No Letter from Employer (Unskilled Job)

[sorrymontana]

Hi all,

I'm struggling to get an employment verification letter from one of my past employers where I worked as a secretary/receptionist (unskilled work experience) for 4.5 months. We parted on bad terms, the employer didn't pay me for the last 2 months of work and basically threatened me on the phone that if I try to cash the cheque that I had they would be accusing me of fraud. (yes, that happens). Having thought it over, I decided not to get involved in anything with them and just let it go.
Now, obviously, I don't ever want to see them again. I tried to email one of the owners about the employment letter, never got a reply. I'm ready to apply for CEC in 3 weeks.

What are the chances to get an application rejection if instead of an employment letter from one of the unskilled jobs I send copies of cheques, my NOA, copies of cheques to CRA (income tax) that I sent to CRA on the behalf of my employer and my explanation letter. I don't have a contract (I wasn't given any), I don't have paystubs (because they didn't issue any, the owner only signed cheques), don't have T4s (I created my own), don't have ROE (they didn't issue). Shall I explain the situation with leaving on bad terms, being unpaid for the last 2 months, threats in the letter or try to make it sound prettier?

All other employers that I had in the past 3 years- skilled and unskilled jobs- will write me employment letters.

 

[Cruiser55]

Hi all,

I'm struggling to get an employment verification letter from one of my past employers where I worked as a secretary/receptionist (unskilled work experience) for 4.5 months. We parted on bad terms, the employer didn't pay me for the last 2 months of work and basically threatened me on the phone that if I try to cash the cheque that I had they would be accusing me of fraud. (yes, that happens). Having thought it over, I decided not to get involved in anything with them and just let it go.
Now, obviously, I don't ever want to see them again. I tried to email one of the owners about the employment letter, never got a reply. I'm ready to apply for CEC in 3 weeks.

What are the chances to get an application rejection if instead of an employment letter from one of the unskilled jobs I send copies of cheques, my NOA, copies of cheques to CRA (income tax) that I sent to CRA on the behalf of my employer and my explanation letter. I don't have a contract (I wasn't given any), I don't have paystubs (because they didn't issue any, the owner only signed cheques), don't have T4s (I created my own), don't have ROE (they didn't issue). Shall I explain the situation with leaving on bad terms, being unpaid for the last 2 months, threats in the letter or try to make it sound prettier?

All other employers that I had in the past 3 years- skilled and unskilled jobs- will write me employment letters.

It is sad that you are in a situation like this.
But, if there is one thing that I have learned is to never burn your bridges. Even, if the end is abrupt, always keep in good books, because you never know when you will need them, moreover because, now you need them for your PR.

I suggest that despite what has happened, you should go and see them personally, no emails, no phone calls (battles are not won like that), go see them personally and even after that if you are met with a cold reception then send what you have got. Plus it is an unskilled work (not an eligibility criteria for CEC), plus they sound like crooks.

Let me know how it goes.

 

[jsm0085]

As long as you have ref for the skilled work and meet all the requirments you should be good.

Provide an explanation letter explaining the employer refused to give a ref. letter for this period of unskilled work and provide them with all of the employers details.

Good luck.

 

[noc4012]

You need letters for skilled work such that it adds up to 1 year of full-time work in the past three years. I do not know why you need letters for unskilled work because CIC will not credit you for that. All you need is mentioning it in your work history.

 

[Cruiser55]

You need letters for skilled work such that it adds up to 1 year of full-time work in the past three years. I do not know why you need letters for unskilled work because CIC will not credit you for that. All you need is mentioning it in your work history.

I agree with Noc4012 100%!!!!

 

[jsm0085]

They ask for reference letter for work experience for last three years in Canada. While the focus may be for only skilled work, they request differently. As I've suggested, an explanation letter will keep you right.

