Letters of Reference Question. Please advise

[DirectEnergy]

I'm gathering my application package and have the following questions regarding letters of reference from past employers:

I worked as a graduate student for quite a while for my department. I know it does not count towards work experience for CEC. However, my work while I was a student still falls within three years back from today. Do I need to supply a detailed letter from my department stating hours (it was part time), responsibilities, salary, etc??

I have a short letter from them stating that I was a research/teaching assistant while studying from 2006 till 2010. I also have my notice of assessement and T4 from that time.

Please reply!

 

[ujbaby]

I'm gathering my application package and have the following questions regarding letters of reference from past employers:

I worked as a graduate student for quite a while for my department. I know it does not count towards work experience for CEC. However, my work while I was a student still falls within three years back from today. Do I need to supply a detailed letter from my department stating hours (it was part time), responsibilities, salary, etc??

I have a short letter from them stating that I was a research/teaching assistant while studying from 2006 till 2010. I also have my notice of assessement and T4 from that time.

Please reply!

yeah, u need all detailed job letters for the past 3 years

 

[bahadur30]

How important is to have Job duties listed on the reference letter for experience not accounted for CEC 2 years experience.

As required by CEC, we need to provide up to date reference letter on a company letter head with all details mentioned. They also required you to have job duties....but as per the criteria, you need only 2 years of Canadian experience for CEC and but still we have to provide reference letter for the 3rd year,.


so how important is to have job duties listed on the 3rd year of experience.?

 

[DirectEnergy]

yeah, u need all detailed job letters for the past 3 years

Thank you. I understand that this refers to Canadian jobs only, right?
I'm asking because I worked outside Canada for some time within those 3 years as well.

 

[RanjithP]

Thank you. I understand that this refers to Canadian jobs only, right?
I'm asking because I worked outside Canada for some time within those 3 years as well.

Yes, you need reference letters only for the Canadian jobs you held.

 

[mnjdev]

Thank you. I understand that this refers to Canadian jobs only, right?
I'm asking because I worked outside Canada for some time within those 3 years as well.

Reference letter from all the employers for the past 3 years not only canadian employers

 

[RanjithP]

Reference letter from all the employers for the past 3 years not only canadian employers

Guess I'd have to disagree. In the checklist, item 10 is clearly marked as "Work Experience in Canada". CIC only cares about your education/work experience in Canada that they have to validate to ensure you qualify under CEC.

 

[mnjdev]

Guess I'd have to disagree. In the checklist, item 10 is clearly marked as "Work Experience in Canada". CIC only cares about your education/work experience in Canada that they have to validate to ensure you qualify under CEC.

I agree CIC cares about work experience in canada. however, when they ask for 3 years of reference letter then if you are applying after 2 years which is the eligibility, then that means u r supposed to provide for 3 years
then why are they asking for 3 years for reference letters, when CEC requires only 2 years of experience? This clearly indicates they also require reference for that 1 previous year whether or not u worked here, they need the reference letter

 

[bahadur30]

Thats fine..you always have proof of employment but ...the real question here is ..Do they care of the reference letter is not in the format as required by them for the 3rd year.

 

[RanjithP]

I agree CIC cares about work experience in canada. however, when they ask for 3 years of reference letter then if you are applying after 2 years which is the eligibility, then that means u r supposed to provide for 3 years
then why are they asking for 3 years for reference letters, when CEC requires only 2 years of experience? This clearly indicates they also require reference for that 1 previous year whether or not u worked here, they need the reference letter

Hi mnjdev,

To qualify for CEC as per current rules, one needs "24 months of work Experience within the last 36 months". This is why you are asked for your experience over last 3 years or 36 months. As I pointed out before, the checklist clearly mentions it is for work experience in Canada. Also, if you look at IMM0008, it again asks for for 3 years of Canadian experience under "9. Your Work Experience in Canada". And if you see the text from Instruction Guide (copied below), again it is clearly mentioned that they are looking for any work experience you have over the past 3 years in Canada:

"Write details of your work experience in Canada.

List your occupations within the 3 years preceding the date your application is made starting with your current occupation."

 

[RanjithP]

Thats fine..you always have proof of employment but ...the real question here is ..Do they care of the reference letter is not in the format as required by them for the 3rd year.

Since you need only 24 months of qualifying work experience over last 36 months, I'd think its ok. You have the letters with all details to support that 24 months which you really need. But one can never be sure how a visa officer will interpret it when he/she looks at the application package. If you think any thing in the application 'may' cause confusion to the visa officer (i.e., trouble for us!), I'd think its better to clarify that in a cover letter.

Let's wait and see what the Senior members have to say.

 

[bahadur30]

Hi Ranjith,

That makes now sense to me. Yes for the 3rd year, you are obligated to provide reference letter but I am not sure how strict VO would be on reference letter.

If they have proper reference letter for 2 years of experience and CANADA and for 3rd year they have employment proof letter, it should be fine...

May be others can comment on this.

 

[SenoritaBella]

Ranjith is correct.

CIC is mostly interested in work experience obtained in Canada in the past 3 years for the Canadian Experience Class(CEC).

Whatever you did outside Canada, you can choose to include a employment letter(if you have it) or not, it's not a big deal. This information should be included in your "personal history" section of the background declaration form anyway since they want to know your activities in the past 10 years.

Therefore, if a foreign worker has only worked for 2 years in Canada - they have to provide employment letters that account for this 2 year experience. If you worked 2 or 3 different jobs to get the 2 year experience, then you have to provide letters from all those employers.


A foreign student only needs 1 year of full-time work experience - therefore the most impo

 

[IMMI_123]

I totally agree with Ranjth and senoritabella...even my lawyer friend also confirmed the same. We need to provide reference letters for Canadian experience ( any ways we list all our non-canandian experience in personal history).

 

[bahadur30]

Guys,

Yes I do accept we need to provide reference letter for Canadian Experience. However, my question is mainly how important is to have the proper reference letter as required CEC ( Salary / working hours/ Job Duties etcetc ) for the duration before 2 years.

e.g Take my example...
I work for a company XYZ from 27th April 2010 - 15 Nov 2010 - I have a employment proof letter having all details but not the job duties on it.

From 16th Nov 2010 - Present working for ABC company:2+ years)- I have a proper reference letter by my company .....

Yes it is important to have all reference letter for Canadian experience ...but how important is to have desired experience letter for the period which you are not counting for CEC eligibility.

Id you ask me - then it all depends upon VO. Different VO would interpret differently.