Immigration

Hiring a Foreign Worker

Anyone who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident must be authorized to work in Canada (i.e. obtain a work permit, or permanent resident status).

(a) Obtaining Service Canada Confirmation

Federal immigration regulations require that Canadians and permanent residents be given first opportunity for positions for which they are qualified and available. Prior to offering a position to a foreign worker, the manager must be prepared to demonstrate that there are no qualified or available Canadians or permanent residents for the position. Typically this is proven through advertising and reviewing the candidate pool.

It is not sufficient to identify a non-Canadian as the ‘best’ candidate. Appointment to a position can only proceed if all Canadian and permanent resident applicants are ‘unqualified’ or ‘unavailable’. Qualifications should be evaluated against the criteria established by the search committee at the beginning of the recruitment process.

If a department wishes to recommend the appointment of a foreign worker, the Manager must complete the Foreign Academic Recruitment Summary form. This form is available at http://www.usask.ca/vpacademic/recruitment. Human Resources will submit this form and a case to Service Canada to request their approval (confirmation) of the employment offer. Once Service Canada has approved the job offer, a copy of the Service Canada confirmation letter is sent to the foreign worker by Human Resources.

When the foreign worker arrives at the U of S to commence employment, a copy of their work permit must be presented to their department and to Human Resources.

(b) Situations that do not require Service Canada Confirmation

Under some circumstances, confirmation from Service Canada is not required. However, the foreign worker still requires a work permit.

Individuals in the following categories may apply directly to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to obtain a work permit.

1. Citizens of the USA, Mexico and Chile employed on a temporary basis as allowed by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
2. Post-doctoral fellows
3. Spousal exemption
4. Visiting Professor
5. Canada Research Chairs
6. Guest Lecturers

For frequently asked questions for immigration, click here.