 

[Cruiser55]

Hi all,

I'm struggling to get an employment verification letter from one of my past employers where I worked as a secretary/receptionist (unskilled work experience) for 4.5 months. We parted on bad terms, the employer didn't pay me for the last 2 months of work and basically threatened me on the phone that if I try to cash the cheque that I had they would be accusing me of fraud. (yes, that happens). Having thought it over, I decided not to get involved in anything with them and just let it go.
Now, obviously, I don't ever want to see them again. I tried to email one of the owners about the employment letter, never got a reply. I'm ready to apply for CEC in 3 weeks.

What are the chances to get an application rejection if instead of an employment letter from one of the unskilled jobs I send copies of cheques, my NOA, copies of cheques to CRA (income tax) that I sent to CRA on the behalf of my employer and my explanation letter. I don't have a contract (I wasn't given any), I don't have paystubs (because they didn't issue any, the owner only signed cheques), don't have T4s (I created my own), don't have ROE (they didn't issue). Shall I explain the situation with leaving on bad terms, being unpaid for the last 2 months, threats in the letter or try to make it sound prettier?

All other employers that I had in the past 3 years- skilled and unskilled jobs- will write me employment letters.

Dude,
I understand your concern. Like many people have said on here, just sent them a letter of explanation and you will be fine. I am sure about that. In this country, getting laid off, fired, leaving on a bad, good note is a part of everyday life. So, your explanation will be well taken care of by the officials. Just make sure you provide all other relevant documents. that's all

 

[isabox]

Hi all,

I'm struggling to get an employment verification letter from one of my past employers where I worked as a secretary/receptionist (unskilled work experience) for 4.5 months. We parted on bad terms, the employer didn't pay me for the last 2 months of work and basically threatened me on the phone that if I try to cash the cheque that I had they would be accusing me of fraud. (yes, that happens). Having thought it over, I decided not to get involved in anything with them and just let it go.
Now, obviously, I don't ever want to see them again. I tried to email one of the owners about the employment letter, never got a reply. I'm ready to apply for CEC in 3 weeks.

What are the chances to get an application rejection if instead of an employment letter from one of the unskilled jobs I send copies of cheques, my NOA, copies of cheques to CRA (income tax) that I sent to CRA on the behalf of my employer and my explanation letter. I don't have a contract (I wasn't given any), I don't have paystubs (because they didn't issue any, the owner only signed cheques), don't have T4s (I created my own), don't have ROE (they didn't issue). Shall I explain the situation with leaving on bad terms, being unpaid for the last 2 months, threats in the letter or try to make it sound prettier?

All other employers that I had in the past 3 years- skilled and unskilled jobs- will write me employment letters.

You do not really need letters for Unskilled jobs. Only the skilled jobs get counted. Make sure, you have one year of skilled work experience.

 

[Winterfox]

Montana ..
You don't need to meet them and convince them for any reference letter at all as ur job was unskilled .
Let this go by.
Besides this hope u have 1 year + of skilled work ex?

 

[sorrymontana]

Thank you all for your answers. My view was, letters of employment are required from ALL employers for the last 3 years, incl unskilled work. I'll have one year of skilled experience at a different company -Education Supervisor- by May 15 (in two weeks).

I think what I'll try to do is visit their office and try to talk to them politely, if I get a "no" answer, then I'll give up and write an explanation letter to Immigration officers describing my attempts to contact my past employer. I'll send an email to the guys (they won't respond) and I'll attach the copy of this email as evidence that I tried to contact them. Right now my biggest concern is that if immigration officer decides to contact them to verify my employment, these two owners (who are the only employees of the company at the same time) may mispresent information about my employment.

Sounds like a thriller movie.

 

[noc4012]

They require experience letters from all employers for the past 3 years, but they only require letters for skilled work to give you credit for 1 year to meet CEC criteria. They only need to know whether you were working here legally the whole time. Your big concern is letters for skilled work such that they match NOC codes you are applying for and which match the work permit you have.

Is your work permit open or closed?

As for this silly employer, my suggestion is to contact them by e-mail. This way you have documented evidence that you tried to get the letter. If they reply with no in writing, great for CIC. If they just ignore you, you can follow up with few reminders. As long as your e-mails are as polite and professional as they can get, you can show that they declined to provide the letter without reasonable grounds. Then you can write a letter explaining to CIC that this employer will not give you any letter despite your attempts (which you have proof of). CIC will then not really care so much because it's unskilled work which does not count for CEC anyway.

