Canadian work experience calculation

[Jack D]

Hello there,

I wanted to understand how Canadian work experience is calculated in EE under the CEC category by IRCC. After going through the official documentation, I got to know that it is calculated based on the number of weeks in a year and the amount of time worked in each week. for e.g. 1 year = 52 weeks = 52 * 30 hrs/ week = 1560 hrs

However, in my case, I am on a work permit and have been working in Canada since March 26, 2018, as a full-timer. with regard to this fact, I wanted to know below.

1. I was on multiple paid leaves during different months in my entire tenure in Canada which sums up to almost 2 months. Given it was paid leave, will these 2 months count under experience or I have to work for 2 more months here?
2. When will I complete 2 years? In the application form, we are asked to mention the month and not the date. so if I mention March 2018, will I complete 2 years in Feb 2020 or March 2020?

Thanks,
Jack

 

[jes_ON]

Hello there,

I wanted to understand how Canadian work experience is calculated in EE under the CEC category by IRCC. After going through the official documentation, I got to know that it is calculated based on the number of weeks in a year and the amount of time worked in each week. for e.g. 1 year = 52 weeks = 52 * 30 hrs/ week = 1560 hrs

However, in my case, I am on a work permit and have been working in Canada since March 26, 2018, as a full-timer. with regard to this fact, I wanted to know below.

1. I was on multiple paid leaves during different months in my entire tenure in Canada which sums up to almost 2 months. Given it was paid leave, will these 2 months count under experience or I have to work for 2 more months here?
2. When will I complete 2 years? In the application form, we are asked to mention the month and not the date. so if I mention March 2018, will I complete 2 years in Feb 2020 or March 2020?

You would have to be more specific about what "paid leave" means. Paid vacation, paid holidays, employer-paid sick days = employment. Paid mat leave / family leave is not employment. Disability leave is not employment.

The online profile is known as an "Expression of Interest" - it is not an application and it should NOT be confused with the PR application (you fill that out only if/when you receive an invitation to apply).

If your "paid leave" is employment, and your start date was March 26, 2018, then you will complete 2 years on March 25, 2020. (If your leave was not employment, you will have to adjust the completion date by the corresponding amount of time).

Yes, the profile only allows you to enter mm/yyyy. If you enter 3/2018 as your start date, the system will think you have completed 2 years as of 2/2020. That is nearly 2 months too soon. IRCC warns you that it is YOUR responsibility to know when you are eligible. In your case, since we are talking about points for the 2nd year, if you received an invitation before you actually complete the 2nd year, you only need to wait and submit your PR application after you complete the 2nd year to get points for the 2nd year.

 

[Jack D]

You would have to be more specific about what "paid leave" means. Paid vacation, paid holidays, employer-paid sick days = employment. Paid mat leave / family leave is not employment. Disability leave is not employment.

The online profile is known as an "Expression of Interest" - it is not an application and it should NOT be confused with the PR application (you fill that out only if/when you receive an invitation to apply).

If your "paid leave" is employment, and your start date was March 26, 2018, then you will complete 2 years on March 25, 2020. (If your leave was not employment, you will have to adjust the completion date by the corresponding amount of time).

Yes, the profile only allows you to enter mm/yyyy. If you enter 3/2018 as your start date, the system will think you have completed 2 years as of 2/2020. That is nearly 2 months too soon. IRCC warns you that it is YOUR responsibility to know when you are eligible. In your case, since we are talking about points for the 2nd year, if you received an invitation before you actually complete the 2nd year, you only need to wait and submit your PR application after you complete the 2nd year to get points for the 2nd year.

Thanks for your quick reponse! It makes sense too. I was on paid vacations so I will wait until the specified date and then submit my application post receiving ITA.

Thanks,
Jack

 

[Wolfpmd3]

Hello there,

I wanted to understand how Canadian work experience is calculated in EE under the CEC category by IRCC. After going through the official documentation, I got to know that it is calculated based on the number of weeks in a year and the amount of time worked in each week. for e.g. 1 year = 52 weeks = 52 * 30 hrs/ week = 1560 hrs

However, in my case, I am on a work permit and have been working in Canada since March 26, 2018, as a full-timer. with regard to this fact, I wanted to know below.

1. I was on multiple paid leaves during different months in my entire tenure in Canada which sums up to almost 2 months. Given it was paid leave, will these 2 months count under experience or I have to work for 2 more months here?
2. When will I complete 2 years? In the application form, we are asked to mention the month and not the date. so if I mention March 2018, will I complete 2 years in Feb 2020 or March 2020?

Thanks,
Jack

If your paid leaves are vacations then you are good to go, because those are your benefits and do count towards worked time.

If you started working on March 26, 2018, then you will have worked for 2 years on March 25, 2020. Actually March 23, 2020, is when the 2 years are considered completed (104 weeks).

Of course, when you complete your Express Entry Profile it will only care about the month. So once February 2020 is finished it will grant you the points for the full year. The IRCC calculator just takes into consideration the Month.

Having said so, you should wait until the actual 2 years have been completed (taking into consideration both the day and the month, not just the month) before submitting your final application (even if you receive the ITA before then). There are some people who have submitted it beforehand but you might be risking the officer not counting your second year and reducing these points which could lead to refusal of your application if you no longer meet your round's cut-off. You might also be lucky and save a couple of weeks. The question is, is it worth the risk just for a couple of weeks? My answer would be NOT.

