What are the causes for no work permit to Canada?

The following is a hypothetical interview that has been inspired by many similar cases that we have seen over the years. The interview consists of an applicant, Mr. Applicant, who is applying for a work permit and who is providing answers to questions that relate to the type of questions that are addressed in work permit applications and that immigration officers think about when evaluating such applications.

The person doing the interviewing, Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper, is the one asking the questions. Mr. Applicant ultimately fails the interview and does not get a work permit. Take a look at the interview with particular focus on the reasons why the application failed.  Next week, we will discuss the reasons for failure and how to avoid them when preparing a work permit application.

Interview:

Mrs Work Permit Gatekeeper: Mr. Applicant, please tell me why you are applying for a work permit in Canada.

Mr. Applicant: I really love Canada and want to spend some time there.

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: Do you have any relatives in your home country? Are you married or have any children?

Mr. Applicant: I am not married and don’t really have any relatives in my home country.

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: do you have any friends and family in Canada?

Mr. Applicant: yes I have my brother and his wife as well as several friends in Canada.

Mr. Work Permit Gatekeeper: if you were given a work permit then what are your plans for afterwards when the work permit expires?

Mr Applicant: I have not thought that far out but I really wouldn’t want to leave Canada because it’s such an amazing country!

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: Do you have a job in your home country?

Mr. Applicant: No

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: How long have you been unemployed?

Mr. Applicant: two years since August 2013.

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: where did you work before and what position did you have?

Mr. Applicant: I worked in a few different places. I can basically work any job that I am required to work.

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: Do you have a job offer with a Canadian company that has a positive labour market impact assessment? If so, then what position with that company has been offered to you?

Mr. Applicant: Yes I do have an LMIA job offer. I have been offered a job as an electrical engineering technologist.

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: how much experience do you have working as an electrical engineering technologist and when did you acquire that expertise?

Mr. Applicant: I worked as an electrical engineering technologist for five years until August 2014.

Mrs. Work Permit Applicant: what were your duties working as an electrical engineering technologist?

Mr. Applicant: I did all kinds of things. I helped my boss with fixing broken equipment. I ordered new parts required to repair equipment. I trained new employees. I was responsible for helping the company’s bookkeeper with accounting and preparing financial statements. I made deliveries to customers. You name it and I did it! I learned a lot and that is why I can basically do any job now!

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: is English an official language in your home country?

Mr. Applicant: no

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: did you write any internationally recognized English-language tests such as IELTS?

Mr. Applicant: no

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: did you take any English language courses?

Mr. Applicant: no

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: do you know any French?

Mr. Applicant: not a single word!

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: have you ever worked outside your home country without proper authorization to work in that country?

Mr. Applicant: not exactly

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: what do you mean not exactly?

Mr. Applicant: well last year I visited my cousin in New York. My cousin has a construction business so I worked for him without being given authorization to work by the US Government. But it’s not really a big deal because my cousin hired lots of people without authorization and no one ever said anything to him.

Mr. Work Permit Gatekeeper: have you ever stayed in any country outside your home country beyond the period that you were authorized to stay?

Mr. Applicant: well yes a few times but no one made a problem out of it so I really don’t think it’s a big deal.

Mrs. Work Permit Gatekeeper: ok thanks for answering my questions.

Mr. Applicant: thanks! I think I did pretty well and will be checking my mailbox everyday for my work permit!