Global Skills Strategy (GSS) Visa of Canada- Process & Requirements

• You can start working in Canada faster through the Global Skills Strategy (GSS).
• The IRCC aim to process eligible GSS work permit applications within 2 weeks.

Global Skills Strategy (GSS) program introduced by IRCC offers a unique solution to expedite the hiring process to benefit the Canadian employers, who seek to lure the top-notch global talent to their organizations.

The GSS ensures key advantages, i.e. faster application processing times (just two weeks), work permit exemptions, and improved customer service, providing employers with a quick and predictable process to recruit skilled foreign workers.

What are key Conditions to be eligible for GSS?

While foreign workers entitled for priority processing under the Global Skills Strategy enjoy faster processing times, they need to still fulfil all other eligibility and admissibility requirements, including the condition of police certificates if required.

It is crucial that eligible candidates submit all compulsory documents with their application to be eligible for the two-week processing time. Hence, the GSS provides an exceptional opportunity for employers to access top international talent in a streamlined and well-organized process.

Who is Eligible for GSS?

The foreign workers who are exempt from the LMIA ( Labour market impact assessment) are eligible for two-week processing of their work permit application if they fulfil all of below requirements:

• They are applying from outside Canada.
• Their job is under Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 or 1 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021.
• The employer has submitted an offer of job using the Employer Portal and paid the employer compliance fee.

(Note: On November 16, 2022, IRCC switched to the 2021 version of the NOC. Hence, if you submit an offer on or after that date, you would require using the new version.)

However, International Experience Canada (IEC) applicants are not eligible for two-week processing.

Workers who need an LMIA

Workers who require an LMIA eligible for 2-week processing provided they fulfil all of the below requirements:

• They are applying from outside Canada.
• The employer has a positive LMIA via the Global Talent Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (this is on the LMIA decision letter).

Spouses and dependants

Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children are also eligible for two-week processing of applications. This applies to applications for the following:

• visitor visa
• work permit
• study permit

Spouses, common-law partners and dependent children must submit a complete application and apply at the same time as the worker.

How to get faster processing

If as a worker you have the documents and information required from the employer, then you (worker) and your family members needs to do the following:

• apply online from outside Canada
• submit a complete application
• include a medical exam (if needed)
• include police certificates (if needed)
• include certified translations of documents that aren’t in English or French
• pay the processing fees
• submit biometrics results within 2 weeks of submitting the application (if needed)

Workers exempt from the Work permits for short term

Under the GSS, two of workers do not require work permits for short term work, i.e.

• highly skilled workers
• researchers

Let’s explore both the worker categories to understand better.

  Highly skilled workers

These workers needs to fulfil both of below requirements:

• Their job is classified under Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 or 1 in the NOC.

• They will work only for one of the below short periods of time:
  • up to 15 consecutive days once every 6 months
  • up to 30 consecutive days once every 12 months

  Researchers     

These workers need to fulfil both of below requirements:

• They will perform research at a Canadian, publicly funded, degree-granting institution or its affiliated research institution.
• They will work for 1 period of 120 days in Canada once every 12 months.

Extension of the stay of worker

Such workers must stop working when their exemption is over. To work in Canada again, they have two options:

• apply for a work permit from outside the country
• wait until they are once again eligible to use the short-term work permit exemption

Wait time between work permit exemptions

The length of the wait between work permit exemptions relies on the length of the next exemption the worker wish to use. After using any of the short-term exemptions, the worker needs to wait for:

• 6 months until they can use a 15-day exemption
• 12 months until they can use a 30- or 120-day exemption

How Visas Avenue can help?

Visas Avenue is leading and trusted Visa Consultancy company associated with CICC member. It offers number of immigration services to help aspirants in immigration process of Canada, Australia, USA, UK, etc. countries. Find below the list of immigration services VA offers:

• Pre-assessment of your Visa Application
• Individual Session with Immigration Specialist
• Immigration Points calculation
• Submission of EOI Profile
• Documentation Assistance
• Filing the Visa Application
• Visa Application monitoring and follow up
• Language coaching for IELTS Exam
• Session about post-landing activities

To confirm your eligibility for the most appropriate program and immigrate to Canada this year, you may contact Visas Avenue reliable and vastly experienced Canada migration expert on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.