Written by Eddy Ramírez

If you are applying for a work permit in Canada, obtaining the CLB 5 French certificate will help you enormously, as it exempts you from the famous LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment on the Labour Market).Impact Assessment on the Labor Market), the labor impact assessment that employers must submit when hiring foreign labor and that many avoid because it is a cumbersome procedure, but if you speak French, then you don't need it. Read on to learn more about this advantage!

What is LMIA?

Remember that the LMIA is a document that certifies that your employer has not found a native Canadian worker, a permanent resident or a person authorized to work in Canada to fill the position in your company. Once this step is completed, the foreigner must present the following requirements to apply for the work permit: the job offer, the contract, the copy of the LMIA and the LMIA number.

Does my employer need an LMIA to hire me?

When a foreigner wants to work in Canada, he has to ask himself the following questions: 

• Do I need my employer to apply for a positive LMIA? 

This is very important to know because it means that your potential employer will add one more task to the many that he probably has in his company and this would be, specifically: requesting the employment impact assessment through Employment and Social Development Canada. Taking into account whether or not the employer will do this task will be crucial to activate a possible plan B or plan C.

Are there exceptions for positive LMIA?

Although it sounds not very encouraging, it is important to know that the most normal thing is that your potential employer will tell you that he/she is not going to do the work permit application process because it is cumbersome and generates more tasks than he/she already has, in which case he/she will focus on a permanent resident or native to fill the job position. However, there are always exceptions in immigration, and it is then when the foreigner seeks the resources that Canada has to clear the LMIA, and the famous FTA (Free Trade Agreement) between Canada, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Panama and Mexico appears. This applies to resident citizens and certain professions or technical careers, who will not need to convince the employer to do this cumbersome task, but ... and where are, for example, Venezuela, Nicaragua and other countries or careers not covered by the FTA? For them, there is another possible plan.

The Mobilité Francophone also exempts you from the positive LMIA.

This is the great advantage of the French CLB5, to be able to apply for this LMIA exempt migration route. The famous Francophone mobility program is the best compensation for foreigners who do not have a Free Trade Agreement, since they can get a job offer in any field in Canada for a qualified entry-level position without having to have a LMIA. Of course, the offer can be in any province in the country, except Quebec. 

Now, as the name suggests, the French-speaking mobility is designed for foreigners who already speak French and this implies that they must demonstrate a minimum level CLB 5 certificate and will be able to apply immediately for a work permit.

In the real context, when you arrive with your work visa at the port of entry, the officer will ask you questions in French to see if you really speak the language and if your level is CLB 5 because you are able to communicate in French, then your work permit will be issued at the airport. 

What is the study plan to achieve CLB 5?

Planeta immiland offers a French course focused precisely on listening, reading and speaking skills (but not writing), since these are the three options that the officer will evaluate your profile when you arrive at the airport.

In order for you to achieve CLB 5, we suggest setting aside 15 weeks of your time, where you will see classes Monday through Thursday three hours a day, 12 hours a week. If you wish, you can register to start your classes and connect your learning process with your job search in Canada.

An important thing to know, when you have reached the CLB 5 level and you have your certificate in hand and are looking for your job offer, you will be able to tell your boss: "I speak French at CLB 5 level and I am entering the country through the Mobilité francophone plan". It will certainly be much less complicated for your employer to hire you. In addition, our certificate is approved by Canadian Immigration, so the process is 100% reliable and secure. In fact, many clients have used it and it has worked perfectly to demonstrate the required level of French. Take advantage of this travel route!

So far we share this valuable information. Take advantage of it if you speak French or need to catch up. See Mobilité Francophone course offer and the French language programs of Planeta Immiland. Contact us.

With love,

Planet Immiland