CEC Work Experience gained while on year out from University

[Gareth29]

Hi everyone,

Sorry if this question has already been asked but I couldn't find the exact topic.

So I applied for the Canadian Experience Class permanent residence in October 2014 and they just took out my processing fee payment. I know it says on the CIC website that work experience gained while in full time education doesn't count towards the requirements for CEC. However I was in Dublin and I asked a Canadian Visa Specialist about this and I was advised that as long as it was full time paid work experience then it will count towards the requirement. So what I want to know is if this information is correct?

A bit of background about myself and my application includes:

I studied Mechanical Engineering at Queens University Belfast in the United Kingdom.
I took a year out after my second year of study to come to Canada and gain work experience. I achieved a full time job on a year basis and I later received a permanent job offer with the same company after I graduate from my final year where I am now currently employed.
I organized the whole placement myself and it was nothing to do with the university.
I came over to work on an open work permit (working holiday).

Any insight would be much appreciated, I really hope my experience counts and it will be approved.

Thanks

 

[MONKUCHA]

IT IS OK.
YOU WERE STUDY IN UK NOT IN CANADA.
ONLY THOSE WHO STUDY IN CANADA HAS TO GAIN AN EXPERIENCE AFTER GRADUATION. EXPERIENCE GAINED DURING STUDY (INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN CANADA) DOESN'T COUNT.

 

[Gareth29]

Thanks for your response. That makes me feel a little better just have to keep my fingers crossed now.

 

[jes_ON]

If you took a year off from school, then during that year, you were not a full-time student. Correct? Then the work experience counts. And as Monkucha points out, the concern for the CEC program is whether you were student in Canada (even though that is not specified).

 

[Gareth29]

Well it was part of my program to take a year out if I wanted too. As in I didn't have to take the year out. However the university took nothing to do with me leaving I only had to pay them to keep my position for final year when I returned.

It is a bit confusing as they don't state that it only doesn't count if you study in Canada. But it was a one year contract of full time paid work and a visa specialist told me that it will qualify for this reason. Just nerve wrecking having to wait so long, but I guess everyone is in the same boat.