Mr. L had never imagined that one day he would seriously consider the matter of “immigration.”
He and his wife run a small shop in a first‑tier city in China. Their life is not extremely wealthy, but it is stable and content. Their eldest son is already studying in Canada, in his sophomore year of university (age 19), and their younger daughter is in the second year of junior high school at a public school back home (age 13). On the surface, the family of four lives without major upheaval.
But every time the school enrolment season approaches, Mr. L feels a tightening in his chest.
“Although we live in a first‑tier city, none of us has a local household registration (hukou). We can see the educational resources, but we can’t reach them,” Mr. L admitted frankly during the consultation, his words filled with regret over his children’s past schooling struggles. He had seen friends spend money to send their children to private schools, but repeated realities made him realise: “Educational inequality is not a problem we can solve simply by spending more money.”
To help his eldest son obtain Canadian permanent residency, and to give his younger daughter access to more comprehensive, higher‑quality educational resources and choices, Mr. L and his wife discussed it and made a major decision – to immigrate.
Their requirement to the immigration consultant was also clear – speed.
“I hope to secure the status before my eldest graduates. I want my child to have more freedom of choice when he finishes university.”
Why Saskatchewan? Why a Cleaner?
Among the many immigration options, the Zhaolong Immigration team selected the Saskatchewan Experience‑based Employer‑Driven Immigration stream for Mr. L.
The reasons were straightforward:
· Short processing time: The Saskatchewan employer‑sponsored programme allows applicants to enter Canada on a work permit and work, while the provincial nomination and federal stages proceed simultaneously, keeping the overall timeline manageable;
· Matched qualifications: Mr. L and his wife both have college diplomas, and Mr. L achieved CELPIP CLB 7, fully meeting the programme requirements;
· Genuine employer: The Saskatchewan employer matched by Zhaolong offered a NOC 65310 Light Duty Cleaner position, requiring the applicant to actually work for 6 months before submitting the provincial nomination. Those 6 months are not only a mandatory condition but also a valuable “transition period” – allowing Mr. L time to adjust to life in Canada, enabling his eldest son to enrol in a local school first, and helping the whole family settle smoothly.
Mr. L had no hesitation about the job arrangement: “I’m not going there for comfort. As long as it paves the way for my children, I’m willing to do anything.” After just a few online consultations, Mr. L and his family came to the Zhaolong Immigration office and signed the immigration service agreement.
Timeline: Every Step Hit the Mark
From contract signing to approval, Mr. L’s application progressed almost like a textbook example:
· September 25, 2024: Received employer offer
· October 11, 2024: LMIA approved
· November 4, 2024: Work permit application submitted
· December 24, 2024: Work permit approved (a Christmas Eve gift)
· March 3, 2025: Client entered Canada on work permit and started working
· May 23, 2025: JAL application submitted
· August 25, 2025: JAL approved
· End of September 2025: Completed 6 months of work
· October 10, 2025: In‑Canada provincial nomination application submitted
· October 18, 2025: Provincial nomination approved (in just 8 days)
· October 31, 2025: Federal stage application submitted
· May 7, 2026: Received federal file number
· June 16, 2026: Received medical examination notice for spouse and children
· July 14, 2026: Whole family’s immigration application officially approved
Key Documents: LMIA and JAL – Don’t Get Them Confused
Many readers may ask: What is the difference between LMIA and JAL? Why did Mr. L need both?
A brief explanation:
· LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment): Reviewed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), this document proves that the employer genuinely needs to hire a foreign worker and that no suitable local worker is available. This is a prerequisite for applying for a work permit.
· JAL (Job Approval Letter): Now renamed EPA (Employer Portal Application), issued by the Saskatchewan immigration authorities. It is the core document for the Saskatchewan employer‑sponsored programme, proving that the employer has received provincial approval to sponsor the applicant for immigration. This is a prerequisite for submitting the provincial nomination application.
The process designed by Zhaolong Immigration’s Canada team for Mr. L was: obtain a work permit via LMIA → enter Canada and work → employer applies for JAL → after 6 months of work, submit the provincial nomination.
Work permit first, then immigration – this is the distinctive feature of Saskatchewan’s experience‑based employer‑driven stream and the key to its speed.
In‑Canada Submission – A Distinct Advantage
Another key choice Mr. L made was to submit the provincial nomination application from within Canada.
This offered three advantages:
· Faster processing: In‑country application streams are often prioritised – Mr. L’s provincial nomination took only 8 days from submission to approval, which is the best proof;
· Smoother status continuity: Mr. L and his eldest son held valid work and study permits in Canada, avoiding the hassle of “waiting from outside”;
· Spouse and children can be approved overseas simultaneously: Mr. L’s wife and younger daughter stayed in China throughout the process; their medical examinations and PR approval were synchronised with the principal applicant’s, without the complexity of “separate applications.”
How Much English Is Enough?
Mr. L’s CELPIP score was CLB 7, roughly equivalent to IELTS General Training scores of about 6.0‑6.5 in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
For a TEER 5 position such as NOC 65310, the minimum language requirement for the Saskatchewan Experience‑based Employer‑Driven stream is CLB 4. Mr. L’s CLB 7 far exceeded the baseline, not only giving him greater confidence during the work permit and provincial nomination stages but also adding credibility to his federal‑stage document review.
Although for programmes like Saskatchewan employer‑sponsored immigration, higher language scores are not strictly necessary, a higher and well‑matched score does indeed serve as a positive bonus.
How Mr. L Arranged the “Separation”
Many families worry: if the principal applicant enters Canada first while the spouse and children remain in China, does that pose risks?
Mr. L’s arrangement was as follows:
· Principal applicant: entered first on a work permit, started full‑time employment; the eldest son maintained his current status, continuing his studies on a study permit;
· Spouse + younger daughter: stayed in China for the time being, continuing to handle business closure matters while also strengthening the younger daughter’s foundational education;
· Federal stage: all family members’ information was submitted together; medical examination notices were issued simultaneously; and the final approval letters arrived at the same time.
Throughout the process, the spouse and the younger daughter in China were never “left behind” – they simply acted in phases based on the family’s actual circumstances. This reflects the human‑centred nature of Canada’s immigration system – allowing family members to land at different times, as long as the principal applicant maintains legal status, the entire family’s eligibility remains unaffected.
Looking Back: A Maple Leaf Card for a New Future
On July 14, 2026, the day Mr. L received his immigration approval notice, his immigration journey officially came to a successful close. In 22 months, he had completed a life transition for himself and his family.
His story may offer some inspiration to those still hesitating:
Immigration is not an escape, but a choice – a choice to give your children an upbringing not confined by limitations, and a choice to give yourself a fresh start.
If you are interested in Saskatchewan’s employer‑sponsored immigration programme, feel free to send a private message. Zhaolong Immigration will arrange a one‑on‑one free assessment for you.
