How to apply LMO with Short Contract at Film/TV Industry?

[hys17]

Hello guys,

I have a very urgent question which has been frustrating me for over a year. I'm working in Film/TV as an Editor. As some people may know, there're mainly contract jobs that between production companies and individuals, available in this industry. Many of them are short(3 months-6 months).

Right now I'm on Post Graduate Work Permit which will expire in August. I'm working at a Production Company that signed a 3-months contract with me by a TV show, not the company itself. And it will continue sign more contracts with me by different TV shows(again, not by the company itself) till next March.

But I checked the CIC site and asked several immigration agents. It seems like to get a positive LMO I need a full-time job or a contract that's at least a year, which both don't exist much in this industry(I've been working at 3 companies in the last 12 months and none of them can offer me that).

Wondering if someone could give me some good advice for this situation? Thank you very much.

[rjessome]

Hello guys,

I have a very urgent question which has been frustrating me for over a year. I'm working in Film/TV as an Editor. As some people may know, there're mainly contract jobs that between production companies and individuals, available in this industry. Many of them are short(3 months-6 months).

Right now I'm on Post Graduate Work Permit which will expire in August. I'm working at a Production Company that signed a 3-months contract with me by a TV show, not the company itself. And it will continue sign more contracts with me by different TV shows(again, not by the company itself) till next March.

But I checked the CIC site and asked several immigration agents. It seems like to get a positive LMO I need a full-time job or a contract that's at least a year, which both don't exist much in this industry(I've been working at 3 companies in the last 12 months and none of them can offer me that).

Wondering if someone could give me some good advice for this situation? Thank you very much.

The LMO application has a section for Entertainment productions.  The company could apply for you using that.  I haven`t done one but that`s what I would research if I was. As many film and TV productions are done in Canada, especially in Vancouver and Toronto, I believe that`s it is completely possible.

[hys17]

The LMO application has a section for Entertainment productions.  The company could apply for you using that.  I haven`t done one but that`s what I would research if I was. As many film and TV productions are done in Canada, especially in Vancouver and Toronto, I believe that`s it is completely possible.

Thank you so much for the reply rjessome. I believe that you were referring to this page:
***.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/foreign_workers/entertainment.shtml

I did check it. But it seems like it still uses the same application as High Skilled Occupations unless you're an Exotic Dancer which I'm clearly not. In this case, would there be any exception for this business?

Thanks.

[rjessome]

Thank you so much for the reply rjessome. I believe that you were referring to this page:
***.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/foreign_workers/entertainment.shtml

I did check it. But it seems like it still uses the same application as High Skilled Occupations unless you're an Exotic Dancer which I'm clearly not. In this case, would there be any exception for this business?

Thanks.

Yes, it's the same application form.  I really don't know enough about entertainment/production company LMO applications to advise you properly.  Has the production company ever done one of these LMOs before?  Why don't you give Service Canada a call on Monday and ask for guideance there.  Is the production company planning on doing the LMO themselves or hiring someone?  I could ask around to see if some of my colleagues have experience with these.

[hys17]

Yes, it's the same application form.  I really don't know enough about entertainment/production company LMO applications to advise you properly.  Has the production company ever done one of these LMOs before?  Why don't you give Service Canada a call on Monday and ask for guideance there.  Is the production company planning on doing the LMO themselves or hiring someone?  I could ask around to see if some of my colleagues have experience with these.

Thank you for the fast reply. I called Service Canada this Friday. But the girl who answered the phone wasn't very informative and she told me to call HRSDC since that's the one who gives LMO. Then I called HRSDC, unfortunately the girl who answered the phone wasn't informative either. She basically suggested me to ask my boss to try since LMO doesn't really say anything about full-time or long-term contract. And she also suggested me to call Service Canada since they're the one who gives out Work Permit(what the what...).

I have 2 classmates who are international back to school. But they both got a long-term job offer since they're in different types of companies. So the examples don't really help my situation.

Now I'm totally confused. All the immigration agents tell me to get a full-time contract with 1 year minimal since that's the type of job they've been successfully dealing with. But Service Canada tells me it doesn't really require that.
My boss has no experience on this kind of stuff since it's a very small company.
I guess it's all about the possibility of Positive LMO...

Thanks again for your help. I'm meeting another immigration agent on Tuesday to see what's the best way.

[spabbi]

Thank you for the fast reply. I called Service Canada this Friday. But the girl who answered the phone wasn't very informative and she told me to call HRSDC since that's the one who gives LMO. Then I called HRSDC, unfortunately the girl who answered the phone wasn't informative either. She basically suggested me to ask my boss to try since LMO doesn't really say anything about full-time or long-term contract. And she also suggested me to call Service Canada since they're the one who gives out Work Permit(what the what...).

I have 2 classmates who are international back to school. But they both got a long-term job offer since they're in different types of companies. So the examples don't really help my situation.

Now I'm totally confused. All the immigration agents tell me to get a full-time contract with 1 year minimal since that's the type of job they've been successfully dealing with. But Service Canada tells me it doesn't really require that.
My boss has no experience on this kind of stuff since it's a very small company.
I guess it's all about the possibility of Positive LMO...

Thanks again for your help. I'm meeting another immigration agent on Tuesday to see what's the best way.

I have recently got a job offer in one of Canada's production houses on a 7 month contract and getting an LMO is not a problem. Your employer should arrange that for you.