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Paid internship abroad counts as work experience?

privetdrive

Member
Sep 25, 2015
18
3
Hello,

Does anyone know if a year-long paid internship I did in the U.S. counts as work experience that I should include in my Express Entry profile? I already had a PR application rejected because they said my Canadian co-op work terms don't count, but the refusal letter didn't say anything about my internship (that I did after my 3rd year of university).
I've already satisfied the year-long Canadian work experience without my co-ops, but my points are currently below the minimum (441). Adding my internship would boost my points to above 500.

Thanks for any advice/guidance.
 

harshmaru

Star Member
Aug 12, 2013
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what was your AOR date? can you please tell and are you inland or outland?
 

privetdrive

Member
Sep 25, 2015
18
3
My AOR was November 7 2015, and I'm in Canada, currently working on a post-graduate work permit.
However, I don't think this information matters since I am re-applying again and I would just like to know if I can include my U.S. internship in order to boost my points. The following link seems to only talk about co-ops, not internships aboard (please remove all underscores from the URL as the forum isn't letting me post URLs):
h_t_t_p_:_/_/_w_w_w_._c_i_c_._g_c_._c_a_/_e_n_g_l_i_s_h_/_h_e_l_p_c_e_n_t_r_e_/_a_n_s_w_e_r_._a_s_p_?_q_n_u_m_=_3_9_4_&_t_o_p_=_2_9

Thanks.
 

anarsoul

Hero Member
Jul 12, 2014
695
52
privetdrive said:
My AOR was November 7 2015, and I'm in Canada, currently working on a post-graduate work permit.
However, I don't think this information matters since I am re-applying again and I would just like to know if I can include my U.S. internship in order to boost my points. The following link seems to only talk about co-ops, not internships aboard (please remove all underscores from the URL as the forum isn't letting me post URLs):
h_t_t_p_:_/_/_w_w_w_._c_i_c_._g_c_._c_a_/_e_n_g_l_i_s_h_/_h_e_l_p_c_e_n_t_r_e_/_a_n_s_w_e_r_._a_s_p_?_q_n_u_m_=_3_9_4_&_t_o_p_=_2_9

Thanks.
If it was a part of your Canadian studies, it doesn't count as work experience.
 

sachinsoman1988

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Oct 19, 2015
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anarsoul said:
If it was a part of your Canadian studies, it doesn't count as work experience.
+1
If you were on a student status in Canada, Co-Op cannot be counted.
 

privetdrive

Member
Sep 25, 2015
18
3
anarsoul said:
If it was a part of your Canadian studies, it doesn't count as work experience.
I guess that's what confuses me. How do you prove or disprove that something is part of my Canadian studies? I interrupted my studies after my 3rd year, worked in the U.S. for a year in an internship, and came back to finish my degree. What makes me question things is the fact that the agent didn't complain about it, but complained about my 2 co-ops IN Canada. My Canadian employment letters said that I was a "co-op", while the U.S. employment letter said that I was an "intern".
 

anarsoul

Hero Member
Jul 12, 2014
695
52
privetdrive said:
I guess that's what confuses me. How do you prove or disprove that something is part of my Canadian studies? I interrupted my studies after my 3rd year, worked in the U.S. for a year in an internship, and came back to finish my degree. What makes me question things is the fact that the agent didn't complain about it, but complained about my 2 co-ops IN Canada. My Canadian employment letters said that I was a "co-op", while the U.S. employment letter said that I was an "intern".
They found a reason for rejection, but it doesn't mean that it was a single reason. They won't indicate all the issues in your application as soon as they have enough ground for rejection.
If you actually interrupted your studies for a job in US you can count it as a foreign experience. If it was an internship for your Canadian studies - you can't count it.
 

privetdrive

Member
Sep 25, 2015
18
3
anarsoul said:
They found a reason for rejection, but it doesn't mean that it was a single reason. They won't indicate all the issues in your application as soon as they have enough ground for rejection.
If you actually interrupted your studies for a job in US you can count it as a foreign experience. If it was an internship for your Canadian studies - you can't count it.
I see. That makes sense. In that case, I'd rather not take the risk when there are other ways to increase my points (even though they involve a lot of headache). I sent CIC a case-specific inquiry about this just to be sure, but they might take a long time to answer.
 
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Nov 13, 2017
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I see. That makes sense. In that case, I'd rather not take the risk when there are other ways to increase my points (even though they involve a lot of headache). I sent CIC a case-specific inquiry about this just to be sure, but they might take a long time to answer.
I am currently in the same situation as you were at that time. Would like to know what CIC replied you for your query?