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On June 15, 2023, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada released an exciting update concerning Francophone Mobility work permit eligibility.
Francophone Mobility is an international mobility program that allows Canadian employers to avoid the lengthy LMIA process and directly support the foreign national’s work permit application.
This program facilitates the mobility of French-speaking individuals that are invited to work in Canada and can prove their moderate fluency in French – meaning level 5 of the Canadian Language Benchmark.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for this program, the foreign national must:
1 – Be destined to live and work outside Quebec:
- They would be allowed to make intermittent trips to Quebec per business needs. However, the primary place of work and residence must be outside Quebec.
2 – Prove moderate French language proficiency via:
- Designated French language test such as Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada or Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada.
- A written confirmation from a college or university for a program completed in French (such as an official letter of completion or transcript).
- Other documents that show completed education in the French language.
3 – Obtain a job offer from a Canadian employer to work in any occupation except the occupations in agriculture.
For the Canadian employer, the eligibility requirements are as follows:
1 – A Canadian-registered business in active operation without previous compliance issues in relation to hiring and employing foreign workers;
2 – Have the financial ability to support the salary of the foreign worker:
- Meeting the prevailing wage requirement for a work permit under Francophone Mobility is not mandatory.
3 – Submit an online offer of employment through the IRCC Employer Portal and generate a unique “A” number to be used for the foreign national’s work permit.
4 – Provide the foreign national with a signed job offer letter that clearly outlines the nature of their employment, such as job title, duties, salary and benefits.
Benefits of the Program
The two primary benefits of this program are the exemption from the LMIA and the prevailing wage bracket.
Exemption from the LMIA allows the Canadian employer to save a tremendous amount of time and facilitate a direct application for a foreign national’s work permit.
Exemption from meeting the prevailing wage bracket gives the Canadian employer flexibility in offering a benefits package that is reasonable based on the business needs.
A newly added benefit to this program is a wide variety of occupations that are eligible under this program. Prior to this update, Francophone Mobility was applicable only to high-skilled occupations.
As of June 15, 2023 – this program is open to all occupations except occupations in agriculture.
Processing Times
The processing times will solely depend on the foreign national’s country of citizenship.
If the foreign national is from a visa-exempt country such as France or Belgium, the work permit can be prepared within 3 business days. The foreign national can request the work permit to be issued on arrival to Canada.
If the foreign national is from a visa-required country such as Algeria or Lebanon, the application for a work permit must be filed online for processing at a local visa office. On average, this can take a couple of months.
Employer Compliance
Once the foreign worker lands in Canada and obtains their work permit and a Social Insurance Number, they can be placed on the Canadian payroll and be considered as a full-fledged Canadian employee.
As an employer that hires foreign workers, some rules must be followed to ensure employer compliance, such as:
1 – Provide the foreign worker with the following IRCC resource;
2 – Track the validity of the foreign worker’s work authorization to ensure they are eligible to work in Canada;
3 – Meet the conditions listed on the work permit and signed job offer letter;
4 – Provide with private health insurance until they become eligible for the provincial or territorial public health plan;
5 – Be active in the business that submitted the offer of employment for as long as the work permit is valid:
- For example, if the business goes through an acquisition or re-branding, a change of conditions may be required for the foreign worker’s work permit.
6 – Meet all applicable federal, provincial and territorial employment and recruiting laws;
7 – Make sure the workplace is free of physical, sexual, psychological and financial abuse.
How Sobirovs Can Help You
We streamline talent sourcing by handling online job offers, work permit preparations, and employer compliance support. Our seamless process saves time and ensures effortless international hiring, allowing companies to focus on what matters most. With our expertise, you can easily attract and onboard top foreign talent while staying compliant with all immigration regulations. Let us take care of the administrative burden so you can build a winning team. Trust us to simplify your recruitment journey and unlock your company’s full potential. Schedule a consultation for unparalleled assistance in recruitment and talent acquisition.
