Passport expiring & Job offer for EE

[Tet83]

Hi ,

- My passport is expiring in October 2019. I know it's a long way from now, but should I get a new one now before I apply so that I don't have to worry about the expiry coming close etc... ?

- I am currently under a work permit with the french mobility program, and I have a LMIA-exempt job offer for the length of my visa, from July 2017 to July 2019. Do I need to get a new job offer for my application to Express Entry or is that one enough ?

Thanks

 

[Binabik]

- My passport is expiring in October 2019. I know it's a long way from now, but should I get a new one now before I apply so that I don't have to worry about the expiry coming close etc... ?

Either way seems fine to me (but others may have a more informed answer).

- I am currently under a work permit with the french mobility program, and I have a LMIA-exempt job offer for the length of my visa, from July 2017 to July 2019. Do I need to get a new job offer for my application to Express Entry or is that one enough ?

As per https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/become-candidate/eligibility/offer-employment.html, a LMIA-exempt job offer is valid under Express Entry if you:

• are currently working for an employer specified on the work permit
• have one year of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work) for that employer
• have a valid job offer from that employer for at least one year after we issue your permanent resident visa

So your current job offer is not sufficient, as the VO must be satisfied that the job offer is valid for 1y after you get the PR. This said a job offer is not mandatory. If you apply on July 2018, you will be able to claim 1y of work experience in Canada. Since you seem to be French, you will also be able to claim a lot of language points. The point is, you might not need a job offer at all. You can use the CRS calculator (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/crs-tool.asp) to estimate how many points you will be able to claim without a job offer and see whether it is enough.

 

[jes_ON]

Hi ,
- My passport is expiring in October 2019. I know it's a long way from now, but should I get a new one now before I apply so that I don't have to worry about the expiry coming close etc... ?

Depends on when you expect to apply, I suppose. If it is in 2018, then you likely have nothing to worry about.

- I am currently under a work permit with the french mobility program, and I have a LMIA-exempt job offer for the length of my visa, from July 2017 to July 2019. Do I need to get a new job offer for my application to Express Entry or is that one enough ?

A) you do not need a job offer to qualify under EE.
B) job offer needs to be valid for at least one year from the date you become a PR. So unless you expect to be approved and landed by July 2018, your existing offer does not cover it.
C) See Binabik's post above for other requirements for having a "valid job offer."

 

[craig123]

Hi ,

- My passport is expiring in October 2019. I know it's a long way from now, but should I get a new one now before I apply so that I don't have to worry about the expiry coming close etc... ?

- I am currently under a work permit with the french mobility program, and I have a LMIA-exempt job offer for the length of my visa, from July 2017 to July 2019. Do I need to get a new job offer for my application to Express Entry or is that one enough ?

Thanks

Most countries only allow your to renew your passport only if it has less than 6 months remaining. That does not qualify you to apply to renew until April-2019. Check rules for your country. But if you are about to enter the pool for Express Entry in coming months. You should not be worried about passport.

 

[Tet83]

Either way seems fine to me (but others may have a more informed answer).


As per https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/become-candidate/eligibility/offer-employment.html, a LMIA-exempt job offer is valid under Express Entry if you:

• are currently working for an employer specified on the work permit
• have one year of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work) for that employer
• have a valid job offer from that employer for at least one year after we issue your permanent resident visa

So your current job offer is not sufficient, as the VO must be satisfied that the job offer is valid for 1y after you get the PR. This said a job offer is not mandatory. If you apply on July 2018, you will be able to claim 1y of work experience in Canada. Since you seem to be French, you will also be able to claim a lot of language points. The point is, you might not need a job offer at all. You can use the CRS calculator (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/crs-tool.asp) to estimate how many points you will be able to claim without a job offer and see whether it is enough.

Thanks for your replies !
I counted my points and with my experience, diploma and language I have between 500 and 600 points - which I know is more than enough and I shouldn't be worried.

