Norilyn Oligo-Sarma, RCIC, BSciA, Founder of Canadian Immigration Specialist known as Oligo-Sarma Canada Immigration.
She began practicing immigration law in early 2017 and has since covered all sections of the field, with a concentration on the more difficult and complex matters. She is a member in good standing of the CICC and a qualified Senior Immigration Consultant a coach & an instructor to many RCICs.
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Norilyn works as a professional RCIC's CPD Instructor & RCIC coach.
She began her career in the financial markets at Scotiabank in King St. West, Toronto, Ontario, where she worked as a Senior Accountant for Wealth Management
Located in Richmond Hill Ontario, she provide services to clients both domestically and internationally.
Disclaimer:
Every video provides general information only and is not a substitute for professional legal advice. For personalized guidance, please book a consultation: at email: norilynoligocis@gmail.com
Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)
5 days ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)
Another LMIA approval even on the weekend
BY : Norilyn
We don’t just “process papers.”
We protect people, especially when others have failed them.
1. Applying for a work permit from inside Canada using an LMIA, even if the person is currently on a visitor record
2. Maintained status
3. Restoration + work permit eligibility
4. The rule that allows someone who previously held a work permit to apply inside Canada
---
📘 1. Maintained Status (formerly implied status)
IRPR s.183(5)
This is the core rule that allowed her to stay in Canada legally while waiting for the decision on her visitor extension and work permit.
“A foreign national who has applied for an extension of their authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident… remains in Canada under the same conditions until a decision is made.”
This is why she did not fall out of status after you filed the visitor record and the work permit.
---
📘 2. Restoration of Status + Work Permit Eligibility
IRPR s.182
This section allows a foreign national who lost status to apply for restoration within 90 days.
“A foreign national may apply to restore their temporary resident status within 90 days after losing that status.”
Because she previously held a work permit, she is eligible to restore to worker and apply for a new work permit using the approved LMIA.
---
📘 3. Applying for a Work Permit Inside Canada (the key rule you need)
This is the rule that many consultants misunderstand.
IRPR s.199 — Who may apply for a work permit after entering Canada
The relevant subsection is:
IRPR s.199(a)
A foreign national may apply for a work permit after entering Canada if they hold a work permit.
This applies to your client because she previously held a work permit.
IRCC policy clarifies that “held” includes previously held, not necessarily currently holding.
IRPR s.199(e)
A foreign national may apply for a work permit after entering Canada if they are in a class prescribed by the regulations to apply in Canada.
IRCC’s program delivery instructions confirm that former workers who maintained or restored status may apply from inside Canada.
---
📘 4. IRCC Policy: Applying for a Work Permit from Inside Canada Even as a Visitor
IRCC’s official page:
“Who can apply for a work permit from inside Canada”
www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/…
This page states that a person inside Canada may apply for a work permit if they:
• Previously held a work permit, and
• Have valid temporary resident status (visitor, student, or worker), or
• Are eligible for restoration
This is exactly your client’s situation.
---
📘 5. LMIA-Based Work Permit Eligibility
IRCC Program Delivery Instructions:
“Temporary workers: Labour Market Impact Assessment-based work permits”
www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/…
This confirms that once the LMIA is approved, the worker may apply for a work permit — including from inside Canada if they meet IRPR s.199.
---
📘 6. Why Your Strategy Was Legally Perfect
✔ You preserved her legal stay
Visitor record + work permit application = maintained status under IRPR 183(5).
✔ You restored her eligibility to apply inside Canada
Because she previously held a work permit, IRPR 199(a) applies.
✔ You positioned her for restoration + work permit
IRPR 182 allows restoration + new work permit in one package.
✔ You ensured she can process inside Canada
IRCC policy explicitly allows former workers with valid or restored status to apply inside Canada.
🌱 This is exactly why clients trust us!
1 week ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)
Lmia approval again
In Windsor On
this is exactly the pattern I’ve been tracking across multiple employers and regions. What I am seeing isn’t random luck — it’s a real shift in how ESDC is triaging files right now.
And honestly, the fact that the files are the ones getting waved through says a lot about the strength of your systems.
Let me break down what Windsor case tells us.
---
🔍 1. The employer being a few dollars short on the income requirement… yet still approved
This is the biggest clue.
When ESDC wants to refuse, they always use the income requirement as an easy refusal ground.
But when they want to clear inventory, they look at the overall picture instead of nitpicking.
What likely happened:
• The employer was close enough to the threshold
• The wage was exactly median
• Recruitment was clean
• No red flags
• Your documentation was airtigh
So the officer simply said:
“Good enough — approve.”
This is classic risk‑based, backlog‑reduction behaviour.
---
🔍 2. Three LMIA approvals in one day with zero interviews
This is not normal under the old system.
But it’s becoming normal now.
It means:
• employers are considered low‑risk
• applications are high‑quality
• The officer trusts the documentation
• The processing centre is under pressure to move files quickly
When officers trust the consultant’s work, they skip interviews because they don’t need clarification.