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Lucia LuI cannot say enough good things about Sobirovs Law Firm’s exceptional team. My work permit application was quite complex and underwent numerous tests, including a rejection from the first attempt. Feruza developed a tailored strategy that contributed to the best chance of success in the resubmission, and her entire team presented my case with unparalleled expertise and genuine care. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Maggie, a phenomenal consultant who supported me in every step of the application, took the time to understand my unique situation and answered all my questions patiently. Her in-depth knowledge of the work permit program, proficiency in preparing my application and professional communication were reassuring and truly remarkable. Thanks to your team’s extraordinary work, I can now pursue my business goals in Canada with peace of mind. I am grateful for your hard work and the compassionate support you provided throughout this journey. You have my highest recommendation without any reservations.Nomin DunbureeI had the pleasure of collaborating with the highly skilled professionals at Sobirovs to achieve my goals. Feruza's extensive expertise was invaluable, as she guided me through the most suitable pathway for my business immigration. I am profoundly grateful for choosing Sobirovs and highly recommend their exceptional services!Bimal BanikI really appreciate Sovirovs professional services ,I am truly happy and satisfied with their team work .I wish them all the bestAmirov TemurI am happy with the help I got from Sobirov Law Firm. They were always there for me : answering my questions and giving me support through the visa application process and with general immigration related questions. They made everything easier and were quick to respond whenever I needed them. I would recommend Sobirov Law Firm to anyone needing visa assistance for Canada. I trusted them, and did not regret! Thanks for all your help! I hope for further cooperation with you.Yuri lI would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ms. Feruza Djamalova, Ms. Judy Le and the entire team of Sobirovs Law Firm for their highly professional and excellent work in the complicated process of obtaining approval of our application for the business immigration program. I had several previous refusals over the course of 5 years. At that point, I contacted Sobirovs Law Firm. Their knowledge, competence, and perseverance turned my application into a success! My case was dealt by Feruza and Judy and I sincerely appreciate what an incredible job they have done and how much they have helped us. I believe they have a special gift and talent for assisting their clients. I want to particularly thank Judy for her patience and attention to detail in our case and also for thanks to her diligence, skill and attention to detail. I highly recommend Sobirovs Law Firm to anyone who wants to move to Canada using Business Immigration Programs and is looking for an immigration law firm capable of making a dream come true. They are highly professional and specialized in this field. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for their support.Syed Namdaar AliMy experience with Sobirov's was very rewarding. Starting from LMIA to Work permit it was a smooth sail. The entire team especially Yulia prepared my case painstakingly. They guided me on every little detail. Special thanks to Feroza, Farukh, Madina and the entire team for making this happen.Bhrushank VedI had an amazing experience with the Sobirovs in applying for my C11 Work Permit. Feruza, Maggie, Judy and Yulia planned every step of the way and made the process a breeze. Benjamin was also quite knowledgeable and assisted me with the business plan for my application. I recommend Sobirovs team if you plan to expand your existing business or start a new business in Canada. Highly recommended!Senol ErcetinDear Sobirovs Team, I would like to thank you (Yulia, Faruk, Feruza, Madina) for taking care of us closely in obtaining the necessary work permits for the establishment of the Canadian branch of our company and the necessary visas for our family. You have carried out a flawless process. With sincere regardsRakesh ShrivastavaI had a great experience working with the Sobirov Law Firm. The entire team was professional, prompt, and meticulous in their approach. We started working with them on LMIA under GTS of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The time it took from creation of an Incorporation to submission and approval of our application was around 8 weeks. Work Permit approval took another 2 weeks. They also helped us get shared office space since it was a new experience for us. They guided us in finding a payroll service provider and a realtor to help with the relocation of the foreign employee. My sincere thanks to Feruza Djamalova and Rakhmad Sobirov (Attorneys), and Yulia Kan (Team Lead).
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