North Americian Free Trade Agreement NAFTA Work Permit

NAFTA is a trading agreement which is between United States, Mexico, and Canada. Immigration plays it role well within NAFTA either one of the countries mentioned above. Immigration policy foreign workers are covered under NAFTA. Four different categories were set up by NAFTA to allow entry by citizens of the signatory countries:

• Business Visitors; Business visitors engage in international business activities related to research and design; growth, manufacture and production, and etc.
• Traders or Investors; Traders and investors carry on substantial trade in goods or services between the U.S. or Mexico and Canada or have committed, or are in the process of committing, a substantial amount of capital in Canada.
• Intra-Company Transferees; Intra-company transferees are employed by an American or Mexican enterprise in a managerial or executive capacity, or in one which involves specialized knowledge, and are being transferred to the Canadian enterprise or parent company.
• Professionals are business persons who enter to provide pre-arranged professional service either as a salaried employee of a Canadian company.

What NAFTA accomplishes?

NAFTA facilitates temporary entry for business persons who are citizens of the U.S., Mexico and Canada and who are involved in the trade of goods or services, or in investment activities. NAFTA removes the need for a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) for all business persons covered by the Agreement. In the case of a business visitor, it removes the need for a work permit.

Application Acceptance under NAFTA

In evaluating applications for temporary entry by the U.S. or Mexico citizens, all accessible tools for temporary entry should be considered. If you are not qualified for entry under the NAFTA you may qualify under the general provisions governing temporary workers.

In making admission decisions the overall purpose of the NAFTA which seek to help trade between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico will be considered.

The United States, Canada, Mexico and the North American Free Trade Agreement

Canada and the United States share close borders and close ties. Whether it be trade, travel or tourism; the borders that divide these great countries become more and more accessible as time passes.

One such way the Canada and the United States has developed a stronger bond is through the North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA. The NAFTA is a trade agreement that facilitates preferential treatment between Canada and the U.S. and was subsequently expanded to include Mexico.

The North American Free Trade Agreement was established to facilitate and therefore increase the import and export of goods and services between the agreeing countries. Additionally however; the NAFTA also incorporates provisions for individuals as well.

Individuals may enter these agreeing countries without the requirement of a visa (except for Mexico) but their stay must be temporary in nature. The NAFTA defines this temporary entry as entry without the intent to establish permanent residence. If an officer is unsatisfied that you will exit Canada at the time of your entry attempt, they have the right not to admit you regardless of the NAFTA agreement.

The NAFTA Agreement is a broad agreement that encompasses more than just trade and travel; there are other provisions as well that have an impact on Canadian Immigration.

• Ÿ NAFTA facilitates temporary entry for business people who are citizens of the U.S. and Mexico who are involved in the trade of goods/services or investment activities
• Ÿ NAFTA removes the need for a Labour Market Opinion for all business people who are covered under the agreement
• Ÿ In the case of business visitors, NAFTA removes the need for a work permit
• Ÿ For some professionals and intra-company transferees, the application process is expedited due to the fact that the application can be processed at a port of entry

If you are an American or Mexican Citizen and you wish to temporarily enter Canada, being a citizen of one of these countries does not automatically grant you entry to Canada, it simply means that you may not require a visa before entering. You will still need to satisfy a Border Official that your stay in Canada will be temporary or that you do not intend to enter the Canadian Labour Market, depending on the purpose of your travel to Canada.

An Officer at the border may want to see certain documentation to help satisfy them that your intended purpose in Canada meets the requirements of a temporary resident. These documents should be with you when you travel.

A NAFTA Professional you must be qualified to work in one of 60 specific professions. Depending on your profession, you may be required to provide educational credentials and/or proof of work experience in the field.

NAFTA Professional Work Permits can be issued for the following professions:

General

• Accountant
• Architect
• Computer Systems Analyst
• Disaster relief Insurance Claims Adjuster
• Economist
• Engineer
• Forester
• Graphic Designer
• Hotel Manager
• Industrial Designer
• Interior Designer
• Land Surveyor
• Landscape Architect
• Lawyer (including Notary in the Province of Quebec)
• Librarian
• Management Consultant
• Mathematician (including Statistician)
• Range Manager/ Range Conservationalist
• Research Assistant (working in a post-secondary educational institution)

Scientific

• Technician/Technologist
• Social Worker
• Sylviculturist (including Forestry Specialist)
• Technical Publications Writer
• Urban Planner (including Geographer)
• Vocational Counsellor

Medical/Allied Professional

• Dentist
• Dietitian
• Medical Laboratory Technologist (Canada)
• Medical Technologist (Mexico and the United States)
• Nutritionist
• Occupational Therapist
• Pharmacist
• Physician (teaching or research only)
• Physiotherapist/Physical Therapist
• Psychologist
• Recreational Therapist
• Registered Nurse
• Veterinarian

Scientists

• Agriculturist (including Agronomist)
• Animal Breeder
• Animal Scientist
• Apiculturist
• Astronomer
• Biochemist
• Biologist
• Chemist
• Dairy Scientist
• Entomologist
• Epidemiologist
• Geneticist
• Geologist
• Geochemist
• Geophysicist (including Oceanographer in Mexico and the United States)
• Horticulturist
• Meteorologist
• Pharmacologist
• Physicist (including Oceanographer in Canada)
• Plant Breeder
• Poultry Scientist
• Soil Scientist
• Zoologist

Teachers

• College
• Seminary
• University

You must have pre-arranged employment in Canada in an occupation that matches their qualifications. If you wish to perform self-employed work in Canada are not eligible for this category.

You can apply for a work permit as a NAFTA Professional if you meet these requirements:

• If you have already received an offer of employment from a Canadian employer.
• You must be qualified to perform the duties of the position you have been offered.
• The position you are offered must be a skilled occupation and be one of the 63 approved Professions.
• You must not be seeking self-employment in Canada. If you have been self-employed and do not have an offer of employment from a Canadian employer.

Employers of NAFTA Professionals are not required to first seeking approval of their job offer from Human Resources and Development Canada (HRSDC). Professionals with all their documentation support their application can instead apply immediately for a temporary work permit. Professionals can apply before traveling to Canada at any Canadian Visa Office or directly at a Canadian Port of Entry.

You should be prepared to provide the following documentation in support of your work permit request:

• Proof of citizenship either U.S or Mexico
• Proof of pre-arranged employment, such as a contract or job offer, such as:

Name of Canadian employer

Description of Profession

Details of position

Qualifications are necessary

• Proof of qualification

Once a work permit has been issued it will be valid for at most one year. Extensions of one year each can be dealt with from within Canada. As a Professional, you can also seek entry to Canada as a >Business Visitor.