A faster processing time for work permit applications: Global Skills Strategy

Many employers in Canada are having trouble finding enough qualified workers to fill available jobs. To help employers find these highly skilled workers faster, Canada introduced the Global Skills Strategy (GSS). This strategy features faster application processing times (2 weeks), work permit exemptions and enhanced customer service. Of course, interested candidates must meet all other eligibility and admissibility requirements. If they don’t submit the required documents, they will not get the 2-week processing time.

Let’s explore the eligibility requirements for the Global Skills Strategy (GSS).

Workers exempt from LMIA

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-exempt workers could qualify for the 2-week processing of their work permit application if they meet the following requirements

• They’re applying from outside Canada.
• Their job is either skill type 0 (managerial) or skill level A (professional) of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
• The employer has submitted an offer of employment using the Employer Portal and paid the employer compliance fee.

Please note that starting November 16, 2022, NOC 2016 skill type 0 will be updated to NOC 2021 TEER 0. Also, NOC skill level A will be updated to TEER 1. Therefore, you must use the NOC 2021 levels on any job offer submitted on or after November 16, 2022.

In addition, International Experience Canada applicants are not eligible for 2-week processing.

Workers who require an LMIA

Workers who require an LMIA could qualify for 2-week processing if they meet all of the following requirements:

• They’re applying from outside Canada.
• The employer has a positive LMIA through the Global Talent Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Applicants who have spouses and dependants

Workers’ spouse or common-law partner and dependent children are also eligible for 2-week processing of applications. However, this only apply to applications for:

• visitor visa
• work permit
• study permit

Spouses, common-law partners and dependent children must submit a complete application and apply at the same time as the worker.

Next steps for workers who qualify

If the worker meets the requirements mentioned above, he/she and their family members must do the following:

• apply online from outside Canada,
• submit a complete application,
• include a medical exam and police certificates (if needed),
• include certified translations of documents that aren’t in English or French,
• pay the processing fees,
• submit biometrics results within 2 weeks of submitting the application (if needed).

Be mindful of the realities

In reality, IRCC may not process all Global Skills Strategy work-permit applications in two-week. Any of the following reasons could result in delays:

• Your application is incomplete or does not meet the requirements.
• There are suspicions of inadmissibility to Canada.

Also, be aware that processing times for GSS applications continue to be affected by

• the number of the applications that IRCC has received while COVID-19 health and travel restrictions were in place, and
• an increase in applications as health and travel restrictions in Canada and around the world were removed

It will probably take more than 2 weeks to process your GSS application.

Let us help!

Please fill out the following form for two-week processing if you need help with a work permit application. However, if you have specific questions, book a consultation session with Al Parsai. You may alternatively fill out our free assessment form for other immigration options.

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