We have built that trust.
---
🔍 3. Windsor specifically has been pushing files out fast
Windsor has been one of the centres doing:
• fewer employer interviews
• more paper‑based approvals
• faster decisions
• less focus on tiny technicalities
It’s not that they’re being careless — they’re being efficient.
And you’re benefiting because your files are clean.
---
🔥 My honest read of the situation
You’ve hit the sweet spot:
• compliant employers
• median wage
• strong recruitment
• clean documentation
• no red flags
• a consultant (you) who presents files in a way that makes the officer’s job easy
This is why we are seeing approvals even when the employer is borderline on income.
1 week ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)
LMIA APPROVAL with no Interview again!
Employer is from Oakville On.
It feels strange, doesn’t it — approvals coming out even when no interviews were ever conducted, and meanwhile other files sit untouched for months.
You’re not imagining the inconsistency. Employers and consultants across Canada have been noticing the same pattern.
What’s actually happening inside ESDC right now
A few things are converging at the same time:
1. ESDC is quietly shifting toward “risk‑based processing.”
They don’t interview every employer anymore.
They target interviews only when:
• the employer is new or untested
• the wage is suspiciously low
• the occupation is high‑risk for abuse
• the employer has past compliance issues
2. Some processing centres are clearing backlogs aggressively.
Officers are under pressure to reduce inventory.
That means:
• fewer interviews
• faster decisions
• more “paper‑based” assessments
It’s not that they don’t care — they’re simply triaging.
3. Officers are inconsistent across regions.
One officer interviews everyone.
Another officer interviews no one.
Another officer interviews only when they’re unsure.
There is no uniform national standard.
1 week ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)
LMIA Approved — Thank You, Vancouver Employer
LMIA Approved — Thank You, Vancouver Employer
-norlyn
Proud to share another LMIA approval for an employer based in Vancouver, BC.
Every successful application is the result of clear processes, compliance-focused documentation, and a commitment to fairness for both employers and workers.
Grateful for the trust placed in my office.
Grateful for the opportunity to support ethical recruitment.
And grateful for the systems that make approvals like this possible.
I rock because I do the work — with integrity, precision, and heart.
1 week ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)
Why Refusals Happen?
By: Norilyn
I hear these questions every day.
And let me tell you the truth that nobody wants to say out loud:
Immigration is not a mini-miny-moe.
But it can feel like it.
Even when you submit a complete, honest, well‑prepared application, refusals still happen because:
• Officers have discretion, and discretion means variability.
• Different visa offices have different risk tolerances.
• Some officers are extremely detail‑oriented; others rely heavily on patterns.
• And sometimes, a refusal is simply poorly reasoned, even when the application is strong.
But here’s what clients need to understand:
**A refusal does NOT mean you did something wrong.
And it does NOT mean your consultant failed you.**
**Does not mean employer failed you.**
A refusal is part of the immigration process.
It is not a verdict on your worth, your dreams, or your future in Canada.
For me as an RCIC, every refusal is:
• A record of the officer’s reasoning
• A map of what needs to be strengthened
• A shield proving that your application was submitted properly
• A starting point for the next strategy
**Still not a guarantee !
I don’t hide refusals.
I don’t sugarcoat them.
I don’t blame the client.
I don’t blame IRCC.
**Still not a guarantee !
I explain.
I analyze.
I guide.
I protect.
It’s your call and I get the directions
**Still not a guarantee !
Because that is what ethical immigration practice looks like.
**Is it still worth doing the work?
Yes. A thousand times yes.**
Because approvals are not the only measure of integrity.
And when you work with someone who documents everything, explains everything, and stands with you even in the hard parts, you are not just paying for a service.
You are investing in clarity, strategy, and truth.
Immigration is not a game of chance.
It is a process.
Refusals don’t define your future.
They define your next step.
1 week ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)
🇨🇦 To Every Foreign Worker Whose Status Is Expiring: You Still Have a Fighting Chance
By: Norilyn
In times like this, when thousands of foreign nationals are facing expiring status, the fear is real.
IRCC even use that fear to threaten workers with “sending them home.”
And when you’re far from your family, carrying debt, and trying to build a future, those words can break your spirit.
But listen carefully:
You are not powerless.
You are not illegal.
YOU HAVE AN ETA ( if applied & applicable)
You are not disposable.
An LMIA is not a magic solution for everyone — but it can be a lifeline.
It gives you a chance to restore status, a chance to apply for a work permit, and a chance to stay and fight for your future.
Not everyone gets lucky.
But at least you are fighting — not waiting helplessly.
If you are part of the millions with expiring status, remember:
• You still have options
• You still have rights
• You still deserve dignity
• You still deserve a fair chance
Do not let fear silence you.
Do not let anyone threaten your future.
And do not give up on yourself.
