Employer reference letter - A nightmare to get

[fatehelps]

Cic has asked the candidates to submit employer reference letter after being invited to apply thro' EE system.

My question is, how does any employer provide a reference letter to a employee indicating job description and time of experience spent in each role in detail. Factually any employer wouldn't want their employee to leave them and hence I am stuck with how to go ahead and get this letter. My boss is not aware about this immigration application I am working on now.

Please suggest me some way to crack this situation. Thanks.

 

[fatehelps]

Will anyone respond??

 

[taffarel]

Will anyone respond??

Have you tried to get the letter from a co-worker?

 

[fatehelps]

Hello Taffarel,

I can prepare and print an appropriate letter on company's letter head myself. My question is who would sign?

If officially moved, I need to take it to the HR dept or my head of department who has the authority to sign. But I strongly feel they wouldn't sign.

I can ask a colleague of the same department to sign the letter and he/she would do. But will CiC contact the employer and verify? If my colleague is contacted, no worries. If my employer identifies that I tried to print this document and made another person to sign - the person who signed and I will be fired, into immediate effect.

So baffled !!

 

[Asivad Anac]

Hello Taffarel,

I can prepare and print an appropriate letter on company's letter head myself. My question is who would sign?

If officially moved, I need to take it to the HR dept or my head of department who has the authority to sign. But I strongly feel they wouldn't sign.

I can ask a colleague of the same department to sign the letter and he/she would do. But will CiC contact the employer and verify? If my colleague is contacted, no worries. If my employer identifies that I tried to print this document and made another person to sign - the person who signed and I will be fired, into immediate effect.

So baffled !!

Do not attempt to get an unauthorized personnel to sign on company letterhead - that is misrepresentation. If you are getting such a letter from a colleague, get it on a plain piece of paper and get it notarized. Take along your employment documents as proof if the notary wants to see those.

 

[Baljas]

I would suggest not to make a letter by yourself . Your best peg is to contact the Company hr and tell them clearly that u need refrence letter for immigration staring the roles . The letter will say you are still a employee and workin here from *** date to present .nothing wrong in that . U need to give it a try. I know it's like pulling teeth asking a refrence letter from a company u have worked for but I m sure if u approach properly u can defiantly get a letter from your current employer.

 

[Hansdza]

Do not attempt to get an unauthorized personnel to sign on company letterhead - that is misrepresentation. If you are getting such a letter from a colleague, get it on a plain piece of paper and get it notarized. Take along your employment documents as proof if the notary wants to see those.

My question is how will the CIC verify those letters and/or circumstances?

 

[Asivad Anac]

My question is how will the CIC verify those letters and/or circumstances?

That's a good question. Which is precisely why the ONLY foolproof method is to get a valid reference letter from the organization. In that case, CIC has all the inputs they need to decide on your case. Everything else is a workaround - there are non-zero chances of failure.

 

[fatehelps]

@ Asivad Anac & Hansdza :

Cic has clearly indicated to get employer reference letter in their letter heads. Notary not accepted.


@ Baljas :

As I already said my HR wouldn't give such letters when the employee is still serving. Moreover which employer would let their employee leave thro' their consent. My pay slips has got details about my start date with the company, can I produce a few pay slips and I can manage it.

My question is how will Cic verify these reference letters??

 

[Asivad Anac]

Yes. CIC does mandate that. And you state that you can't get one. What I suggested is a workaround. A lot of people have used it successfully to get their PRs. But it isn't a foolproof way. The only foolproof way is to get a reference letter in the format that CIC prescribes on their site.

By the same logic, CIC doesn't ask for pay stubs for non-Canadian work experience. Proof of salaries paid is pretty low on the hierarchy of things CIC is keen to know about your present and past employment. The most important factor for them is your job roles & responsibilities and how they align with the main duties of your chosen Primary NOC. And this is the most important criterion because under the FSWP grid, you are awarded up to 15 points based on this. Clearly, this cannot be proven by job offer letters/exit letters/experience letters (if they do not contain job responsibilities), pay stubs, tax assessment forms, employee id cards etc on their own or even collectively. What will work is a reference letter which outlines your roles & responsibilities and is signed by your HR/manager (printed on a company letterhead) or by colleague/ex-colleague/ex-supervisor/ex-HR (printed on a piece of paper and notarized to prove authenticity) which is precisely the workaround.

Of course, the workaround has to be supported by aforementioned documentation to further buttress your case and a Letter of Explanation (LOE) wherein you regret the unavailability of reference letter(s) in the required format, showcase all other evidences attached and politely request the officer to consider your application as complete and to process it on its merits.

Hope this clarifies. All the best!

 

[k3ndy]

CIC may do random checks at times and call employers during background checks.

I would also recommend to speak to HR. At this point, if you are thinking of such a big step as getting a PR, do you really want to risk not getting it for misrepresentation? How do you know they will not give it to you? Did they specifically say so? Cozy up to one of the HR people... I am sure they have come across similar cases before. It took me over a month to get all my employer letters ready so stop worrying about small stuff and just do it!

 

[Hansdza]

@ Asivad Anac & Hansdza :

Cic has clearly indicated to get employer reference letter in their letter heads. Notary not accepted.


@ Baljas :

As I already said my HR wouldn't give such letters when the employee is still serving. Moreover which employer would let their employee leave thro' their consent. My pay slips has got details about my start date with the company, can I produce a few pay slips and I can manage it.

My question is how will Cic verify these reference letters??

Asivad already answered your last question

Try to ask your supervisor or HR to give you employment letter. A letter stating that you are an employee of the company and has been working since xxxx. You are making xxxx Your job is xxxx and your roles/responsoblities are xxxx

Lots of people use that letter to get a loan/credit facility from a Bank . You can use that excuse to ask them.

Instead of writing it to a specific recipient. Just write To whom it may concern.

Again as Asivad said it s all about workaround. CIC just want to know that you do have that experience to give you points in your profile. As long as the substance is genuine. Formality wouldnt be problem I believe

 

[fatehelps]

@ Asivad anac :

Hmm sure it clarifies. Pay slips i meant I can provide as supporting documents to prove duration with the employer. Even cic has said it can be optionally attached. Thanks you've answering all my posts.

@ k3ndy:

It may appear small stuff but a source of worry. Thro' the HR even if they agree, I cannot customize the job roles to perfectly match noc roles. But as you said, I got more time to worry between.

 

[cookiedough]

Sorry for jumping in. I want to clarify:

If I get my direct manager to sign on the letter with company letterhead, mentioning my job position, full-time, start date and responsibilities, do I need it to be notarized?

 

[largepoint]

Sorry for jumping in. I want to clarify:

If I get my direct manager to sign on the letter with company letterhead, mentioning my job position, full-time, start date and responsibilities, do I need it to be notarized?

Nope, you can use it without notarization. But then make sure it is as per whatever process is to be followed within your company. If your manager is authorized to do so, no problems!