Applicant from PhD program after 5 Nov, 2011 connect here to get status

[asbereth]

Hi xhiddenx, please go back 1 or 2 pages, and read the discussions that I and TyrusX were having regarding this matter.

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/applicant-from-phd-program-after-5-nov-2011-connect-here-to-get-status-t87348.0.html;msg1306137#msg1306137

Research assistantship would fall under NOC4012, which is considered a skill level A, and, as I mentioned (which was also what the visa officer of Detroit mentioned), as long as you get paid doing it (be it income under T4A or T4), you should be able to claim work experience, provided that the amount of money paid is not less than the minimum wage. But then again, this is a very gray area that is still hotly debated, and it is probably safer to include other work experience as well.

Regarding adaptability points for previous studies, it does state the program will have to be completed (though it also mentions that the students need not obtain any degree or credential). I'm not really sure yet how to interpret this.

 

[xhiddenx]

Hi xhiddenx, please go back 1 or 2 pages, and read the discussions that I and TyrusX were having regarding this matter.



Research assistantship would fall under NOC4012, which is considered a skill level A, and, as I mentioned (which was also what the visa officer of Detroit mentioned), as long as you get paid doing it (be it income under T4A or T4), you should be able to claim work experience, provided that the amount of money paid is not less than the minimum wage. But then again, this is a very gray area that is still hotly debated, and it is probably safer to include other work experience as well.

Regarding adaptability points for previous studies, it does state the program will have to be completed (though it also mentions that the students need not obtain any degree or credential). I'm not really sure yet how to interpret this.

Thank you both asbereth and TyrusX, I read those posts
As I remember T4 was for our monthly payment and T4A was whatever we are paying to the university such as tuition. So should I consider T4 as my income or both, it does not make scese for me to consider both I guess T4 is acceptable with this T4 I can put about 7months full time for a year.

 

[asbereth]

Ya, hopefully things work out. If your incomes actually fall under T4, then there should not be any problem. Just document the total number of hours properly, along with appropriate responsibilities (that match the NOC guidelines), and you should be fine.

The ambiguity came about due to the fact that, at the University of Waterloo, research funding comes under non-taxable incomes, so it goes to the T4As rather than the T4s. The instruction guide only mentions that the work experience needs to be paid (and continuous obviously for eligibility), but says nothing about whether or not it should be taxable. The visa officer also mentioned similar things, so I think it should be acceptable. Though I'd assume, it would be a really easy excuse for them if they really want to reject somebody based on nothing else (hell they even gave somebody less points than he deserved for language, so it's better to err on the safe side).

Also, you mentioned 67 points, did you include the adaptibility points already? If what TyrusX said was true, and if you have not included adaptibility points in your calculation, then you'd end up with at least 70 points. Can anybody confirm if the 5 points would be awarded if you have completed two years of PhD, but have not yet completed any post-secondary programs in Canada?

 

[xhiddenx]

Ya, hopefully things work out. If your incomes actually fall under T4, then there should not be any problem. Just document the total number of hours properly, along with appropriate responsibilities (that match the NOC guidelines), and you should be fine.

The ambiguity came about due to the fact that, at the University of Waterloo, research funding comes under non-taxable incomes, so it goes to the T4As rather than the T4s. The instruction guide only mentions that the work experience needs to be paid (and continuous obviously for eligibility), but says nothing about whether or not it should be taxable. The visa officer also mentioned similar things, so I think it should be acceptable. Though I'd assume, it would be a really easy excuse for them if they really want to reject somebody based on nothing else (hell they even gave somebody less points than he deserved for language, so it's better to err on the safe side).

Also, you mentioned 67 points, did you include the adaptability points already? If what TyrusX said was true, and if you have not included adaptibility points in your calculation, then you'd end up with at least 70 points. Can anybody confirm if the 5 points would be awarded if you have completed two years of PhD, but have not yet completed any post-secondary programs in Canada?

I already put adaptability points in those 67 points thats why I am still worry to apply or not, I asked many times about those 5 points I think they will accept coz the university lawyer was sure about that. I did mistake our fund like UW is non-taxable and going to T4A. Anyway, as you said it does not matter.

 

[TyrusX]

I already put adaptability points in those 67 points thats why I am still worry to apply or not, I asked many times about those 5 points I think they will accept coz the university lawyer was sure about that. I did mistake our fund like UW is non-taxable and going to T4A. Anyway, as you said it does not matter.

From OP-6 page 44 of the pdf, section 12.16 Adaptability:

b) Previous study in Canada:
• Award five points if the applicant or accompanying spouse or common- law partner completed a program of full-time study of at least two years’ duration at a post-secondary institution in Canada, if this occurred after the age of seventeen and with valid study permits.
(The person is not required to have obtained an educational credential for these two years of study in Canada to earn the points, but simply to have completed at least two years of study.)

