Out of work and can only apply for BOWP in September.

[tery1461]

Hello folks,
I have a current WP which expires in January (2015) however I am no longer employed with the company my WP was assigned to. My understand is come September I would be eligible to apply for a BOWP however I may not be able to support myself here financially till September/ October.

I'm considering leaving Canada and possibly coming back early september to apply for the BOWP, would that be a problem? would there be challenges with the border agents when I return? what other options do I have?

please note: I have applied for PR via CEC in late May 2014.

thanks

 

[thisisauser]

You will only be eligible for BOWP if you are applying from Canada which means you would have to make sure you can obtain a TRV when you return in September. Either visitor (because of in progress PR application) or Worker. The latter might be an issue at the time of entry given you are not employed.

Have you considered EI? It might help you until September.

 

[tery1461]

am i eligible to apply for EI?

 

[thisisauser]

am i eligible to apply for EI?

Most likely yes. Check the requirements here:

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/types/regular.shtml#eligible

 

[tery1461]

ok thanks, I will go to Service Canada in the morning

 

[MenicMonday]

You can also do it online, much faster I think.
Did you get severance pay?

 

[tery1461]

i was terminated without a reason, my letter did not specify, i got a check for the week i worked and one week notice. absolutely no reason or explanation for me being terminated. is that normal???

 

[MenicMonday]

They don't need a reason, only that they should give you 2 weeks notice (or give you 2 weeks pay at a minimum) <- these are for Ontario btw.

 

[tery1461]

ok thanks for that information, I'm not too concerned about that at this point, #1 on my list is being able to remain here till i can apply for a BOWP in september.

 

[LPS]

EI on a closed work permit? Let us know how that turns out.

A principle of EI is that you have to be 'available for work'.

 

[iamelle]

am i eligible to apply for EI?

Yes you are! My husband was in the same position as you. But we decided to stay and wait till May(last month) to apply for BOWP. I am the principal applicant but my open work permit before was based on the closed work permit of my husband.

Right now we both have our open work permits and my husband is on EI. At first it was disapproved but he wrote a letter of explanation and after a couple of days, it was approved and got it directly deposited to his account.

 

[MenicMonday]

EI on a closed work permit? Let us know how that turns out.

A principle of EI is that you have to be 'available for work'.

I was able to get approved for that; it took a while 'coz I had to show the AoR.
No harm in trying, there's no fee in applying anyway. Let them disapprove you rather than make assumptions.

 

[tery1461]

Thanks for all the information folks, I applied for EI electronically today, I will update regularly.

thanks

 

[LPS]

I was able to get approved for that; it took a while 'coz I had to show the AoR.
No harm in trying, there's no fee in applying anyway. Let them disapprove you rather than make assumptions.

Of course. A closed work permit is not a complete deal-breaker. But it does make things more complicated:

A person whose work permit includes a restriction that only allows them to work for a specific employer, is not normally considered to be available to accept work, and may be disentitled from collecting benefits. However, the simple fact that the work permit restricts the worker to one employer is not the only factor to be considered when determining the claimant's availability.

It is important to fact find and take all factors into consideration before determining that a foreign worker is unavailable because their work permit restricts their employment to one employer. Before making a determination, it is necessary to obtain a declaration from the claimant regarding their availability. In addition, the claimant must show that once they receive an offer of employment from a new employer, CIC will remove the restriction on their work permit.

Source: Digest of Benefit Entitlement Principles - Chapter 10 - Availability For Work

 

[tery1461]

I had a sit down with Service Canada today and Long story short EI denied, I need a plan X, Y, or Z please.