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Job Offer Secured? Here’s Why You Might Still Get Denied a Canadian Work Visa

So you got the job offer. Big moment. You told your family. You even started looking up Toronto apartments and YouTube videos on “how to survive Canadian winters.”

By Lola Gold FinchPublished 6 months ago 3 min read

Everything was going great…

Until the email hit.

Visa denied.

And now you're sitting there thinking,

“What the actual hell? I got the job. What more do they want?”

Well… a lot more than just the job.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Getting a work permit Canada Toronto is not just about someone hiring you. Immigration officers aren’t just looking at your offer letter. They’re looking at the full picture, and a lot of people don’t know that until it’s too late.

Let’s talk about why people still get denied a Canadian work visa, even with a legit job in hand.

The LMIA Trap (a.k.a. Is Your Employer Even Allowed to Hire You?)

A lot of people don’t even know what an LMIA is until it messes up their application.

Your employer probably needed a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), basically permission from the Canadian government to hire a foreign worker.

If they skipped it, did it wrong, or submitted a sketchy one, your visa’s getting rejected no matter how perfect you are for the job.

Lesson?

Double check that the LMIA is:

Approved

Recent

Tied directly to YOUR role

Otherwise, your “dream offer” is just paper.

Your Background Doesn’t Match the Job, And It Shows

Let’s say you studied marketing but got offered a senior tech role. That’s cool, maybe you’re self-taught. But to immigration officers? That’s a red flag.

They want to see that your skills, experience, and education line up with what the job says you’ll be doing.

If it doesn’t match, you better believe they’ll start digging. And if something feels off? Denial.

Tip:

Keep it clean, clear, and believable. This isn’t the place to “jazz up” your resume or fake it till you make it.

Your Documents? They Matter More Than You Think

You’d be shocked how many people get denied over missing or sloppy paperwork.

Gaps in your resume?

Reference letters without dates or job roles?

Sketchy education certificates?

A photo that looks like it was taken in a nightclub?

All of these are red flags.

Reality check:

Immigration isn’t going to chase you for missing documents. They’ll just say no and move on to the next applicant.

Your Travel or Visa History Isn’t Exactly Clean

Been denied a visa before?

Overstayed in another country?

Got detained once years ago and thought it didn’t matter?

It matters.

They check. And if they see any red flags in your history, they’ll wonder if Canada’s next on your “visa-hopping” list.

What to do?

Don’t lie. Don’t hide. If there’s something messy in your past, OWN IT. Include an explanation. Be upfront. It shows maturity.

They Think You’re Planning to Stay, Even If You’re Not Saying It

Here’s the kicker:

Even though a work permit is temporary, officers still check if they believe you’ll leave when it ends.

If they feel like you’re using the work visa as a way to “sneak into” permanent residency, and your documents don’t back up strong ties to your home country, they’ll say no.

Show them you’ve got reasons to return:

Family

A house

A job you plan to go back to

Anything that says, “Hey, I’m not vanishing into Canada forever… yet.”

The Offer Itself Isn’t As Real As You Thought

We need to talk about scams and shady offers.

Not every job offer is a real one.

Some are just quick cash schemes, made to sell “Canadian dreams” to desperate applicants.

If your employer:

Doesn’t have a proper website

Uses a Gmail address

Can’t be found on Google Maps

Offers way more money than what’s normal

Run.

Because immigration officers?

They’ve seen it all. If they think your offer’s fake or inflated, you’re done.

Real Talk: Getting a Job Is Huge, But It’s Not Enough

Look, landing a job in Canada is a big deal. But the work permit system in Toronto? It’s a layered process.

You need:

The right documents

A solid LMIA

A believable resume

Clean travel history

Proof you’ll follow the rules

Basically, the government is asking:

Can we trust this person?

Your entire application needs to scream “Yes.”

Feeling Lost? You’re Not Alone.

If your head’s spinning after reading this, that’s normal. This stuff is complicated.

But don’t give up. Don’t fall for shortcuts. And please, don’t trust random WhatsApp groups for visa advice.

Talk to someone who actually knows what they’re doing. Book a session with a real immigration expert in Toronto who can walk you through your exact case. That one conversation might save you months or years of heartache.

Want help from professionals who get it?

We’re here. No sugarcoating. No fake promises. Just real advice.

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About the Creator

Lola Gold Finch

Lola Gold is a seasoned content writer specializing in lifestyle, health, technology, crypto, and business. She creates clear, well-researched content that simplifies complex topics and delivers meaningful value to readers.

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