LMIAs are decided by Service Canada, and refusals usually trace back to recruitment or wages: advertising that did not run long enough or on the required platforms, a wage below the prevailing rate for the occupation and region, a weak explanation of why Canadians who applied were not hired, an unconvincing transition plan for a high-wage position, or doubts about the legitimacy of the business and the genuineness of the job offer. There is no appeal of an LMIA refusal. The remedy is a corrected application that answers each finding with documents.
Work permits are decided separately by IRCC, and an approved LMIA does not guarantee one. Officers refuse work permits when they are not satisfied the applicant can actually perform the job, doubt the applicant will leave Canada when authorized to, find inconsistencies between the application and previous filings, or have concerns about the employer’s compliance history. As with any IRCC refusal, the officer’s reasoning sits in the GCMS notes, which we order through an ATIP request before deciding on reconsideration, resubmission or judicial review.
We work with both sides of the file. For employers, that means a compliant recruitment record, a defensible wage and a clear business case. For workers, it means credentials, experience letters and travel history that hold together, and a plan for maintaining status while the new application is in process.
Who this is for
- Canadian employers whose LMIA was refused for recruitment, wage, transition plan or business legitimacy reasons
- Foreign workers refused an employer-specific work permit despite a positive LMIA
- Workers refused an LMIA-exempt permit under the International Mobility Program, including intra-company transfers and CUSMA categories
- Workers in Canada whose refusal has left them close to losing status and who need a restoration or bridging strategy
What we do
- Review the LMIA decision letter and your recruitment file to identify exactly which requirement was not met
- Order and analyze GCMS notes for refused work permits to isolate the officer’s concerns
- Rebuild the employer file: advertising records, applicant screening notes, prevailing wage evidence, business documents and transition plans
- Draft a reconsideration request or a cover submission for the resubmission that addresses each refusal ground in order
- Advise on status: restoration within 90 days, maintained status, and whether the worker can remain in Canada while the new application is decided
How it works
- 1
Refusal diagnosis
Send us the refusal letter, the application as submitted and, for LMIAs, the recruitment records. We identify the failing points and, for work permits, order the GCMS notes.
- 2
Strategy
We recommend reconsideration, a corrected resubmission, a different permit category or, where warranted, judicial review alongside counsel, and set out timing and cost.
- 3
File overhaul
We rerun recruitment where needed, correct wages and forms, gather the missing evidence and draft submissions that answer every finding.
- 4
Filing and status protection
We file the new LMIA or work permit application, manage any Service Canada or IRCC follow-up, and keep the worker’s status protected throughout.