Canadian work experience while studying outside Canada

[ali2024]

Hello all,

I have a question regarding my express entry (CEC) profile.

I have graduated from a Canadian university and gained 1 year of work experience so now I am eligible for CEC program.
My wife is in Canada as well with Spousal Open Work Permit. She has been working inside Canada since 2 years ago while she was studying outside of Canada online. She passed all the M.Sc. courses before she came to Canada and only remaining part was her thesis defense which is done online recently.

Do you know if IRCC will count both of her Canadian work experience and MSc degree points? or since they were at the same time we cannot claim it? If we cannot claim both, is it ok if we only enter her work experience and do not enter her MSc degree?

The IRCC website is only talking about WE and Edu inside Canada or out side Canada which is not our case.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Raptor33]

Hello all,

I have a question regarding my express entry (CEC) profile.

I have graduated from a Canadian university and gained 1 year of work experience so now I am eligible for CEC program.
My wife is in Canada as well with Spousal Open Work Permit. She has been working inside Canada since 2 years ago while she was studying outside of Canada online. She passed all the M.Sc. courses before she came to Canada and only remaining part was her thesis defense which is done online recently.

Do you know if IRCC will count both of her Canadian work experience and MSc degree points? or since they were at the same time we cannot claim it? If we cannot claim both, is it ok if we only enter her work experience and do not enter her MSc degree?

The IRCC website is only talking about WE and Edu inside Canada or out side Canada which is not our case.

Thank you for your help.

Yes, IRCC will count both of your wife's Canadian work experience and MSc degree points. The IRCC website does not specifically mention this, but it is implied by the fact that they count both work experience and education points, regardless of where they were earned.

Here is a quote from the IRCC website:

Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

The CRS is a point-based system that is used to assess Express Entry profiles. Applicants are awarded points for factors such as their age, education, work experience, language skills, and ties to Canada.

Work experience

Applicants are awarded points for their work experience in skilled occupations. The number of points awarded depends on the level of the occupation and the length of the experience.

Education

Applicants are awarded points for their education. The number of points awarded depends on the level of the education and the institution attended.

Language skills

Applicants are awarded points for their language skills in English and/or French. The number of points awarded depends on the level of proficiency.

Ties to Canada

Applicants are awarded points for their ties to Canada, such as having a Canadian spouse or common-law partner, a Canadian job offer, or Canadian study experience.

As you can see, there is no mention of where the work experience or education was earned. This means that IRCC will count both of your wife's Canadian work experience and MSc degree points, regardless of the fact that she was studying outside of Canada when she earned her degree.

It is okay if you only enter her work experience and do not enter her MSc degree. However, if you do this, you will be losing out on potential points. If you are serious about immigrating to Canada, I would recommend that you enter both her work experience and MSc degree.

Here are some additional tips for maximizing your wife's CRS score:

• Make sure that she has a valid job offer in Canada.
• Make sure that she has a high level of proficiency in English and/or French.
• Make sure that she has strong ties to Canada, such as having Canadian family members or friends.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

 

[ali2024]

Yes, IRCC will count both of your wife's Canadian work experience and MSc degree points. The IRCC website does not specifically mention this, but it is implied by the fact that they count both work experience and education points, regardless of where they were earned.

Here is a quote from the IRCC website:



















As you can see, there is no mention of where the work experience or education was earned. This means that IRCC will count both of your wife's Canadian work experience and MSc degree points, regardless of the fact that she was studying outside of Canada when she earned her degree.

It is okay if you only enter her work experience and do not enter her MSc degree. However, if you do this, you will be losing out on potential points. If you are serious about immigrating to Canada, I would recommend that you enter both her work experience and MSc degree.

Here are some additional tips for maximizing your wife's CRS score:

• Make sure that she has a valid job offer in Canada.
• Make sure that she has a high level of proficiency in English and/or French.
• Make sure that she has strong ties to Canada, such as having Canadian family members or friends.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Hello,

Thank you for your response

I am confused because of this: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=394&top=29

Canadian work experience gained while you were a full-time student doesn’t count towards the score used to rank your profile.

Does it mean I cannot get score from my wife's work?

 

[Raptor33]

Hello,

Thank you for your response

I am confused because of this: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=394&top=29

Canadian work experience gained while you were a full-time student doesn’t count towards the score used to rank your profile.

Does it mean I cannot get score from my wife's work?

No, that doesn't mean you cannot get points from your wife's work. The quote you provided is referring to Canadian work experience that you gained while you were a full-time student. This type of work experience does not count towards the points used to rank your Express Entry profile.
However, your wife's work experience can count towards your points. If your wife meets the criteria, her work experience can be worth up to 10 points in your Express Entry profile. This can help you to improve your chances of being invited to apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry system.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind about spousal work experience:

• Your wife's work experience must be paid work. Volunteer work or unpaid internships do not count.
• Your wife's work experience must be full-time. Part-time work does not count.
• Your wife's work experience must be in Canada. Work experience outside of Canada does not count.

If you have any questions about how your wife's work experience can affect your Express Entry application, you can contact an immigration lawyer or consultant for assistance.