibly important.
  4. Ultimately, visa officers are looking for reasons to refuse an application, not because it’s personal, but because it helps them achieve their daily work quota.

The advent of AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning will expedite this process but not replace humanity’s involvement, nor will the portals and online harvesting of information be perfect, nor change the fact your application needs to be complete and decision-ready.

Where online submissions have helped applicants, either by submitting their own applications or through using registered Canadian immigration consultants, is that you cannot submit an incomplete application online, whereas one could be mailed, then returned to you, then resubmitted. All of which added time and money to the process.

In part two, however, we will look at the issues online-only applications have when, for example, you are locked out of your account and are unable to submit information before the deadline.

If you feel that a Canada immigration consultation would be beneficial, get in touch with us.

 

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