Canadian Immigration under the Farming/ Agriculture Category

In Canada, the agricultural sector annually depends on approximately 50,000 temporary immigrant laborers who make up around 17.9% of foreign workers in the agricultural industry and about 8.2% of workers in the food and beverage manufacturing sector as of 2020.
The majority of the workers in the agricultural sector work under crop production, with the rest splitting between a greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture production. Due to lockdowns arising from the pandemic, there was a major decrease in the numbers of temporary foreign works in the entire sector.

Over the past years, Mexico, Guatemala, and Jamaica produced the largest number of foreign agricultural labor, with the rest of the world making up small quantities of the entire population. Canada recently launched its Agri-Food Immigration plot that provides a pathway for workers in specific agricultural industries.

Who Can Qualify for Agricultural Worker Program

Foreign workers looking to join the agricultural worker program can apply through two pilot programs that focus on a smooth transition into the country. But to be accepted as an agricultural laborer, the applicant needs to be eligible for a work permit in Canada.
The eligibility requirements apply to all types of applicants regardless of where or which type of work permit you are applying for. Here are the specific eligibility requirements an applicant requires to be considered for a work permit.

• Prove to the immigration office that you will leave Canada immediately after the work permit expires.
• Present evidence that you have enough money to sustain your upkeep and any family members throughout your work period in Canada and can afford to return home.
• Promise to obey the laws of Canada and have no prior criminal record (police clearance certificate required)
• Not be a threat to Canadian security.
• You must be in good health, and the immigration officers can request a medical exam.
• You are not planning to work under an employer listed as "ineligible" on the list of employees who failed to comply with the conditions.
• You are not planning to work with an employer who regularly offers striptease, erotic dances, escort services, or erotic massages.
• Give the officer any other documents they ask for to prove you can enter the country.

Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program

Once you can prove you are eligible to work in the country, proceeds to apply for a visa using the program that best applies to your situation. The two programs are categorized as seasonal agricultural worker programs that hire foreign workers from countries that take part in the program, workers recruited by their home government, and the applicant working under a SAWP employer in Canada.

Agri-Food Pilot Program

The Agri-Food Pilot focuses on foreign workers already living in Canada and are looking for permanent residence. Experienced, non-seasonal workers in specific agricultural industries like general farm work, agricultural contractors, livestock workers, harvesting laborers, and farm supervisors.
According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office, the program will admit up to 2,750 principal workers plus their families every year until 14 May 2023. To attain permanent residence under the Agri-Food Pilot Program, the applicant must meet the following additional eligibility criteria.

• Eligible Canadian work experience in one or more eligible industries and occupations.
• Full-Time, non-seasonal job offer from one of the Canadian employers eligible to employ in the agricultural sector
• The applicant must meet or exceed the language requirements
• The applicant must meet or exceed the educational requirements
• The applicant should have settlement funds if applicable.
• The applicant must maintain temporary residence if already in Canada.

How to Apply for the Agricultural Worker Program

The best way for a foreign worker to work in the agricultural sector in Canada is by going through the Provincial Nominee Program. Through the program, Canada aims to welcome around 64,000 – 81,500 immigrants this year alone. More than 80 provincial nomination programs in the country allow provinces and territories to nominate eligible economic immigration candidates for permanent residence.

How to Get the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) documents

For foreign workers applying for a job from outside Canada with no prior experience in the country, an LMIA document is highly important. A processing fee of CDN $1,000 applies to each Labour Market Impact Assessment Application unless the application is made strictly in support of permanent residency.
A competent employer will send you a job offer, contract and must apply for the applicant’s LMIA from the Canadian government’s relevant department. Ensure that the LMIA is positive so you can use it during the Canadian Visa application process. After getting your LMIA document, you can now proceed to apply for a Canadian farmworker visa.

Visa Application Process

To initiate the farmworker visa application process, the applicant must prepare several documents and fill out the required forms. The applicant can download the forms from the Canadian immigration website and the links provided in this post. Here are the documents to prepare before going to the Canadian immigration office:

• Renewed valid passport
• Two photos and photos of accompanying family members if applicable
• Evidence that you meet the requirements for the position you are applying for.
• Proof of relationship if spouses, parents, grandparents, and children are involved.
• If applying from outside Canada, completed application for work permit made outside of Canada (IMM 1295) form.
• Completed document checklist (IMM 5645).
• Completed Family Information (IMM 5645)
• Completed Schedule 1 - Application for Temporary Resident Visa. The principal applicant, their spouse, and all dependent children above 18 years of this form must be completed (IMM 5257).
• Completed Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409) form Completed Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)
• Some countries' nationals may need medical examinations reports from approved labs too.
• The officers may also need a police clearance for some countries.

The cost of a work visa is CDN $155, along with a biometric processing fee of CDN $85. After filling the documents, you have to book an appointment at a Canadian visa application center to submit the documents. The staff at the office can help an applicant fill out the documents, but it costs an extra charge. Depending on the country the applicant applies from, the process can take a few weeks to months.