I believe that this is one of the reasons why the minimum requirements is to have completed two year of studies in Canada. Without this 5 points it would be very difficult to get the minimum 67 points for many people.

 

[ejamal]

Guys, correct me if I am wrong but not every thing that goes in the T4A is not taxable, sometimes it is.

For example, In your T4A;
box-104 Research grants "That amount is taxable but they don't deduct the taxes when you receive it but it is still counts towards your total income which they use to compute how much you owe them (or the other way around)"

box-105 Scholarships, bursaries, fellowships, artists' project grants, and prizes "This amount is not taxable and it is not counted towards your total income"

I might have got the box number reversed by the way. It will be nice if anyone would confirm that please.

 

[TyrusX]

Guys, correct me if I am wrong but not every thing that goes in the T4A is not taxable, sometimes it is.

For example, In your T4A;
box-104 Research grants "That amount is taxable but they don't deduct the taxes when you receive it but it is still counts towards your total income which they use to compute how much you owe them (or the other way around)"

box-105 Scholarships, bursaries, fellowships, artists' project grants, and prizes "This amount is not taxable and it is not counted towards your total income"

I might have got the box number reversed by the way. It will be nice if anyone would confirm that please.

I haven't done my axes yet, so I don't know. But I have changed my mind and I now agree with asbereth when he says it doesn't matter if you got paid by taxable and non-taxable ways. I searched everything, even the Immigration ACT legislation, and there is nothing saying about paid taxable stipends there.

 

[xhiddenx]

I haven't done my axes yet, so I don't know. But I have changed my mind and I now agree with asbereth when he says it doesn't matter if you got paid by taxable and non-taxable ways. I searched everything, even the Immigration ACT legislation, and there is nothing saying about paid taxable stipends there.

The question is if we assume both T4A (for 104 and 105) are acceptable then our income is more than one full time year based on $10.25/hour, in the other words everybody can set 40hour/week experience based on his salary. I think T4A (104) is acceptable.

 

[TyrusX]

The question is if we assume both T4A (for 104 and 105) are acceptable then our income is more than one full time year based on $10.25/hour, in the other words everybody can set 40hour/week experience based on his salary. I think T4A (104) is acceptable.

Hum. I'm with you then.

 

[smallkick]

Update.

Hi all, I called CIC yesterday and they told me my application package was already sent back to me on Feb 8th, cause I forgot sending my spouse's "IMM5406E" form to them, so the package is incomplete.

So here I would like to remind those applicants with spouse or partner, don't forget to attach your spouse or partner's IMM5406E form.

The weird thing is they said they already returned the package on 8th, but so far I still haven't got it yet. And the returned package can't be tracked either.

Anyway does it take so long time usually?
Guys, could you please share your experience if you got returned pacakge?

I'm afraid my package has been lost by Canada Post.

 

[TyrusX]

Update.

Hi all, I called CIC yesterday and they told me my application package was already sent back to me on Feb 8th, cause I forgot sending my spouse's "IMM5406E" form to them, so the package is incomplete.

So here I would like to remind those applicants with spouse or partner, don't forget to attach your spouse or partner's IMM5406E form.

The weird thing is they said they already returned the package on 8th, but so far I still haven't got it yet. And the returned package can't be tracked either.

Anyway does it take so long time usually?
Guys, could you please share your experience if you got returned pacakge?

I'm afraid my package has been lost by Canada Post.

Sorry to hear that small kick. I heard that it may take about 4 weeks for them to return it, since they will probably send it back using the cheapest method available. I would advise you to get everything printed out already and just wait until your documents are back to send them again.

 

[xhiddenx]

I heard from the other thread (don't remember which one) that somebody got less points for language than what his IELTS scores would've given him. And of course, he would've gotten just enough number of points if his IELTS scores were evaluated properly, which is why it is always good to be at least in the 70s to apply.

I can understand if the visa officer assigns fewer points than expected for things such as work experience, but there is a strict guideline on how to assign points based on the language test, and the fact that they make such mistakes (whether intentional or honest mistake) makes one questions their competency (or, heaven forbids, ill intentions). Imagine the frustration if you are in such situation. And of course, not to mention the completely unnecessary delay this 'honest' mistake would introduce...

Could you tell me in which step I will find out that they did not accept all of my points? before charging or PER or after PER or it may happens in each step

 

[TyrusX]

Could you tell me in which step I will find out that they did not accept all of my points? before charging or PER or after PER or it may happens in each step

It can happen at any moment. For crass mistakes, it would probably be before.

 

[smallkick]

Sorry to hear that small kick. I heard that it may take about 4 weeks for them to return it, since they will probably send it back using the cheapest method available. I would advise you to get everything printed out already and just wait until your documents are back to send them again.

Yes, that's right. I shall be get ready in advance.
Thank you for the information, TyrusX!

 

[JBR]

Just out of curiosity which of you got his/her masters degree from a Canadian University?

I already have my masters and now in my PhD program