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LMIA Consultant in Surrey, BC

Finding reliable staff is one of the biggest challenges for businesses in Surrey. Trucking companies, construction firms, restaurants, care homes, manufacturers, and family businesses across the city often can’t fill key roles locally. For many of them, hiring a foreign worker through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is the answer.

The LMIA process, though, isn’t simple. Employers must follow strict advertising rules, meet wage requirements, prepare detailed forms, and prove they really need to hire from outside Canada. Right now, Surrey is also part of the Vancouver region, where most low-wage LMIAs aren’t being processed. One mistake can mean a refusal, lost fees, months of delay, or even a compliance penalty.

At Captain Consultants Ltd., we help Surrey employers get the LMIA process right. Our licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) reviews your hiring needs, checks what’s possible under current rules, and helps you prepare a complete, compliant LMIA application.

Why Employers Struggle With LMIAs

These are the problems we see most often among Surrey businesses:

  • Unclear eligibility: Employers aren’t sure whether their position can be processed under the current low-wage freeze.
  • Advertising mistakes: Job ads that run for the wrong length of time, miss key details, or use the wrong platforms can lead to a refusal.
  • Wage issues: The offered wage must match the prevailing wage for the job and region.
  • Weak business justification: Service Canada needs to see a real labour shortage and a genuine job.
  • Missing documents: Business licences, tax records, and payroll details must all be in order.
  • Compliance risks: Employers who don’t follow the rules after hiring can face fines, public listing, or bans.
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How Captain Consultants Ltd. Helps Employers

  • LMIA eligibility check: We tell you whether your job can be processed right now, based on its wage, sector, and location.
  • Stream selection: We help you choose between the high-wage stream, low-wage stream (where available), agricultural streams, Global Talent Stream, and LMIA-exempt options.
  • Prevailing wage review: We check the correct wage for the occupation in the Surrey area.
  • Recruitment planning: We guide you through the advertising rules, including Job Bank and other recruitment methods, so your ads meet requirements.
  • Business document review: We make sure your business records clearly show you’re a genuine and stable employer.
  • Transition plan support: For high-wage positions, we help you prepare a realistic plan to reduce your reliance on foreign workers over time.
  • LMIA application preparation: We prepare your application and supporting documents carefully.
  • Service Canada follow-up: We help you respond to officer questions and interview requests.
  • Worker’s work permit: Once the LMIA is approved, we can help your worker apply for their work permit.
  • Ongoing compliance guidance: We explain your obligations after hiring, so you’re ready if you’re inspected.

LMIA Streams We Help With

High-Wage LMIA

For jobs paying at or above BC’s median hourly wage. High-wage positions can still be processed in Surrey, and employers must submit a transition plan.

Low-Wage LMIA

For jobs paying below BC’s median wage. Most low-wage LMIAs aren’t being processed in the Vancouver region right now, unless the job is in an exempt sector. There are also caps on how many low-wage foreign workers a business can employ.

Agricultural Stream

For farms and growers hiring workers for primary agriculture roles.

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Exempt Sectors

Some sectors can still apply for low-wage LMIAs in Surrey, including:

  • Construction
  • Food manufacturing
  • Hospitals
  • Nursing and residential care facilities
  • Primary agriculture
  • In-home caregivers

Global Talent Stream

A faster option for employers hiring for certain high-skilled and tech roles.

LMIA for Permanent Residence Only

Some employers support a worker’s PR application without needing a new work permit. These LMIAs are exempt from the low-wage freeze.

Typical LMIA Requirements

A Genuine Business and Job

Your business must be active, legitimate, and able to support the position.

Recruitment Efforts

In most cases, you must advertise the job for at least four weeks within the three months before applying, including on Job Bank and through at least two other recruitment methods.

Prevailing Wage

The wage must meet or exceed the median wage for the occupation in your region.

Proper Working Conditions

The job must meet BC employment standards and match what’s offered to Canadian workers.

Extra Duties for Low-Wage Positions

Employers hiring low-wage workers usually need to pay for round-trip travel, help find affordable housing, and provide health coverage until the worker qualifies for provincial coverage.

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Our LMIA Process

Step 1: Hiring Needs Consultation

We learn about your business, the role you need to fill, and your timeline.

Step 2: Eligibility and Stream Review

Our RCIC checks the current rules for Surrey and recommends the best route.

Step 3: Recruitment Guidance

We help you plan and document your advertising correctly.

Step 4: Application Preparation

We prepare your LMIA application and supporting documents.

Step 5: Decision and Work Permit

After approval, we help your worker apply for their work permit and guide you on your ongoing obligations.

Why Choose Captain Consultants Ltd.?

Local Surrey Business Support

Our office is in Surrey, and we understand local industries such as trucking, construction, food processing, hospitality, and healthcare. 

Licensed RCIC Credentials

Our consultant is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). You can check our licence on the CICC public register.

Tailored File Reviews

Every business is different. We build your LMIA application around your real needs and records.

Ethical Hiring Practices

We never sell LMIAs or job offers. We help genuine employers hire the right way, and we’ll tell you if a plan could put your business at risk.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an LMIA?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document from Service Canada that allows an employer to hire a foreign worker. It confirms there’s a real need for the worker and that no Canadian or permanent resident is available for the job.

Processing times depend on the stream and occupation. Some streams, like the Global Talent Stream, are faster. Check Service Canada’s current processing times, and remember that the recruitment period adds several weeks before you can apply.

The government processing fee is $1,000 per position, although some streams are exempt. You’ll also have advertising and professional costs. Employers can’t recover the LMIA fee from the worker.

Most low-wage LMIAs aren’t being processed in the Vancouver region right now, which includes Surrey. Exceptions include construction, food manufacturing, hospitals, nursing care, primary agriculture, and in-home caregiver roles.

Yes. You can apply for an LMIA to hire a worker who’s already in Canada, as long as they’re eligible to apply for a work permit.

No. It’s illegal for employers or recruiters to charge workers for an LMIA or a job offer. Doing so can lead to serious penalties.

You can usually apply again once you’ve addressed the reasons for refusal. We’ll review the decision and help you decide how to move forward.

You must follow the conditions of your LMIA, including paying the promised wage and providing the working conditions you described. Employers can be inspected, and non-compliance can lead to fines or bans.

For high-wage positions, there’s no set cap, but each position needs its own justification. For low-wage positions, there’s a cap on the share of your workforce that can be low-wage foreign workers.

Book a Consultation With an LMIA Consultant in Surrey

Hiring from abroad is a big decision for your business. Let Captain Consultants Ltd. help you do it the right way, with clear advice and a carefully prepared LMIA application.

Call us today at 778-633-3111 or book your consultation online. We help employers in Surrey, Delta, Langley, Abbotsford, Burnaby, Richmond, and across BC.

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