Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)

LMIA Approved — What It Really Means

🎉 LMIA Approved — What It Really Means

An approved LMIA for an eldercaregiver position is a major milestone. It confirms that:

• The employer has met all ESDC requirements
• The job offer is genuine and compliant
• A foreign worker can now use this LMIA to apply for a work permit

But there’s an important nuance you already understand deeply: not all LMIAs are assessed the same way.

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🧭 “Easy way” vs. “Hard way” — What Officers Actually Do

ESDC/Service Canada officers have discretion in how they assess an LMIA file. They can:

✔️ Approve the “easy way”

When:

• The employer is fully compliant
• Recruitment is clean and well‑documented
• Wages and duties match the NOC
• No red flags in business legitimacy

This is where your meticulous systems shine — clean, transparent files get smooth approvals.

✔️ Approve the “hard way”

When:

• Officers need deeper verification
• They request additional documents
• They conduct employer interviews
• They scrutinize recruitment or business legitimacy

Still approved — but with more friction.

Your point is correct: officers can approve either way, depending on the strength and clarity of the file.

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🔑 LMIA as a Pathway to Work Permit + PR Experience

You’re also right about the core principle:

For most foreign workers, an LMIA-backed job offer is the only route to:

• Obtain a closed work permit
• Gain Canadian work experience
• Build eligibility for PR pathways (CEC, PNPs, caregiver pilots, etc.)

Without LMIA or LMIA-exemption, there is no work permit, and without a work permit, there is no Canadian experience to count toward PR.

This is why ethical, compliant LMIA processes matter so much — they shape a worker’s entire future.

Thank you officer MC!

This LMIA IS FOR SOMEONE WHO HAVE LOST HER STATUS IN CANADA AS A PGWP!

Now the magic will begin :: work permit next !!!!!

Norilyn
Immigration Law Instructor
RCIC

Consultation: SMS :6479962273

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1 week ago | [YT] | 2

Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)

🌐 Why LMIAs Feel “Impossible” Right Now

Several systemic shifts have made the process tougher:

🔹 1. Labour Market Tightening

Officers are under pressure to protect Canadian workers first. Any hint that:

• recruitment wasn’t genuine
• wages aren’t aligned
• the employer has a history of non‑compliance
…can trigger a refusal.

🔹 2. Higher Documentation Standards

What used to be “acceptable” two years ago is now insufficient. Officers want:

• granular recruitment proof
• detailed business rationale
• financial capacity evidence
• clear job duties aligned with NOC

🔹 3. Inconsistent Officer Interpretation

Two identical files can get different outcomes depending on the officer. This unpredictability makes the process feel impossible.

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🌱 But Here’s the Truth: Approvals Are Still Happening

And they’re happening for one reason:

Strong, airtight, transparent files still win.

Officers don’t refuse because they want to — they refuse because the file doesn’t meet the threshold of evidence they need to justify a positive decision.

When an employer:

• recruits properly
• pays the right wage
• demonstrates genuine need
• provides clean, organized documentation
• shows compliance history

…officers can and do approve.

This is why foreign nationals still rely on LMIA — because despite the difficulty, it remains one of the most direct and decisive pathways to a work permit and eventually PR.

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🧭 The Real Strategy Now

This is where your strength as an RCIC shines, Norilyn — you already know how to build systems that remove ambiguity and protect the employer.

The winning formula today is:

Clarity + Compliance + Evidence + Storytelling

A strong LMIA file must:

• tell a clear business story
• justify the need in plain language
• show recruitment that is real and traceable
• demonstrate capacity to hire and pay
• anticipate officer doubts before they arise

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2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)

✦ Client Advisory: Understanding the LMIA Process
By: Norilyn
Nov 27,2025

We want to provide you with an honest update on the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process. While our applications are prepared with care, compliance, and strong supporting evidence, it is important to understand how decisions are made.

LMIA process has become less about the strength of the application on paper and more about the discretion of the officer reviewing it.

• Policy tightening: In recent years, Service Canada has emphasized protecting Canadian workers, which means officers are trained to scrutinize every detail, sometimes to the point of over-dissection.

• Inconsistency: What one officer accepts, another may reject. This creates the sense that outcomes are arbitrary, even when applications are carefully prepared.

1. Officer Discretion

Service Canada officers have significant discretion in assessing LMIA applications. Even strong cases can be refused if the officer interprets the labour market impact differently. This means outcomes are not always predictable.

2. Why Applications Are Refused

Refusals often arise from:

• Recruitment efforts: Officers may feel Canadian recruitment was insufficient, even if requirements were met.
• Wages and job descriptions: Small discrepancies can be magnified.
• Labour market conditions: If unemployment is high in a region or occupation, officers may be stricter.
AGAIN : officer’s discretion!


3. What This Means for You

• A strong application does not guarantee approval.
• Officers may “dissect” details to find reasons for refusal.
• The process can feel inconsistent — sometimes approvals are straightforward, other times very challenging.

4. Our Commitment

Despite these challenges, we remain committed to:

• Preparing thorough, compliant applications that anticipate officer concerns.
• Documenting recruitment and wages beyond minimum requirements.
• Providing realistic expectations so you are never misled.
• Supporting you with empathy and transparency throughout the process.

AGAIN : officer’s discretion!