Make sure to follow all the guidelines strictly and don't risk it just to save a few weeks. At the end, this is a lottery, and you might be lucky enough to have your PR within 40 days or you could end up like me having waited for 9 months already and still waiting for a final answer even though I was told 2 months ago that everything (Security-Eligibility-Criminality and Medicals) were all passed already.

Goodluck!

 

[Jack D]

If your paid leaves are vacations then you are good to go, because those are your benefits and do count towards worked time.

If you started working on March 26, 2018, then you will have worked for 2 years on March 25, 2020. Actually March 23, 2020, is when the 2 years are considered completed (104 weeks).

Of course, when you complete your Express Entry Profile it will only care about the month. So once February 2020 is finished it will grant you the points for the full year. The IRCC calculator just takes into consideration the Month.

Having said so, you should wait until the actual 2 years have been completed (taking into consideration both the day and the month, not just the month) before submitting your final application (even if you receive the ITA before then). There are some people who have submitted it beforehand but you might be risking the officer not counting your second year and reducing these points which could lead to refusal of your application if you no longer meet your round's cut-off. You might also be lucky and save a couple of weeks. The question is, is it worth the risk just for a couple of weeks? My answer would be NOT.

Make sure to follow all the guidelines strictly and don't risk it just to save a few weeks. At the end, this is a lottery, and you might be lucky enough to have your PR within 40 days or you could end up like me having waited for 9 months already and still waiting for a final answer even though I was told 2 months ago that everything (Security-Eligibility-Criminality and Medicals) were all passed already.

Goodluck!

Thanks for your reply!

 

[Jack D]

I have 2 follow up questions below.

1. What documents do I need to submit to prove I have 2 years of Canadian work experience?
2. a silly question please bear me- I landed in Canada on Mar 25, 2018 (Sunday) and started working from the very next day i.e Mar 26, 2018 (Monday). will IRCC count my experience from Mar 25th or 26th? the reason I am asking is- My work is terminating soon and I will be leaving Canada on Mar 15, 2020 . Considering this I will complete 103 weeks and 1 day on Mar 15, 2020. will IRCC raise a concern as I am not completing exactly 104 weeks to get the benefit of 2 years of Canadian work experience?

Thanks,
Jack

 

[Wolfpmd3]

I have 2 follow up questions below.

1. What documents do I need to submit to prove I have 2 years of Canadian work experience?
2. a silly question please bear me- I landed in Canada on Mar 25, 2018 (Sunday) and started working from the very next day i.e Mar 26, 2018 (Monday). will IRCC count my experience from Mar 25th or 26th? the reason I am asking is- My work is terminating soon and I will be leaving Canada on Mar 15, 2020 . Considering this I will complete 103 weeks and 1 day on Mar 15, 2020. will IRCC raise a concern as I am not completing exactly 104 weeks to get the benefit of 2 years of Canadian work experience?

Thanks,
Jack

It's hard to say, they will start counting from the 26th which is the day when you actually started working, being physically in Canada is a different thing.

Regarding the 2 years, IRCC is very clear that 1 year =52 weeks, if you're short one week you've technically not completed the 2 years and you're shouldn't technically get the points for the 2nd year.

For what I've seen there does exist certain flexibility in these regards as I explained in my earlier post, so I'm thinking you should be fine.

There might be someone who has experienced this and can attest to this. However, it's still a gamble an any officer could rightfully not count your 2nd year because you didn't actually completed it. I don't think they be as strict, but it might be impossible to predict.

 

[jes_ON]

I have 2 follow up questions below.

1. What documents do I need to submit to prove I have 2 years of Canadian work experience?
- Letter of reference from your employer, which includes exact start and end dates of employment, amongst other required details (job title, hours worked per week, salary/wage/remunderation, job duties and responsibilities).
- Other records such as T4, NOA, can include select paystubs (first, last/most recent, end of year).

See the section on Proof of Work Experience -
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/permanent-residence/express-entry/applications-received-on-after-january-1-2016-completeness-check.html

You can ask your company (HR) to send you a copy of your Record of Employment as well, although if they file electronically, they don´t have to give it to you because you can get it online from Service Canada.

2. a silly question please bear me- I landed in Canada on Mar 25, 2018 (Sunday) and started working from the very next day i.e Mar 26, 2018 (Monday). will IRCC count my experience from Mar 25th or 26th?

26th, of course, the day you started working. It is not based on the time you spend in Canada, it is based on the time spent working.

the reason I am asking is- My work is terminating soon and I will be leaving Canada on Mar 15, 2020 . Considering this I will complete 103 weeks and 1 day on Mar 15, 2020. will IRCC raise a concern as I am not completing exactly 104 weeks to get the benefit of 2 years of Canadian work experience?

Since you´re leaving on the 15th, likely your last day is the 13th (if not earlier) and it sounds like you will be closer to 2 weeks short. IRCC may forgive a couple of days, but doesn´t usually forgive a couple of weeks.

 

[Jack D]

Thank you! Information provided is indeed helpful.