The Canadian government has decided to remove, from spring 2025, a measure which granted additional points to candidates for permanent immigration with a job offer.
This announcement was made by Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, and aims to reduce fraud associated with Labor Market Impact Assessments (LMIA).
What is an LMIA?
An LMIA is a document that a Canadian employer must obtain to hire a foreign worker if no Canadian or permanent resident is available or has the necessary skills for the position, such as in fields where there is a labor shortage -work. However, some companies exploit this program by asking foreign workers to pay large sums of money to obtain an LMIA, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars.
Why this change?
Truck drivers and other foreign workers previously benefited from an additional 50 points in the Express Entry system if they had a job offer linked to an LMIA. These points increased their chances of obtaining permanent residence, but they also led to abuse. Some unscrupulous employers took advantage of the situation to demand illegal payments, creating precarious and dangerous working conditions.
According to the minister, this temporary measure aims to remove the incentive to buy or sell LMIAs and protect foreign workers from exploitation.
Who is affected?
The new candidates: Everyone who enters the Express Entry system from spring 2025 will have to submit their application without counting on these 50 additional points.
Current applications: Those who have already been invited to apply or whose application is being processed will not be affected.
The impact on foreign workers
Some experts believe the illegal sale of LMIAs could decrease, but not disappear entirely. For example, workers whose permits are expiring may still seek to purchase an LMIA to extend their legal stay in Canada.
A measure to limit fraud
Minister Miller emphasized that these changes aim to attract qualified talent while protecting workers and strengthening the integrity of the immigration system. Express Entry remains one of the main programs for skilled workers wishing to immigrate to Canada.
With this decision, the government wants to ensure that immigration remains a pillar of the Canadian economy, while reducing certain abuses that affect foreign workers. However, the government must continue to fight abuse and fraud, in particular by tackling the problem of drivers incorporated into trucking.