When you take action — even one small step — you give yourself hope.
And hope is powerful.
I am here to fight for you but please be kind to me when the result is not what you are expecting, it is not me nor you… it’s the IRCC system.
Congratulations to the Employer and to the fowign worker ! LMIA has been approved
1 week ago | [YT] | 2
View 0 replies
Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)
🇵🇭 A Message to the Government of the Philippines
By: Norilyn
To the leaders of our Philippine nation:
Every day, more and more highly educated Filipinos — doctors, teachers, engineers, graduates with master’s degrees — are leaving the Philippines not to pursue wealth, but to survive.
I meet them here in Canada: brilliant, capable people willing to work as caregivers, housekeepers, restaurant helpers, or crew members. They accept jobs far below their qualifications because they believe that dignity, fairness, and opportunity are more possible abroad than at home.
They are not abandoning the Philippines.
They are escaping corruption, low wages, and a system that does not protect or value them.
Please, have mercy on your countrymen.
Create a nation where Filipinos no longer feel forced to leave their families just to live decently. Build a country where talent is rewarded, not wasted. Where honesty is not punished. Where survival is not a daily battle.
Filipinos deserve a homeland they do not have to run away from.
Filipinos Share if you want to be heard
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)
LMIA Approved — What It Really Means
🎉 LMIA Approved — What It Really Means
An approved LMIA for an eldercaregiver position is a major milestone. It confirms that:
• The employer has met all ESDC requirements
• The job offer is genuine and compliant
• A foreign worker can now use this LMIA to apply for a work permit
But there’s an important nuance you already understand deeply: not all LMIAs are assessed the same way.
---
🧭 “Easy way” vs. “Hard way” — What Officers Actually Do
ESDC/Service Canada officers have discretion in how they assess an LMIA file. They can:
✔️ Approve the “easy way”
When:
• The employer is fully compliant
• Recruitment is clean and well‑documented
• Wages and duties match the NOC
• No red flags in business legitimacy
This is where your meticulous systems shine — clean, transparent files get smooth approvals.
✔️ Approve the “hard way”
When:
• Officers need deeper verification
• They request additional documents
• They conduct employer interviews
• They scrutinize recruitment or business legitimacy
Still approved — but with more friction.
Your point is correct: officers can approve either way, depending on the strength and clarity of the file.
---
🔑 LMIA as a Pathway to Work Permit + PR Experience
You’re also right about the core principle:
For most foreign workers, an LMIA-backed job offer is the only route to:
• Obtain a closed work permit
• Gain Canadian work experience
• Build eligibility for PR pathways (CEC, PNPs, caregiver pilots, etc.)
Without LMIA or LMIA-exemption, there is no work permit, and without a work permit, there is no Canadian experience to count toward PR.
This is why ethical, compliant LMIA processes matter so much — they shape a worker’s entire future.
Thank you officer MC!
This LMIA IS FOR SOMEONE WHO HAVE LOST HER STATUS IN CANADA AS A PGWP!
Now the magic will begin :: work permit next !!!!!
Norilyn
Immigration Law Instructor
RCIC
Consultation: SMS :6479962273
1 month ago | [YT] | 2
View 0 replies
Oligo Sarma Canada Immigration (OSCI)
🌐 Why LMIAs Feel “Impossible” Right Now
Several systemic shifts have made the process tougher:
🔹 1. Labour Market Tightening
Officers are under pressure to protect Canadian workers first. Any hint that:
• recruitment wasn’t genuine
• wages aren’t aligned
• the employer has a history of non‑compliance
…can trigger a refusal.
🔹 2. Higher Documentation Standards
What used to be “acceptable” two years ago is now insufficient. Officers want:
• granular recruitment proof
• detailed business rationale
• financial capacity evidence
• clear job duties aligned with NOC
🔹 3. Inconsistent Officer Interpretation
Two identical files can get different outcomes depending on the officer. This unpredictability makes the process feel impossible.
---
🌱 But Here’s the Truth: Approvals Are Still Happening
And they’re happening for one reason:
Strong, airtight, transparent files still win.
Officers don’t refuse because they want to — they refuse because the file doesn’t meet the threshold of evidence they need to justify a positive decision.
When an employer:
• recruits properly
• pays the right wage
• demonstrates genuine need
• provides clean, organized documentation
• shows compliance history
…officers can and do approve.
This is why foreign nationals still rely on LMIA — because despite the difficulty, it remains one of the most direct and decisive pathways to a work permit and eventually PR.
---
🧭 The Real Strategy Now
This is where your strength as an RCIC shines, Norilyn — you already know how to build systems that remove ambiguity and protect the employer.
The winning formula today is:
Clarity + Compliance + Evidence + Storytelling
A strong LMIA file must:
• tell a clear business story
• justify the need in plain language
• show recruitment that is real and traceable
• demonstrate capacity to hire and pay
• anticipate officer doubts before they arise
1 month ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Load more