Job offer Express Entry
Min Jun is a Korean citizen who is 32 years old. He entered Canada as an international student and completed his MBA program in Edmonton, Alberta. Moreover, Min Jun started working for a financial firm in Regina, Saskatchewan. He now has more than one year of full-time work experience in Canada. Since a job offer for Express Entry could enhance an applicant’s chances, Min Jun wonders if he could use this experience as an offer.
A valid job offer, also known as an offer of employment or an arranged employment offer, could significantly enhance your chances to immigrate to Canada under the Express Entry system. However, you need to know that the job offer’s specifications depend on Express Entry’s subcategory. Just as a quick reminder, the subcategories of Express Entry are the following:
- Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC)
Table of contents
- Job offer for FSWC and CEC
- Job offer for FSTC
- LMIA and Job Offers
- The Content of the Job Offer Letter
- Job offer vs a work reference letter
- Let us help!
Job offer for FSWC and CEC
A job offer for FSWC or CEC needs to meet the following criteria:
- valid for at least one year from the time you become a permanent resident of Canada.
- Full-time or preferably at least 30 hours per week
- It is a paid position and continuous (i.e. no voluntary or unpaid jobs).
- Only one employer issued the offer.
- falls under NOC 0, A, or B
IRCC does not accept seasonal, self-employed, or contract-basis jobs.
Job offer for FSTC
A job offer for FSTC needs to meet the following criteria:
- valid for at least one year from the time you become a permanent resident of Canada.
- Full-time or preferably at least 30 hours per week
- It is a paid position and continuous (i.e. no voluntary or unpaid jobs).
- A maximum of two employers issued the offers.
- falls under acceptable jobs for FSTC
IRCC does not accept seasonal, self-employed, or contract-basis jobs. However, they get part-time jobs only if you receive valid offers from two employers and the combination of two offers is equivalent to a full-time job. For example, you will work 10 hours per week for the first employer and 20 hours per week for the second one.
LMIA and Job Offers
Generally speaking, a job offer needs to be backed by a positive, permanent residency LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). However, your employer may not need a permanent residence LMIA if either of the following scenarios applies to you.
- You are currently working for the employer with a valid work permit backed by an LMIA. Your work permit is useful when applying under Express Entry and remains valid until they finalize the application. For CEC and FSWC applicants, the NOC must be 0, A, or B. For FSTC applicants, the job must be the same job you mention on your permanent residency application.
- You are currently working for an employer with a valid work permit that is exempt from an LMIA. You have at least one year of full-time work experience in Canada with the same employer and the same LMIA-exempt job.
A simple work permit is not good enough. For example, you may not apply because you hold a valid post-graduate work permit (PGWP) or an open work permit because of your spouse. Your work permit needs to be employer-based. You also need to meet the rest of the requirements I present in this article.
The Content of the Job Offer Letter
When you submit your application, you need to show a job offer letter from your employer. The job offer letter must include the following:
- Start date of the job and validity of it. For example, it clearly says the job offer is valid for at least one year from the day you become a permanent resident of Canada. It may also be an indefinite job offer (or rather no expiry date)
- The employer’s name and contact information (address, website, email, phone numbers, etc.)
- LMIA number, if applicable. If the job is exempt from an LMIA, present the existing work permit with at least one supporting document.
- NOC code of the job
- The job title and duties
- The salary, hours of work, benefits, and deductions
- Other arrangements specific to your mutual agreement
IRCC does not accept job offers from a high commission, an embassy, or a consulate in Canada.
Just because you are working for an employer in Canada does not mean you have a job offer. You need to receive the job offer in writing with the specifications I have indicated in this article. I also highly recommend reading the following posts.
- Definition of Full-time Work Experience
- Express Entry Points and CRS Calculator
- Arranged employment vs work reference letter for Express Entry
A job offer is different from an employment letter.
I have another article that explains the differences, but it’s good to have a reminder. Do not mix up a job offer with an employment or work reference letter.
Let us help!
If you want us to help you with your Express Entry application, fill out our assessment form. However, if you have generic questions about Canadian work experience or similar issues, fill out the following form. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session with me.
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If you wish to visit or move to Canada, please fill out our free assessment form. We will review it for free, but we will contact you only if we find an opportunity for you. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session. Consultation sessions are not free, but you will receive formal advice from a licenced practitioner.
Al Parsai, MA, DTM, RCIC
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada
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