A post doc issue - need your opinion

[tulip_001]

Hello guys,

Maybe I am panicking or maybe my concern is justified, not sure now. Could you just kindly give your opinion on my situation?

I am February applicant (application received Feb 25, AOR received April 5). I am a post doc and have applied under the NOC 4011. My reference letter contains all the relevant information with respect to my post doc duties as it is described in the respective NOC code. However, policy of my school is to treat post docs as trainees. Therefore we are getting T4a form instead of T4 form. This is not seems a problem because a person from my department who applied last November has already got his PR without any complications. However, at the time of my application I was not aware of the difference between the T4 and T4a forms as well as complications it could cause. To highlight my duties another person from my department suggested me to include my work contract with the application package. So I did it and yesterday I realized that its first page contains phrase that the school policy is not to consider post docs as employees. It was stupid, but at that time I have never came across with possible post docs problems and was only aware that my job duties should fit the corresponding NOC code as precisely as possible. Now I am scared that although other post docs are getting PR with T4a form, my contract could still screw my application because of this phrase.
Do you think that it will be a good idea to prepare a cover letter (from my name or from my bosses name) explaining again that according to cic criteria, I fit the requirements of the CEC program with respect to NOC code, skills level (PhD), English proficiency test, etc. Or it is better to leave this as it is and not to bring attention to this fact? I have ordered GCMS notes yesterday to check what is on my file, but I am afraid that by the time they have arrived, the decision would already been made because of the timeline of my application.

Could you kindly give your opinion on this matter?

 

[green_dc]

Hi,

I think CIC knows and recognizes that postdocs are not considered as employees of universities but they are employed by a professors at a university. SO if you have a reference letter from your prof that says you are employed by him or, then i would not worry much.
T4A is ok as long you show that you are paying tax to Canadian government. There are lots of postdoc cases where they got PR without any issue.

What I can suggest is that just keep ordering GCMS notes to follow whats been going on with your app. If you see anything off, then I would write explanation letter.

Hello guys,

Maybe I am panicking or maybe my concern is justified, not sure now. Could you just kindly give your opinion on my situation?

I am February applicant (application received Feb 25, AOR received April 5). I am a post doc and have applied under the NOC 4011. My reference letter contains all the relevant information with respect to my post doc duties as it is described in the respective NOC code. However, policy of my school is to treat post docs as trainees. Therefore we are getting T4a form instead of T4 form. This is not seems a problem because a person from my department who applied last November has already got his PR without any complications. However, at the time of my application I was not aware of the difference between the T4 and T4a forms as well as complications it could cause. To highlight my duties another person from my department suggested me to include my work contract with the application package. So I did it and yesterday I realized that its first page contains phrase that the school policy is not to consider post docs as employees. It was stupid, but at that time I have never came across with possible post docs problems and was only aware that my job duties should fit the corresponding NOC code as precisely as possible. Now I am scared that although other post docs are getting PR with T4a form, my contract could still screw my application because of this phrase.
Do you think that it will be a good idea to prepare a cover letter (from my name or from my bosses name) explaining again that according to cic criteria, I fit the requirements of the CEC program with respect to NOC code, skills level (PhD), English proficiency test, etc. Or it is better to leave this as it is and not to bring attention to this fact? I have ordered GCMS notes yesterday to check what is on my file, but I am afraid that by the time they have arrived, the decision would already been made because of the timeline of my application.

Could you kindly give your opinion on this matter?

 

[tulip_001]

Hi,

I think CIC knows and recognizes that postdocs are not considered as employees of universities but they are employed by a professors at a university. SO if you have a reference letter from your prof that says you are employed by him or, then i would not worry much.
T4A is ok as long you show that you are paying tax to Canadian government. There are lots of postdoc cases where they got PR without any issue.

What I can suggest is that just keep ordering GCMS notes to follow whats been going on with your app. If you see anything off, then I would write explanation letter.


Thank you very much for your response. What my letter says is that "Dr. XX is working under my supervision .... her job duties are as follows...she works 45 hrs per week". I have prepared this Letter by myself. Do you think this is enough? I used word "work" rather than "employed". Should it be the same?

 

[tulip_001]

Sorry, I think that I put my response in the quote which could make it difficult to see.

Here it is: Thank you very much for your response. What my letter says is that "Dr. XX is working under my supervision .... her job duties are as follows...she works 45 hrs per week". I have prepared this Letter by myself. Do you think this is enough? I used word "work" rather than "employed". Should it be the same?

 

[green_dc]

Sorry, I think that I put my response in the quote which could make it difficult to see.

Here it is: Thank you very much for your response. What my letter says is that "Dr. XX is working under my supervision .... her job duties are as follows...she works 45 hrs per week". I have prepared this Letter by myself. Do you think this is enough? I used word "work" rather than "employed". Should it be the same?

I think its same. I understand your worries. But at this point, you can do nothing but wait and also follow the GCMS notes closely and act accordingly if needed.

 

[chi_1988]

As green_dc said. I think it should be fine. However, my own letter (Research assistant) had 'XXXX is an employee of XXXXX' and I only had T4A Slips. Check monthly on your GCMS notes so you can track if they have an issue with letter and have a letter prepared incase that happens (I hope it doesnt).

Hope that helps.

 

[tulip_001]

Guys,
Thank you for your suggestions. I think you are wright and no additional supporting letters are requied at this stage. Wiil waite for my GCMS notes and then see what could be done.