This page is intended to be an overview, a ‘helpful page’ for Employers who have never employed seasonal agricultural workers and are interested in making application under the Commonwealth Caribbean and Mexican Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program………………… I would suggest you take a moment to review the following procedures.

First Contact:
Should you call F.A.R.M.S. first you will be directed to contact Service Canada (SC) at 1-866-431-7297. Service Canada will discuss with you your labour needs including what efforts have been made towards the recruitment of Canadians and the steps required to place an order for seasonal labour. Some of those steps are seasonal housing and inspection requirements, payment of the required fees and CanAg Travel Services.

The Next Step: will be to submit the completed application directly to F.A.R.M.S. In turn F.A.R.M.S. will edit the application for completeness, perhaps need to discuss certain areas with you prior to forwarding it to Service Canada for approval. This means you will not be required to present yourself at the local Service Canada (SC) office however that does preclude you from providing Service Canada with the necessary information to assess your application.
Upon receipt of your application Service Canada may contact you directly to discuss your human resource planning, what efforts have been made towards the recruitment of Canadians and the housing you have available. Service Canada may approve a request for foreign workers no later than 4 weeks prior to the job start date.

The Employer: is requested to sign the Employer / Employee Agreement for Seasonal Agricultural Workers and by doing so is agreeing to abide by the terms, conditions and operating guidelines for the program. Some of those terms are:

• The Employer agrees to pay to Service Canada a visa processing fee of $150.00 on behalf of each worker at the time the order is approved. This fee is a recoverable cost
• The Employer agrees to pay to F.A.R.M.S. an administration fee of $38.00 (plus HST) per worker. The fee is due and payable at the time Service Canada approves the order. F.A.R.M.S. fee may be paid by cheque - OR - by credit card processing directly with F.A.R.M.S.
• The Employer is required to provide free suitable housing; employer agrees to have the housing inspected by the Ministry of Health prior to the worker(s) arriving; employer will guarantee the worker a minimum of 240 hours of work; employer agrees to give the worker(s) a pay advance for food items until the first pay.
• The Employer agrees to adhere to the payment policy of CanAg Travel and remit payment as due and stipulated on the invoice from CanAg Travel.

• F.A.R.M.S. who will carry out the necessary administrative functions to ensure that your request is distributed to the appropriate government agent locally/abroad and to CanAg Travel Services who is the appointed travel agency for the program in Ontario. ONLY however, after the request is approved by SC.
• The Employer will communicate any changes or cancellations, as applicable, directly to CanAg Travel PRIOR to the 10-day or 14-day penalty restriction..
• The Employer will be contacted by CanAg Travel one week prior to the worker(s) arrival with the time and location of where the worker(s) can be picked up the date of arrival.
• The Employer agrees to submit pay sheets to the supply country as per the guidelines for that country.

1. A F.A.R.M.S. Appointment of Representative must be on record in order for your completed application to be processed by F.A.R.M.S.
2. After completing the application mail or fax it to F.A.R.M.S.
3. Payment is required at the same time for the F.A.R.M.S. Administration Fee and the Canada Immigration Cost Recovery Visa Fee
   • F.A.R.M.S. Administration Fee: pay by cheque is $38.00 plus HST per worker, payable to F.A.R.M.S. Post-dated cheques must be cashable 8 weeks prior to the job start date. Mail the F.A.R.M.S. Administration Fee with your application or pay by credit card by contacting F.A.R.M.S. directly at 1-866-271-0862.
   • Canada Immigration Cost Recovery Visa Fee: pay by cheque is $150.00 per worker, payable to Receiver General for Canada, post-dated cheques must be cashable 8 weeks prior to job start date. Mail the visa fee with your application or pay by credit card by contacting Simcoe Service Canada office directly at 1-866-431-7297.
4. The employer summary of worker names should be used to identify the named workers. Place the job start date beside the worker name being requested on each order. Draw a line through the names not being requested on the same order. Send the summary of worker names to F.A.R.M.S. with the completed application.

Types of Changes

Arrival Dates

It is appreciated that initial requests are placed as close to the job start date as can be determined from one season to the next. Certainly location of your farming operation and weather can influence the predicted job start date. A change to arrival date will be managed according to the length of notice you are providing and whether you are advancing or delaying the arrival.

Cancellation

As much notice as possible is necessary. If a cancellation is required within the 10 day penalty time frame you may be required to pay for the seat. Every attempt will be made to fill the seat for another employer however to do this the arrival time must coincide with the job start date for another employer. Each case can only be managed on an individual basis.

Name Change

Many employers keep in touch with their workers during the winter months it is definitely advisable to do this. Employers often find out about certain situations where a worker is not ready to travel as noted on the original request. The employer in these cases may elect to place a change in worker names and the original named worker will arrive on a subsequent date.
Employers are requested to allow sufficient time for the Foreign Ministry of Labour office to prepare for the change in worker names. In addition to advising F.A.R.M.S. who in turn will process the name change to all parties a call to the Liaison or Consulate office will also provide assistance.

HOW TO PLACE a Cancellation - Change – Delay – Advancement

CONTACT F.A.R.M.S. or CanAg Travel directly to advise the type of change you wish to make against your original request. The staff person handling the call will give you a five (5) digit confirmation number at the onset of taking the information on the change. The five digit number becomes the employer’s source of reference.

NOTE:
A change that will advance the arrival of workers beyond the original date requested and approved by the centralized approval office of Service Canada will be taken and subject to Service Canada approval.

Time Restrictions

10 DAY WINDOW - Ten days prior to flights with Air Canada all seats are considered sold.

12 DAY WINDOW - Twelve days prior to flights with Caribbean Airlines and Air Jamaica all seats are considered sold.

Employers are financially responsible for unused seats. Employers are cautioned to be very selective about requesting a change.