Immigration

Citizens of countries that normally do not require a visa to visit Canada must apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) prior to boarding a flight to Canada. 

Citizens of the United States are exempt from obtaining an eTA. 

The application is short, costs $7.00 and is usually processed in minutes.  Once approved, an eTA is valid for five years, or until one’s passport expires, whichever comes first.  A valid eTA allows multiple visits to Canada.   

Note that if one applies for an initial work or study permit outside of Canada, she/he will get an eTA automatically once the work or study permit application is approved, and therefore does not need to apply for an eTA or pay the eTA fee. 

Determine whether one requires an eTA at:  http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp and apply online for an eTA at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta-start.asp.

Bona Fide Job Search

• state the skills, education, and work history requirements for the job accurately
• do not overreach as foreign candidate(s) will have to meet ALL of the advertised requirements
• place the job advertisement appropriately
• ensure the candidate selection process remains consistent and confidential
• select candidate based on advertised requirements

Advertising

• advertise the position as if expecting to need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or the job search will likely fail if a foreign candidate is selected
• LMIA-compliant advertisements include:
  • company operating name
  • business address
  • title of position
  • job duties
  • terms of employment (i.e. project based, permanent position)
  • wage
  • benefits package (if applicable)
  • location of work (local area, city, town)
  • hiring manager contact information
    • telephone number
    • cell phone number
    • email address
    • fax number
    • mailing address
  • skills requirements
    • education
    • work experience
  • the following government-required statements:
    • "All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority."
    • Review of applications will begin on "X date" and will continue to be reviewed and evaluated until the position is filled.

Advertising Venues

• advertising must run continuously - if one day is missed the application will fail - there cannot be any gaps in advertising
• positions must be advertised on the National Job Bank, the careers page and one discipline specific job site until a Canadian or Permanent Resident is hired or there is immigration approval of a foreign candidate confirmed by the Manager, Global Mobility and Recruitment.
• the hiring department is responsible for submitting a posting requisition through the ATS using the job posting templates in word forrmat; once approved the department can proceed with external advertising on the National Job Bank and one discipline specific source.
  
  • instructions for advertising on the National Job Bank
• ensure the advertisement is consistent across all venues
• for academic hires; the provisions of the USFA CBA must also be met

Documentation Requirements

• the hiring department is also responsible for saving screenshots for each advertising site at the start/end of a month and the middle of the month and must show the date the image was captured
• search committee notes and materials are to be kept for 6 years from the hire date; and must be stored in a secure location that can be accessed by multiple people within the department to ensure nothing is lost in the event of an individual leaving the department or the university
• search committee notes must include:
  • motion supporting the hiring decision
  • any notes that contradict the decision must be explained or labeled as commentary
  • consider passing motions explaining why short-listed Canadians did not meet the requirements of the posting
  • chair should review and approve notes

Definition

• a visiting research student is enrolled at the university to undertake full-time research with a faculty supervisor for a period of no more than six (6) months per calendar year.
• students may be undergraduate, graduate, or in between degree levels.

Criteria

• key components of the VRS category are:
  • an identified UofS faculty supervisor;
  • a research plan that has been approved by the faculty supervisor, the department, and the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies; and
  • the student will not be enrolled in any credit coursework at the UofS.

Process Owner

• the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studeis (CGPS) serves as the oversight organization responsible for the academic and administrative needs of VRSs. 
• the International STudent and Study Abroad Centre (ISSAC) serves as a central point of contact for immigration, service and support for admitted VRSs.

Process

• potential student completes the Visiting Research Student Application form
• application is submitted to the UofS faculty supervisor who must approve the application and obtain the approval of the department head/director
• application is forwarded to CGPS for final approval
• CGPS will issue an official letter of acceptance to admitted visiting research students
• international visiting research student uses letter of acceptance to support their application for a study permit.
  • though not required by CIC for periods of study six months or less, international visiting research students are encouraged to obtain study permits.
  • where faculty intend to remunerate research activity undertaken by an international VRS, the VRS MUST obtain a study permit and apply for a SIN on arrival in Canada
• upon issuing an admission letter to the student, CGPS notifies ISSAC, and ISSAC provides the student with immigration, pre-arrival and arrival support
• CGPS will register the visiting research student in a non-credit activity which denotes fulltime student engagement in academic research
• for remunerated international students, the faculty supervisor submits a copy of the study permit to CGPS
• upon successful completion of the research plan, visiting research students will be assigned a grade of CR (Completed Requirements)
• Additional information

Definition

• a trainee who holds a Post-doctoral Fellowship.
• in order to be issued a work permit, a post-doctoral fellowship must be a time-limited position, provided to a candidate chosen for academic excellence, for the purposes of conducting teaching, advanced study and/or research.

