Do I Qualify? URGENT :( ...??

[devilz_shack]

Hi all,
Ok here we go.. I graduated from a 2 year accounting diploma and landed a job as a bookkeeper which qualifies under Skill level 'B'. This job lasted 7 months. Then after a break of 4-5 months, I took up a job as an assistant manager of a retail store. This job has nothing to do with accounting but i have been doing this job for more than 6 months now. If you go by NOCs, it qualifies for immigration under Skill type '0'.

I was going to combine the 2 jobs and show a combined experience of more than 12 months. I had my entire file prepared and was going to mail it tomorrow when a couple of my friends raised doubts by saying that the Assistant manager job wont qualify because i studied accounting.
Also they said that the 12 months of experience has to be continous and there cannot be a break in between. And then another guy said that it doesnt matter if I show my job as an assistant manager to qualify, but I can either show 12 months of accounting experience or 12 months of Assistant manager experience.

Even though i was pretty sure I qualify, I wont be able to send my file out till my doubts are cleared. I would really appreciate any help from you guys. I have to send my file in before 5th of May 2010. so its kind of urgent.


Thanks and have a great day

 

[jes_ON]

Hi Devilz,

With friends like that...

First, your degree and your employment do not have to match. An accounting degree working as an assistant manager is perfectly acceptable. Second, as long as both jobs are skilled (NOC O,A,B), no problem, they don't have to match either.

The comment about the 12 months continuous employment is interesting because it applies to the Federal Skilled Workers Program. And I could swear that it used to apply to CEC also. But it appears nowhere in any of the recent application materials, information, etc. So if it ever was true for CEC, it looks like it is not true any more. The information and instruction guides all say "equivalent" of 12 months of full-time employment. The most recent OP 25 explicitly states that work experience can be part-time and non-continuous. (see p. 22).

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op25-eng.pdf

Your biggest area of concern will be demonstrating that all your work experience was within 2 years of graduating, that your work was at least 37.5 hours per week (or equivalent), and that your education program meets the criteria.

 

[devilz_shack]

Hey Jes,
Thank you so much for the reply. You have no idea how much i appreciate it. I was going over the CEC requirements the entire night and I am atleast 113% sure that the experience doesnt have to be continous . Even though I was very sure I qualified, my "friends" were able to successfully confuse me.
From what i know (and from what I've gathered from various sources) the 2 year stipulation does not apply to my graduation. I have to show that my 12 months of experience was gained within 2 years prior to my application.

And I have been working full time, mostly more than 40 hrs a week. So it shouldn't be a problem. I will be sending out my file tomorrow.

Thank you. You the MAN !!

 

[jes_ON]

Whoops, you are right, "within 2 years" of the application date (not graduation date). Good luck!

 

[momokiwi]

hey....i have a question for you, you said you've been working full time, mostly more than 40 hrs a week. Should the maximum working hours per week be 40 hours? or if we work more than 40 hrs, the extra hours accounted for the hours we need (1950) for CEC?

thanks!!

 

[jes_ON]

No, 37.5 is a minimum number of hours, but if you work more hours per week, you cannot shorten the 2 year (104 weeks) requirement.

 

[momokiwi]

okay, so basically, the immigration officer will evaluate the application based on 54 weeks? not the 1950 hours?

 

[jes_ON]

Sigh. It will be evaluated on whether it meets both minimum requirements of 52 weeks and 1950 hours.