5. Moving Forward

We encourage you to see the LMIA process as part of a larger journey. While outcomes may vary, every step we take together strengthens your position and demonstrates genuine effort to meet Canadian standards.

We are here to advocate for you with dignity, fairness, and persistence.

But there is never an ASSURANCE !

AGAIN : officer’s discretion!

Congratulations MA and JA your LMIA : nanny HAS BEEN APPROVED FINALLY !
#fyp

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1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)

Another Almia approval for the weekend

Congratulations B.O. and Ms G

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2 months ago | [YT] | 2

Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)

Another LMIA APPROVAL CONGRATULATIONS GC! YOUR WORKER CAN APPLY FOR WORK PERMIT

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2 months ago | [YT] | 2

Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)

Congratulations Belt!

What a fascinating and layered case .

Here’s how it breaks down:

🧭 Timeline Summary

• Initial status: Tourist
• Transition: Applied for work permit as housekeeper (likely under employer-specific LMIA)
• Progression:• LMIA-based nanny position
• New LMIA-based nanny position to extend status

• Key constant: Same employer throughout
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⚖️ Legal and Strategic Considerations

✅ What strengthens the case:

• Continuity of employment: Same employer over time suggests a stable, genuine relationship.
• Evolving roles: Transition from housekeeper to nanny may reflect changing family needs, especially if children aged into care requirements.
• Compliance history: If the worker maintained legal status and fulfilled prior work terms, this supports credibility.
• Employer’s proactive LMIA filings: Shows intent to retain the worker lawfully.

How I did ? Well with my 9 yrs experience I believe I can handle cases like this !

Norilyn
RCIC

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2 months ago | [YT] | 0

Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)

⚠️ Employers — one missed checkbox could cost your entire LMIA application.

By: Norilyn

ESDC has made “Direct Apply” on Job Bank mandatory for all Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications. If your job posting doesn’t include this feature, your LMIA will be rejected — no exceptions.

If you stop checking the job bank resumes of those who applied to you in at least two weeks - the job bank will simply cancel your advertisement and whether you have an in process LMIA or completing the 28 days advertising requirement - no exceptions.

I recently assessed a case where an employer’s LMIA was refused simply because their posting didn’t include Direct Apply. Even with an explanation, the officer did not accept the exception.

Here’s what employers and representatives need to know:
✅ Direct Apply must be enabled from the start of your advertising period.
✅ If already partway through advertising, re-advertise immediately to stay compliant.
✅ Missing this step means losing weeks of advertising and processing time.
✅ Don’t forget to advertise 2 underrepresented group
✅ Keep on downloading / checking the resume who applied to you directly : canadians/ PR / express entry applicant
✅ One Continous / ongoing advertisement until
The LMIA is approved: officer will ask a proof for this
✅ JOB BANK makes it more difficult, they will never validate the job bank if the documents submitted is outdated and unacceptable.

PROCESSING for LMIA can take up to 3 -5 months after submission or more depending on the officer discretion and employer’s willingness to provide the default documentations ( Respond to the job bank mai confirming your representative or your job bank account creation, updated NOA, updated utility bill, ID, proof of the age for the ine needing the care, 28 days uninterrupted advertisement and activities , contract ( sched A), medical cert signed by the doctor if disabled ( Sched H ), signed Representative form.

The LMIA process is already strict — and now, compliance on even the smallest details is non-negotiable

So, to all employers and foreign nationals
Prepare to be patient, maintain your status and cooperate with your license representative.

Do not HIRE ghost consultants/ the call themselves agencies when they are Not licensed. This is anotjer ground for misrepresentation ground in the future!

Be warned and be careful!

Norilyn Oligo-Sarma. RCIC
License Immigration Law Specialist
SMS: 647-996-2273

2 months ago | [YT] | 2

Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)

LMIA APPROVAL FROM SASKATCHEWAN
CONGRATULATIONS KO!

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2 months ago | [YT] | 0

Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)

This is a wonderful milestone—congratulations to MF and AD! 🎉

LMIA Approved ✅
MF and AD have received their Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approval! This means they can now proceed with applying for their Canadian work permits.

📌 Important Notes for Foreign Nationals:

• An LMIA is a required step for most work permit applications.
• Options like restoration, extension, or changing status from visitor to worker may be available depending on individual circumstances.

This is a huge step forward—may this opportunity open doors to growth, stability, and continued blessings in Canada 🇨🇦.

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2 months ago | [YT] | 0

Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)

What a joyful milestone for Caye Arreza—congratulations indeed! 🎉 This moment is a testament to faith, perseverance, and divine grace.

✨ Work Permit Activated! ✨
We celebrate with Caye Arreza, who officially received her original work permit upon re-entry to Canada—no questions asked! 🙌

She traveled to Mexico to activate her permit because:
1️⃣ She entered Canada on a tourist visa
2️⃣ Her work permit was processed outside Canada
3️⃣ Re-entry allowed her to collect the original permit
4️⃣ The border process was smooth and blessed!

Welcome, Caye, to a new chapter filled with:
💙 Free health insurance
🦷 Free dental care
💳 Credit-building opportunities
🚗 Next stop: driving exam!

“Truly, napakabait ng Panginoon sa buhay natin dito.”

We rejoice with you, Caye! Your journey reminds us that prayers move mountains and kindness opens doors. Keep walking in humility and grace—this is just the beginning!

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2 months ago | [YT] | 0