Criteria

• normally, PDFs are appointed within three to five years of completion of their Ph.D. or equivalent degree.
• appointments are for a limited period of time; normally there is an initial one to two year appointment renewable to a maximum of five years.

Process Owner

• the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS) serves as the oversight organization responsible for the academic and administrative needs of PDFs.

Process

• researcher should consult with CGPS to confirm that the candidate is eligible for appointment, and if so, determine details of appointment; possibly has CV and draft letter of offer reviewed by CGPS
• researcher reaches a tentative agreement with candidate regarding appointment details
• submit letter of offer and registration form to CGPS for final approval
• researcher/academic unit submits the following to: hr_immigration@usask.ca
  
  • signed letter of offer
  • scanned colour copy of applicant’s passport photo page
  • applicant’s current country of residence (where applicant is living at the time of application)
  • e-mail address of the applicant
  • applicant’s CV
• Human Resources will complete the Offer of Employment form (OoE) and pay the employer compliance fee of $230, forward the package to the individual, via e-mail, with instructions regarding next steps.
• candidate uses documentation to secure a work permit
• upon candidate’s arrival at the UofS, researcher/academic unit submits a copy of the work permit to CGPS to complete the appointment
• additional information

Definition

• a visiting professor appointment shall be granted only to a faculty member or professional researcher who has a full-time position with another employer to which they can return.
• visiting professors may also include those who are on sabbatical doing collaborative research at the University.

Criteria

• in order to be issued a work permit, a visiting professor cannot work for more than two academic years at the University and must retain their position abroad.

Process Owner

• the Office of Vice-Provost Faculty Relations (VPFR) serves as the oversight organization responsible for vetting and approving formal requests to invite visiting professors.

Process

• faculty member in the academic unit submits a formal request through the department head and the dean to the VPFR with a copy to: hr_immigration@usask.ca.
• the formal request must include:
  • candidate information (name, address, birthdate, country of citizenship)
  • details of appointment (department/college, specific term of appointment)
  • candidate CV
  • letter of invitation (must include summary of the work in which the visitor is expected to participate or reason they will be here and remuneration details)
  • signature of the department head and/or dean
• VPFR sends approval of the formal request to the department or college and hr_immigration@usask.ca
• faculty member/academic unit submits the following to: hr_immigration@usask.ca
  
  • signed letter of invitation (if different from the one submitted in the formal request)
  • scanned copy of applicant’s passport photo page
  • applicant’s current country of residence (where applicant is living at the time of application)
  • e-mail address of the applicant
  • applicant’s CV (if different from the one submitted in the formal request)
• Human Resources will complete the Offer of Employment form (IMM 5802) and pay the employer compliance fee of $230, forward the package to the individual, via e-mail, with instructions regarding next steps; cc to faculty member/academic unit that submitted request
• applicant uses documentation to secure a work permit
• upon applicant’s arrival at the U of S, faculty member/academic unit submits a copy of the work permit to HR who will scan and add to e-file

• the notion of visiting scholar has been revised in order to meet the immigration requirements required by CIC.
  • students can no longer be invited to the University as visiting scholars.
• most of the individuals previously invited to the University as visiting scholars will now be invited as visiting professors or admitted as visiting research students; however, we recognize that there are always unique situations.
• contact Katharine.fahlman-smith@usask.ca to discuss circumstances that fall outside of those articulated.

• a person who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident must obtain authorization to work in Canada in the form of a work permit. 
• when a foreign worker arrives at the University to commence employment, they must present a copy of their work permit to their department and to Human Resources.