The fields of video game production, film and TV production, entertainment series production are witnessing many opportunities for professionals, trained youth and foreign skilled workers in Canada.
Video gaming industry in Canada is booming and experts are predicting that this industry will help economy a lot in future. Here is a glimpse of different work profiles in video gaming industry –
- Games Designer
- Software Developer
- Game Programmer
- Audio Engineer
- Games Animator
- Games Artist
- Interpreters and Translators
- Game Play Tester
- Professional Gamer
- Voice Over Artist
- Creative Producer
The list is long and this industry is already making a positive impact on economy by generating more revenue compared to other industries in Canada. For this reason, many authentic Canadian employers are seeking trained youth and professionals, who are good in video gaming jobs and have experience of certain number of years in order to qualify for such work. Film and TV production are also taking economy in positive direction.
How Professionals Related to Video Gaming Industry Secure Job Opportunities in Canada?
Experts state that talented and experienced professionals, youth and skilled workers, who are willing to work in the Canadian video gaming industry, can secure work opportunities through various immigration gateways and channels. Some of them are explained below –
Work Permit – It is an authorization granted to professionals, experienced youth and foreign skilled workers in order to work and stay in the country for a fixed time period. It is important to note that Canada work permit helps Canadian employers to hire efficient and right candidates as well as meet demands of labour markets and industries in different Canadian provinces.
According to rough estimate, every year around 300,000 foreign skilled workers, immigrants, professionals and experienced youth get Temporary Foreign Worker Work Permit or W1 Worker Visa in order to work and stay in Canada. Getting a work permit is a lengthy and difficult process, hence experts suggest candidates to seek help from Canada immigration consultant to understand step by step process of work permit and secure work visa in a hassle-free manner.
Steps of Work Permit Process
The Canada work visa process is broadly divided into four stages. These stages are –
➡ Stage 1: Canadian employer applies for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
➡ Stage 2: Canadian employer offers Temporary Job Opportunity to eligible candidates, foreign workers, experienced youth and professionals having relevant work experience in video gaming industry. It is important to note that the valid job offer must be supported by a copy of positive LMIA.
➡ Stage 3: Eligible candidates, foreign workers, immigrants, experienced youth and professionals submit application for Canada Work Permit (visa)
➡ Stage 4: Canada work visa is issued to the candidate
It is important to note that various documents related to age, education, prior work experience, copy of positive LMIA and a valid job offer are important to secure Canada work visa (permit). Hence, interested candidates should always seek guidance and suggestions from leading immigration consultant and work permit experts to secure work permit on a fast track mode.
If Canadian employer is hiring a candidate to work in Quebec province, then candidate also need to receive a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) in order to work temporarily in Quebec. Sometimes, candidates need to appear in a face to face interview with a visa officer in order to secure temporary foreign worker permit. The Work Permit is easily issued to candidates if they are able to convince the visa officer that their services, knowledge, skill and experience can support video gaming industry and economy in Canada. It is important to note that candidates must fulfil all eligibility criteria in order to get Canada work visa. In some cases, candidates are requested to submit medical reports along with visa applications.
What Is LMIA?
Candidates having a valid full time job offer issued by authentic Canadian employer must confirm the possession of a copy of positive LMIA. The LMIA document shows that Canadian employers have been allowed by the government to hire professionals and foreign skilled workers and professionals to fulfil shortage of labour in video gaming industry. In order to get LMIA, Canadian employers must advertise job vacancies in different publications, platforms, local newspapers, magazines, job boards, portals and Canadian Job Bank.
Employers can apply in Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to get a positive LMIA if they do not find suitable or right candidates in Canada to fill vacant positions, or, there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident available locally to fulfil the requirements of job opportunities. Hence, Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approves them to hire foreign skilled workers and professionals having experience in video gaming industry. The LMIA also shows that hiring professionals and foreign skilled workers will make positive impact on video gaming industry and economy of Canada.
Candidates having valid full time job offer and copy of positive LMIA can apply for Canada work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The work permit will be issued at the port of entry (POE).
Video Gaming Industry Professionals Can Explore Global Talent Stream
Another immigration gateway for video gaming professionals is Global Talent Stream (GTS). This fast track immigration stream allows highly skilled foreign workers, professionals and youth to obtain work permit within two weeks of applying or filing applications.
If the work opportunity requires a copy of LMIA, securing one takes about two weeks. This means that a foreign worker can migrate to Canada in just four weeks, if all eligibility criteria are met and documents are in order to keep the case file on fast track mode.
Canadian employers have two categories to hire foreign skilled workers and professionals. In order to recruit specialized video gaming professionals and workers, they must apply through Category A in which they must receive referral from a designated referral partner.
In another category, if the Canadian employer wishes to hire foreign skilled workers for video gaming industry jobs found on the Global Talent Occupations List, they must follow procedures and rules described in the list.
Arranged Employment Offer (AEO)
The Arranged Employment Offer (AEO) or Arranged Job Offer is an offer made by authentic Canadian employers to foreign skilled workers and professionals, who have ample experience in video gaming industry and are seeking Canada immigration under Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP). The Canadian employer has to apply for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in the name of candidate (or foreign skilled worker). The Canadian employer issues valid job offer, also called Arranged Employment Offer (AEO) supported by LMIA to the eligible candidate.
The Arranged Employment Offer (AEO) increases chances of eligible candidates from video gaming industry having 425 and above CRS points in Express Entry pool to get Canada visa. Hence, the Arranged Employment Offer (AEO) supports applications of candidates seeking work permit in video gaming industry in Canada. The AEO along with a copy of positive LMIA helps candidates to gain additional 50 points in addition to existing CRS points in the Express Entry pool. Therefore, the AEO enhances chances of candidates to receive Invitation To Apply (ITA) and work in video gaming industry in Canada.
Other Job Profile for Which Candidates Are Eligible to Apply for AEO –
- Assistant manager (retail)
- Bookkeeper
- Accountant
- Team supervisor
- Developer
- Building attendant
- Bakery assistant
- Store manager
- Team leader
- Hotelier
- Project manager
- Administrator
- Chef
- Sales manager
- Audit manager
- Senior sales officer
- Chartered accountant
- Director of sales
- Marketing manager
- Managerial level positions in starbucks