Hi guys.
So I'm in a tough position. I know that some foreign workers have managed to claim EI benefits if they are layoff, as long as their WP is valid.
Well, I had a 1-year contract (and I have been working already in my lab for another year), I renewed my work permit, but the CIC officer only renewed it for 6 months cause I didn't checked but my passport was going to expire in 6 months, so I quickly got a new passport, and sent my work permit application again for the next 6 months.
The problem is, that since I was in a scientific environment (sometimes funding fades away), my lab was forced to lay off many people, including me. So here's the thing. My last day of work is the end of July 2013, my original contract (who had a disclaimer about end of contract if mutual agreement or lack of funding) ends in January 31st 2014. My work permit expires in mid July, but I already applied for an extension 2 months ago (I still think that it will take longer cause I submitted my application in paper via regular mail). I think the CIC officer will give me an extension of my work permit till Jan 2014, but it probably will come after July.
My question is, can I apply for EI benefits before my last day at work?....or would I have to wait until my extension arrives?, the thing is I heard that one has to apply for EI benefits shortly after being lay off, otherwise I may lose it. What if my permit arrives late in August?.
I plan to stay in Canada as I'm waiting for my PR (I submitted a Canadian Experience Class application last Feb, and I'm pretty sure I'll get the PR, I've been in Canada 9 yrs, have plenty of work experience and a PhD from a Canadian Uni). Besides I'm very lucky in terms of accommodations, so I don't spend that much money, and my current job pays well so I had contributed lots of EI money in the last year and 1/2, so I estimated that I can live very comfortably in Canada if I get EI (where I live I can get 55% of my annual income) while I look for jobs or my renewed WP expires in January 2014.
Any suggestions on how to approach this?, I really want to stay in Canada as my career is very difficult to find in my original country, If I go back I know it will 20 times harder to find a job, also I've been 9 yrs here, most of my 20s, I feel like a Canadian.
Thanks
p.s.: I am even more unlucky cause I heard that CIC officers went to strike...sigh
...that will delay my work permit even more!!
So I'm in a tough position. I know that some foreign workers have managed to claim EI benefits if they are layoff, as long as their WP is valid.
Well, I had a 1-year contract (and I have been working already in my lab for another year), I renewed my work permit, but the CIC officer only renewed it for 6 months cause I didn't checked but my passport was going to expire in 6 months, so I quickly got a new passport, and sent my work permit application again for the next 6 months.
The problem is, that since I was in a scientific environment (sometimes funding fades away), my lab was forced to lay off many people, including me. So here's the thing. My last day of work is the end of July 2013, my original contract (who had a disclaimer about end of contract if mutual agreement or lack of funding) ends in January 31st 2014. My work permit expires in mid July, but I already applied for an extension 2 months ago (I still think that it will take longer cause I submitted my application in paper via regular mail). I think the CIC officer will give me an extension of my work permit till Jan 2014, but it probably will come after July.
My question is, can I apply for EI benefits before my last day at work?....or would I have to wait until my extension arrives?, the thing is I heard that one has to apply for EI benefits shortly after being lay off, otherwise I may lose it. What if my permit arrives late in August?.
I plan to stay in Canada as I'm waiting for my PR (I submitted a Canadian Experience Class application last Feb, and I'm pretty sure I'll get the PR, I've been in Canada 9 yrs, have plenty of work experience and a PhD from a Canadian Uni). Besides I'm very lucky in terms of accommodations, so I don't spend that much money, and my current job pays well so I had contributed lots of EI money in the last year and 1/2, so I estimated that I can live very comfortably in Canada if I get EI (where I live I can get 55% of my annual income) while I look for jobs or my renewed WP expires in January 2014.
Any suggestions on how to approach this?, I really want to stay in Canada as my career is very difficult to find in my original country, If I go back I know it will 20 times harder to find a job, also I've been 9 yrs here, most of my 20s, I feel like a Canadian.
Thanks
p.s.: I am even more unlucky cause I heard that CIC officers went to strike...sigh
...that will delay my work permit even more!!