My concern is related to the job offer, and because I seem to never know what are the conditions I need.
I don't have the money required ($15K since I'm also sponsoring my husband). I have 2+ years of experience in a NOC B category but I don't have "proof" of that... The owners sold the business, I can't contact them, and all I have is a job offer dated back to 2013 and all my payslips. I don't have an ROE or even my last T4. I know I can explain all this and it "should" be ok, but I'm a bit scared to base my whole application on a job I can hardly prove.

The job I have now, NOC category 0 with LMIA exempt (because I'm French), I only have 6 months of experience. I will have the required year in July 2018 but only 11 months left on the offer. I can easily have another offer from the same employer but he has to do it again through CIC (simple, fast and cheap process) but I don't want to do it if it is not necessary.

At this point I don't know what I need. I heard I don't need a job offer, but I don't have the money. I don't need the money if I'm already working, but I need 1 year after the PR... Would a letter from my current boss saying he offers me a job for as long as I'm legally allowed in Canada be enough ?

 

[Binabik]

My thoughts:

• With one year of skilled work experience in Canada you are eligible under the CEC stream (Canadian Experience Class). The beauty of this stream is that you do not need to provide any proof of fund, so the fact that you don't have enough money won't matter (read carefully https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/become-candidate/eligibility/proof-funds.html)
• As said above a job offer is not necessary. The only reason to try and get one is a lack of points to get invited. However, it looks like you have more than enough points. It would be sad to get rejected because your offer letter does not satisfy the CIC requirements, knowing that you don't need it in the first place! But if still you want to try, the best would be that your employer issue a new job offer stating that it is valid for 1y after you get your PR.
  
• As for your past work experience, can you at least contact a coworker? Worth come to worth you can provide a letter of explanation along with as many supporting evidence as possible (pay slips are good, job contract as well...). Other people were in the same situation (previous employer won't provide a letter of reference): dig into the forum to find out what they did.

 

[Tet83]

Thank you for this clarification ! I will skip the job offer then, and get the necessary papers for job evidence. My new employer is one of the managers at my previous job so I will probably have him write a letter. I have read tons of posts here, but it's a bit confusing at times - the more you know the less you know !

Now I am not sure about another detail. On the "Who can apply - CEC " page, they say :

To qualify for the CEC through Express Entry, you must have:

• at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last three years (before you apply)

On the CRS tool, when I reply all the questions to see my points, they ask :

In the last ten years, how many years of skilled work experience in Canada do you have?​

It must have been paid and full-time (or an equal amount in part-time).
​

So I'm not sure which one it is... I have the experience in the last 10 years, but I am short 2 weeks (!!!) in the last 3 years. I left my skilled job on June 26th 2015 and started the new one on July 15th 2017...

 

[Binabik]

You can claim points for your skilled experience in the last 10 years (you will have to provide proof for each position you held). However having work experience in Canada is not sufficient to qualify under the CEC stream. For that you need 1 year of experience in the past 3 years.

If your work experience in Canada is too old, you cannot apply through CEC but you can still claim points for it and may apply through the FSW stream. However this stream requires proofs of funds. As you stated before that you may lack of the required funds, it is probably best if you apply under the CEC steam (no proof of funds required) in July 2018 when you actually can claim 1 year of skilled experience in Canada in the past 3y.

In the meanwhile you can start with the language tests, the ECA assessment, possibly the police clearance certificates that you will need later...

Also as for the reference letter for your past job, make sure that your manager includes all relevant information:

"Proof must include a reference letter from your employer and pay stubs, if you have them. The reference letter must:

• be an official document printed on company letterhead
• include your name, the company's contact information (address, telephone number and e-mail address), the signature of your immediate
• show all positions held while employed at the company
• include these details: job title, duties/responsibilities, job status (if current job), the dates you worked for the company, the number of work hours per week and your annual salary plus benefits.

"
It is fine that your manager does not work at the company anymore, but I think he needs to disclose it in the letter and explain that he was your supervisor at the time. Other may have more informed answers, you might want to search for old posts.