TAKE NOTE: ON PAGE 11 UNDER SECTION 10 QUESTION 3 A ‘SUBSTITUTE CHECK BOX’ IS THERE. IF YOU WANT ONLY A REQUESTED NAMED WORKER AND DO NOT WANT A ‘SUBSTITUTE’ WORKER TO TRAVEL IN PLACE, OF A NAMED WORKER, THIS BOX MUST BE CHECKED. IF IT IS NOT CHECKED A SUBSTITUTE WORKER MAY ARRIVE. THIS IS AN EMPLOYER DECISION. EMPLOYERS MUST KEEP IN MIND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF UNUSED SEATS IF CANAG IS NOTIFIED THE NAMED WORKER IS NOT READY TO TRAVEL WITHIN 15 DAYS OF THE FLIGHT DATE. YOU
MUST MAKE THIS DECISION BEFORE THE LMIA APPLICATION IS APPROVED AND SENT TO THE SUPPLY COUNTRY.
Deadline to Place a LMIA:
LMIA’s ARE REQUIRED TO BE RECEIVED AT F.A.R.M.S. 12-14 WEEKS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL DATE. See chart below
F.A.R.M.S. LMIA Process:
The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application MUST be completed in full, signed and sent to F.A.R.M.S. either by email, fax or mail. The application goes through a clearance process and when complete with all attachments it is sent to Service Canada. F.A.R.M.S. is available to assist you with completing the initial and subsequent applications if necessary.
PLEASE DO NOT USE THE SERVICE CANADA LMIA ONLINE PROCESS AT THIS TIME FOR SAWP APPLICATIONS PLACED THROUGH F.A.R.M.S.
SEND APPLICATIONS TO F.A.R.M.S. ONLY.
A SEPARATE APPLICATION IS REQUIRED FOR EACH TYPE OF REQUEST AND COUNTRY.
List of Arrived Workers
At the end of each year a summary of all the workers employed in that season is sent to each employer. Employers are asked to use the summary to identify named workers on future LMIA’s. Where multiple start dates are requested place the job start date beside the worker name. Draw a line through the names not being requested for that date or who may be requested on a separate order. Send the summary of worker names to F.A.R.M.S. with the completed application. DO NOT PUT SIN OR HEALTH NUMBERS ON THE SUMMARY.
The Employment Contract:
The Caribbean Employment Contract for the countries of Barbados, Eastern Caribbean, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago and the Mexico Employment Contract is not required to be submitted with the LMIA. Employers must retain a signed copy on file for each temporary worker in their employ.
F.A.R.M.S. Appointment of Representative:
A valid F.A.R.M.S. Appointment of Representative, completed and signed is required to be on file for each employer. This document provides authorization to F.A.R.M.S. to undertake on behalf of the employer the necessary steps to edit, process and disseminate order information locally and abroad.
EXPECTED WORKER ARRIVAL DATE | SEND LMIA APPLICATION TO F.A.R.M.S. | |
January 1 to January 31, 2024 | Between August 1 to August 30, 2023 | |
February 1 to February 28, 2024 | Between August 1 to September 15, 2023 | |
March 1 to March 15, 2024 | Between September 1 to September 30, 2023 | |
March 16 to March 31, 2024 | Between October 3 to October 31, 2023 | |
April 1 to April 15, 2024 | Between October 10 to November 4, 2023 | |
April 16 to April 30, 2024 | Between October 24 to November 14, 2023 | |
May 1 to May 31, 2023 | By February 1, 2023 | |
June 1 to June 30, 2023 | By March 1, 2023 | |
July 1 to July 31, 2023 | By April 1, 2023 | |
August 1 to August 31, 2023 | By May 3, 2023 | |
September 1 to September 30, 2023 | By June 1, 2023 | |
URGENT MESSAGE – EMPLOYERS ARE CAUTIONED TO RESTRICT ANY TYPE OF CHANGE TO THEIR LMIA’S LABOUR PLANS.
TIME RESTRICTIONS
15 DAY WINDOW (business days)
Fifteen business days prior to flight departure all seats are considered sold.
**EMPLOYERS ARE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR UNUSED SEATS WHEN A CHANGE IS REQUESTED INSIDE 15 DAYS FROM THE FLIGHT DATE. EMPLOYERS ARE CAUTIONED TO BE VERY SELECTIVE ABOUT REQUESTING A CHANGE.
**EXCEPTION – ARRIVALS BETWEEN JANUARY 1-15 EACH YEAR – NO CHANGES OR CANCELLATONS ARE PERMITTED AFTER 15 NOVEMBER
Types of Changes
Delays – An employer can delay a worker if flight is at least 15 business days from the date the change is requested and b) delay is for more than 7 days from original flight date.
Advances – An employer can advance a worker up to 6 weeks from the date the change is requested and only if the advance is for more than 7 days ahead of the original flight date.
Cancellation – As much notice as possible is necessary. An employer can cancel workers if the flight date is AT LEAST 15 business days from the change date, not including the day of the flight.
EMERGENCIES ONLY (i.e. extreme weather/crop damage) – If a cancellation is required within the 15 day penalty time frame you may be required to pay for the unused seat. Every attempt will be made to fill the seat for another employer however to do this the arrival time must coincide with the job start date for the other employer. Each case can only be managed on an individual basis.
Name Change – If a work permit application is already in process for a worker, the name change will NOT be permitted. Arrival date must be 6 weeks ahead, from the date the change is requested.
Employers may request the named worker on a subsequent travel date if a date is open and not filled with a worker who has a work visa. A future LMIA can also be an option to name a particular worker provided seasonal housing is available. The Ministry of Labour in Mexico has advised that SAWP employers may not name a worker who is not already registered on SAWP.
HOW TO PLACE a Cancellation – Change – Delay – Advancement
CONTACT F.A.R.M.S. directly to advise the type of change you wish to make against your LMIA application. A copy of the change with a five (5) digit confirmation number on it, is sent to you for review. Please report any discrepancies immediately to F.A.R.M.S. Please do not contact Service Canada to place an order change for an approved SAWP LMIA as they will direct you back to F.A.R.M.S.