RA
Rob Attwell
Josh was incredibly helpful and responsive in dealing with our immigration issues through the Global Talent Stream Program. He really knew his stuff and was willing to help me and, more importantly, our candidate through the process.
For employers
LMIAs: hire the worker your business needs.
A Labour Market Impact Assessment is the employer's side of most work permits. We handle the wage, compliance, and filing requirements end to end so your hire starts on time. And if an LMIA is not the fastest route to your hire, or the role will not qualify for the stream you were hoping for, we will tell you on the first call.
Request your LMIA review
Overview
What an LMIA really involves.
An LMIA is Employment and Social Development Canada's confirmation that hiring a foreign worker will not hurt the Canadian labour market. Applications are delivered through Service Canada. The process is technical: advertising rules, prevailing wages, transition plans, and strict timelines. A misstep in recruitment means starting the clock over. We manage the whole file so that does not happen.
What is involved
The LMIA process, handled properly.
- Guidance on the exact advertising requirements
- Prevailing wage determination for the role and region
- High wage and low wage stream requirements, including transition plans
- The Global Talent Stream for tech roles, with ESDC's 10 business day service standard
- The worker's permit application once the LMIA is approved
- Compliance obligations that continue after approval
How we work
A lawyer-led process, with our own software doing the assembly.
01
Initial consultation
Tell Josh about the role. You get legal advice on your actual situation, written next steps, and a flat fee for the work, before you commit to anything. We quote after we diagnose, never before.
02
Recruitment and application preparation
We set up the advertising so the record will hold, determine the prevailing wage, and assemble the file in our secure portal. Our software handles the assembly and cross-checking, which is why a lawyer reviewing every page personally still fits inside a flat fee.
03
A licensed Canadian lawyer reviews and files
A licensed Canadian lawyer reviews every page before it is filed.
Flat fees. Once you are a client, a reply within one business day. No surprises.
What to know
Start to finish.
- 01
The question behind every LMIA
Will this hire hurt the Canadian labour market? That is what ESDC is deciding, and it tests the answer against your recruitment efforts, the wage, the working conditions, and the genuineness of the job itself.
- 02
Advertising first, application second
Most streams require at least four weeks of advertising across specific channels before you apply, with records to prove it. Getting the ads wrong is the most common way files fail, and it means starting the clock again.
- 03
Which stream you are in
The stream is set by comparing the offered wage to the provincial median. High wage files need transition plans showing how you will reduce reliance on foreign workers. Low wage files face caps and tighter rules, and in some regions are not being processed at all.
- 04
The Global Talent Stream option
For tech and specialized roles, the Global Talent Stream carries a 10 business day service standard from ESDC, with a Labour Market Benefits Plan in place of standard recruitment. If your role qualifies, it is usually the right choice.
- 05
Approval is not the finish line
The approved LMIA lets your worker apply for the permit, and your obligations continue. Wages, duties, and conditions must match the application for years afterward, and inspections are routine. We build the file with that day in mind.
Why us
Why employers work with us.
Both sides of the file
We handle the LMIA and the worker's permit together, so nothing falls between the employer's side and the worker's side.
No restarted clocks
Advertising missteps mean starting recruitment over. We get it right the first time so your timeline holds.
Audit ready records
Employers can be inspected years after the hire. We build the file so you can prove compliance when asked.
Predictable cost per hire
Flat fees quoted before we start, so you can budget the hire with confidence.
A straight answer on whether this is the right route
Sometimes an LMIA is not the fastest way to get your hire in the seat, and occasionally a role does not qualify for the stream you were counting on. We will tell you that on the first call, before you have committed a recruitment timeline to it.
For employers
Hiring more than one person?
If you are running several files a year, the per-file flat fee is not the right structure. We work on retainer or volume terms, with a single point of contact, and we maintain your compliance records across all your hires rather than file by file.
That last part matters more than the pricing. An inspection looks at your practice as an employer, not at one application, and records kept consistently across hires are the difference between a straightforward review and a scramble.
Tell us roughly how many hires you expect this year and we will quote accordingly.
FAQ
LMIA questions, answered.
Do not see your question? Ask us directly. A member of our team will reach out almost instantly.
Ask a question- How much does an LMIA cost?
- ESDC charges a processing fee per position, published on its fee schedule, and some caregiver positions are exempt from it. Our flat legal fee is quoted after we have looked at the role.
- How long does it take?
- Regular streams typically run one to three months depending on the stream and region. ESDC's service standard for the Global Talent Stream is 10 business days. Processing times change; check ESDC's current standard before you plan a start date.
- What is a transition plan?
- For high wage streams, a commitment to reduce reliance on temporary foreign workers over time, through training, hiring, or supporting the worker's PR. We draft plans that are realistic and defensible.
- Do we always need to advertise?
- Most streams require it, in a prescribed way, for at least four weeks. The Global Talent Stream and a few other categories replace advertising with different commitments.
- Do we always need an LMIA?
- No. A range of positions are LMIA-exempt, under international agreements such as CUSMA, under intra-company transfer provisions, and under the Canadian-interest exemptions. An exempt route is usually faster, so it is worth checking before starting recruitment.
- Can the same LMIA support permanent residence?
- Certain LMIAs support a job offer for PR purposes and strengthen an Express Entry profile. We structure the file so it does double duty where possible.
- Is an LMIA the right route for this hire?
- Not always. Sometimes an exemption applies, sometimes the stream you were counting on will not take the role, and occasionally the timeline does not work for the start date you need. That is the first thing we assess, and we will tell you if the answer is no.
Trusted by clients across Canada.
Every matter is different. Results vary, and past outcomes do not predict future ones.
Meet our founder
Joshua Schachnow, B.Com., J.D.
Founder
Josh is a Toronto-based lawyer who has been practising immigration law for more than nine years. He has helped thousands of individuals and companies navigate Canadian immigration, from work permits to permanent residence, study permits, citizenship, LMIAs and more, and he built the software this firm runs on. Josh always puts his clients first, and believes quick and thoughtful communication is most important to making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Ready to get started
Start your LMIA.
Tell us about the role, the wage, and the worker. A member of our team will reach out almost instantly to book your consultation, where a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer will tell you which stream applies, whether an exemption gets you there faster, and quote a flat fee.
Flat fees. No obligation. We follow up fast.