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cautionary tale (processing times for LMO)

edwardh

Newbie
Nov 13, 2011
5
0
for me it's probably too late already anyway but anybody applying for a work permit should know about exactly what to expect and how damn slow HRSDC is if you don't poke it with a stick every other day. (this whole story is taking place in toronto)

i don't even know how many months ago my employer applied for an LMO for the first time. i believe it was in march, 1-2 months before my then still valid work permit ran out. this was based on the fact that i somewhere read that it would take 2-3 weeks to be processed plus a few weeks for the actual work permit application.

well... after that, there was a bit of back and forth between CIC and myself, them threatening to deny my application because of no LMO and me basically going "well, what can i do if your colleagues take so long to reach a conclusion?". somebody at CIC actually told me it would be very unusual for LMO processing to take longer than those 2-3 weeks and he'll put a note on my file saying the will wait for the LMO, regardless how long it takes. in the mean-time, i would have implied status, allowing me to stay and work until all of that would be over.

but they didn't wait. in september (still no LMO), i received a letter saying my application was denied because i didn't provide them with an LMO. "oh and by the way - your implied status ended a week ago and if you don't intend on applying for restoration (which is $350) you're in the country illegaly now and enforcement action can be taken against you"
so i asked my boss what the hell is going on (since your employer is in charge of organizing the LMO) and he found out that they decided on my case by mistake but they refused to re-open it! the only thing i could do was the application for restoration and my boss apply for an LMO again.

this time around, since it is my last chance, he decided to be more forceful (and me as well, demanding to be updated every step of the way) and has a secretary calling up HRSDC at least twice a week. and HRSDC actually demanded copies of the same things multiple times, over a period of almost two months now! initially, they told my boss because of the field i work in (creative industry), they would be able to "fast track" it and he would get the LMO in about 8 days. 8 days, my ass! as i just said, it's almost two months now. and during all that time, there were even nice parts where the person processing the application couldn't be reached for about a week but once he was available, he went "oh and i need XYZ within two days, or the application will be denied".

i always used to think companies that don't want to hire foreign workers were just too lazy to fill out a damn form but now i realize exactly how much effort this process is since HRSDC will apparently not do anything without being constantly pushed and asks for the same information over and over. and i thought my experience with CIC was frustrating... but my application was a piece of cake in comparison. there, it really was just filling out a form, paying a fee and that was it.
 

GoldenArm

Star Member
Jul 5, 2011
79
0
Category........
Visa Office......
will apply at Port of Entry
NOC Code......
2322
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
12-Jul-2011 (LMO)
VISA ISSUED...
LMO received 09-Sep-2011
edwardh said:
for me it's probably too late already anyway but anybody applying for a work permit should know about exactly what to expect and how damn slow HRSDC is if you don't poke it with a stick every other day. (this whole story is taking place in toronto)

i don't even know how many months ago my employer applied for an LMO for the first time. i believe it was in march, 1-2 months before my then still valid work permit ran out. this was based on the fact that i somewhere read that it would take 2-3 weeks to be processed plus a few weeks for the actual work permit application.

well... after that, there was a bit of back and forth between CIC and myself, them threatening to deny my application because of no LMO and me basically going "well, what can i do if your colleagues take so long to reach a conclusion?". somebody at CIC actually told me it would be very unusual for LMO processing to take longer than those 2-3 weeks and he'll put a note on my file saying the will wait for the LMO, regardless how long it takes. in the mean-time, i would have implied status, allowing me to stay and work until all of that would be over.

but they didn't wait. in september (still no LMO), i received a letter saying my application was denied because i didn't provide them with an LMO. "oh and by the way - your implied status ended a week ago and if you don't intend on applying for restoration (which is $350) you're in the country illegaly now and enforcement action can be taken against you"
so i asked my boss what the hell is going on (since your employer is in charge of organizing the LMO) and he found out that they decided on my case by mistake but they refused to re-open it! the only thing i could do was the application for restoration and my boss apply for an LMO again.

this time around, since it is my last chance, he decided to be more forceful (and me as well, demanding to be updated every step of the way) and has a secretary calling up HRSDC at least twice a week. and HRSDC actually demanded copies of the same things multiple times, over a period of almost two months now! initially, they told my boss because of the field i work in (creative industry), they would be able to "fast track" it and he would get the LMO in about 8 days. 8 days, my ass! as i just said, it's almost two months now. and during all that time, there were even nice parts where the person processing the application couldn't be reached for about a week but once he was available, he went "oh and i need XYZ within two days, or the application will be denied".

i always used to think companies that don't want to hire foreign workers were just too lazy to fill out a damn form but now i realize exactly how much effort this process is since HRSDC will apparently not do anything without being constantly pushed and asks for the same information over and over. and i thought my experience with CIC was frustrating... but my application was a piece of cake in comparison. there, it really was just filling out a form, paying a fee and that was it.
I hear you, brother!

My dealings with HRSDC in July-to-September convinced me they are incompetent and lazy in equal measure.
If I never have to deal with them again, it will be too soon.
 

edwardh

Newbie
Nov 13, 2011
5
0
july to september? but that's just two months? i'd consider myself lucky if it would've worked out that fast for me ;)

i've heard that it might be possible for me to stay longer than i'm currently allowed by crossing into the US and then entering canada again but honestly... all that possible hassle with border agents grilling me or them not letting me back in or whatever... it's just not worth it. after all this waiting and running around, i can't help but draw an analogy to people with abusive partners ("oh you want a work permit extension, do you?!" - as humorous as the rest of this would be, i'm thinking i should leave it up to the imagination ;) )... except that i won't stick with canada, there are plenty of other countries who will appreciate having me (and that have higher living standards as an added bonus). i have moved from temporary employee to part of the core team at the company i currently am within a few months and don't see why that shouldn't happen somewhere else too. it's just unfortunate because of particular career opportunities i have here that aren't as good in europe. it's also a quite a big organizational and financial pain to move back there, actually finding another job, etc.. but... if canada doesn't want me, i don't care any more.
 

GoldenArm

Star Member
Jul 5, 2011
79
0
Category........
Visa Office......
will apply at Port of Entry
NOC Code......
2322
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
12-Jul-2011 (LMO)
VISA ISSUED...
LMO received 09-Sep-2011
edwardh said:
july to september? but that's just two months? i'd consider myself lucky if it would've worked out that fast for me ;)

i've heard that it might be possible for me to stay longer than i'm currently allowed by crossing into the US and then entering canada again but honestly... all that possible hassle with border agents grilling me or them not letting me back in or whatever... it's just not worth it. after all this waiting and running around, i can't help but draw an analogy to people with abusive partners ("oh you want a work permit extension, do you?!" - as humorous as the rest of this would be, i'm thinking i should leave it up to the imagination ;) )... except that i won't stick with canada, there are plenty of other countries who will appreciate having me (and that have higher living standards as an added bonus). i have moved from temporary employee to part of the core team at the company i currently am within a few months and don't see why that shouldn't happen somewhere else too. it's just unfortunate because of particular career opportunities i have here that aren't as good in europe. it's also a quite a big organizational and financial pain to move back there, actually finding another job, etc.. but... if canada doesn't want me, i don't care any more.
July to September inclusive. ;)

Even so, your point is valid - 3 months is still a shorter wait than people seem to be experiencing now! :eek:
 

edwardh

Newbie
Nov 13, 2011
5
0
oh yeah by the way... LMO... denied! i'm flying back to my home country in a matter of days.