 

[sorrymontana]

I have an open 3 year post-graduate work permit which expires in July 2014.

I worked for these two "silly" guys without a contract and they didn't want to do payroll. At the "interview" we just orally agreed they'd pay me $19/ hour and I'll me somewhat receptionist/secretary at their office. I asked them if they'd do all necesary paperwork and they assured it'll be 100% legal.

When I started working, they claimed they can just give me cheques as they are a small business and are not obliged to do payroll. Because I was personally interested in making it look as legal as possible, I ended up registering their company with CRA for payroll and sending cheques with income tax signed by the owner. I counted my hours, and gave the pay cheques for the owner to sign. No vacation pay as I didn't know how to do that. I created my own T4s but didn't send another copy to CRA on the behalf of my employer because I didn't know at that point this is something companies are supposed to do and my employer obviously didn't bother. They always asked me to wait with depositing my pay cheques as they didn't have enough money on their account. No need to say, our relationship was very informal: they were immigrants in the past with common background, so they would commonly yell at me, or borrow money from me.

When I finally got a real job offer and told them I'm quitting, one of the owners yelled at me. I told him I'm depositing the cheque for the last two months that I was holding on to as he asked me not to deposit it as they (again!) didn't have enough money on their account. He said if I do that, he'll claim that I stole the empty cheques from him and he'll report me to the police. He said I already got all money I deserved. When I suggested to meet and check through online banking how much money I got, how many cheques I deposited and how much they owe me, he hang up. I tried to arrange a meeting with the other guy but he kept postponing it and inviting me to the streap club instead. I gave up. It all happened last summer. I emailed them asking to pay me the money that they owed me, the guy called me and literally said "WTF?" I called Alberta Employment-something asking what I should do, they advised me to write a complaint. I never did because my friends-lawyers advised me not to, if they do accuse me of something i didn't do, and even if I'm cleared, I'll still have a police record of being accused of something. Good bye, immigration then. I applied to get a Record of Employment from them through Alberta- Employment in May 2012, but I never heard from them so far. I guess they were not successful either.

So yeah, it's technically a legal job but not that much. I said good bye to almost $3000 they owe me and I don't wish these guys to get in trouble, I just want to get my paperwork done.

 

[Cruiser55]

This is so bad to hear! Cannot believe that this happens here as well.

Anyway, I suggest that you forget about the money they owe you, cause if the money comes it will come with more trouble for you that you do not need. I am sorry to say this and I know that it is easier said than done.

But, dude, you have an open work permit till July 2014, why did you choose to put up with this shit!

Anyway, it is good thing not to get involved with the police, it is true, whether cleared or not, you will have a record and it will interfere in your immigration.

 

[sorrymontana]

Thanks for understanding. I forgot about the money they owed me long ago, I'm just worried that they stand in the way of my immigration by saying wrong things about me to immigration officers, so my dilemma is whether I should keep trying to get a letter from them and stir the pot again (and let them know I'm desperate to get their help) or if I should not remind them of myself and write an explanation letter to immigration officers.

The reason why I chose to "put up with this" over a year ago was that I needed any kind of temporary job to pay my bills. They seemed to be good guys. And of course I wasn't careful enough by not trying to get all paperwork done while I was still working for them. But I learned my lesson, everything should be done on time and you should never burn the bridges.

 

[vijayarr]

Similarly, I worked a unskilled job. I never produced a reference letter for that job. This is what I did , I did mot mention this job in the schedule 8 form (because if you ,mention it there them you must provide a letter of reference for that job). If you read the instruction guide it clearly states that we should mention only skilled jobs in that form. But however I mentioned about this work in my personal history schedule A background history form and clearly wrote a cover letter explaining all my activities since i was 18 and the NOA is evidence that I worked that jobs so you can attach that. I personally think that everyone should stick to this and do it this way because this is what is expected according to the instruction guide. Don't over work yourself and over complicate things like that. I've been in similar situations. I totally understand where your coming from.