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Reference letter from coworker, Question!

gm_1215

Star Member
Mar 14, 2013
77
26
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
NOC Code......
1221
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Mar 14, 2013
Doc's Request.
RPRF/BIODATA Dec 31, 2013
AOR Received.
Apr 23, 2013
Med's Request
Dec 31, 2013
Med's Done....
Jan 3, 2014
Passport Req..
Visa Exempt
VISA ISSUED...
Jan 20, 2014
LANDED..........
Jan 20, 2014
Since I joined this forum, I found out my reference letter from previous boss would not be enough.
I already sent out applications, but I want to submit more detailed ones with explanation letter after AOR.
So I got a letter from ex-coworker, she kindly did it for me, with her business card and company letterhead!
I don't know she could use company letterhead? It looks really great though :D
Is it okay to proceed? Or I can ask her to use plain paper.

Any ideas would be really appreciated! Thank you in advance!
 

seton

Hero Member
Jun 6, 2012
513
61
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
04-06-2012
AOR Received.
05-11-2012
Med's Request
15-02-2013
Med's Done....
21-02-2013
Passport Req..
04-04-2013
VISA ISSUED...
22-04-2013
LANDED..........
03-05-2013
gm_1215 said:
Since I joined this forum, I found out my reference letter from previous boss would not be enough.
I already sent out applications, but I want to submit more detailed ones with explanation letter after AOR.
So I got a letter from ex-coworker, she kindly did it for me, with her business card and company letterhead!
I don't know she could use company letterhead? It looks really great though :D
Is it okay to proceed? Or I can ask her to use plain paper.

Any ideas would be really appreciated! Thank you in advance!
Legally, she should not be writing a letter as a former employee on company stationery - that would be representative herself as an agent of the company.
 

gm_1215

Star Member
Mar 14, 2013
77
26
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
NOC Code......
1221
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Mar 14, 2013
Doc's Request.
RPRF/BIODATA Dec 31, 2013
AOR Received.
Apr 23, 2013
Med's Request
Dec 31, 2013
Med's Done....
Jan 3, 2014
Passport Req..
Visa Exempt
VISA ISSUED...
Jan 20, 2014
LANDED..........
Jan 20, 2014
She is still with company, not me...
Of course she has a bunch of empty thick papers with company letterhead.
So do you guys think plain paper would be better?
 

gm_1215

Star Member
Mar 14, 2013
77
26
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
NOC Code......
1221
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Mar 14, 2013
Doc's Request.
RPRF/BIODATA Dec 31, 2013
AOR Received.
Apr 23, 2013
Med's Request
Dec 31, 2013
Med's Done....
Jan 3, 2014
Passport Req..
Visa Exempt
VISA ISSUED...
Jan 20, 2014
LANDED..........
Jan 20, 2014
caissaca said:
Letters must be from responsible officer/supervisor.
I already have refrence letter sent out to CIO from former supervisor, I just want to add detailed duties from coworker. It just happened to be "too" good...
 

seton

Hero Member
Jun 6, 2012
513
61
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
04-06-2012
AOR Received.
05-11-2012
Med's Request
15-02-2013
Med's Done....
21-02-2013
Passport Req..
04-04-2013
VISA ISSUED...
22-04-2013
LANDED..........
03-05-2013
gm_1215 said:
She is still with company, not me...
Of course she has a bunch of empty thick papers with company letterhead.
So do you guys think plain paper would be better?
Ah - my apologies.

Note that regardless, HR may have issues if she's issuing reference letters on company letterheads. Honestly I don't think the CIC will care, as the reference letter requirements per the doc checklist require that the letter be "signed by the responsible officer/supervisor." I think the bigger question is whether they will use the letter from a co-worker (regardless of the letterhead).

You mentioned that your previous letter was "too good" - did he just copy the duties from the NOC code?
 

jsm0085

Champion Member
Feb 26, 2012
2,665
293
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
If you have already provided a reference letter from the company in question, that doesn't meet the exact requirements laid out by CIC, no harm will come to you in providing this letter.

At best, it will help your application and worse case, they will not take it into account, which I highly doubt.

Send it - she works for the company and she has agreed to write it. It being printed on the company letterhead is far better than it being on plain paper.

Good luck.
 

gm_1215

Star Member
Mar 14, 2013
77
26
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
NOC Code......
1221
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Mar 14, 2013
Doc's Request.
RPRF/BIODATA Dec 31, 2013
AOR Received.
Apr 23, 2013
Med's Request
Dec 31, 2013
Med's Done....
Jan 3, 2014
Passport Req..
Visa Exempt
VISA ISSUED...
Jan 20, 2014
LANDED..........
Jan 20, 2014
seton said:
Ah - my apologies.

Note that regardless, HR may have issues if she's issuing reference letters on company letterheads. Honestly I don't think the CIC will care, as the reference letter requirements per the doc checklist require that the letter be "signed by the responsible officer/supervisor." I think the bigger question is whether they will use the letter from a co-worker (regardless of the letterhead).

You mentioned that your previous letter was "too good" - did he just copy the duties from the NOC code?
Too good is from my coworker, not from boss unfortunately...
I used to work for one of canadian major banks. In my case, on my reference letter, duties and responsibilities are not detailed.
For instance, "Sell financial solutions using financial planning approach to customer needs" It won't be good to VO... (NOC 6235)
It rather should be "open new accounts"
 

gm_1215

Star Member
Mar 14, 2013
77
26
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
NOC Code......
1221
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Mar 14, 2013
Doc's Request.
RPRF/BIODATA Dec 31, 2013
AOR Received.
Apr 23, 2013
Med's Request
Dec 31, 2013
Med's Done....
Jan 3, 2014
Passport Req..
Visa Exempt
VISA ISSUED...
Jan 20, 2014
LANDED..........
Jan 20, 2014
jsm0085 said:
If you have already provided a reference letter from the company in question, that doesn't meet the exact requirements laid out by CIC, no harm will come to you in providing this letter.

At best, it will help your application and worse case, they will not take it into account, which I highly doubt.

Send it - she works for the company and she has agreed to write it. It being printed on the company letterhead is far better than it being on plane paper.

Good luck.
Thank you so much! Good luck to you too :)
 

tbll

Star Member
Feb 20, 2013
87
0
We are on the same boat as my branch manager only stated: "TO PROVIDE DAY TO DAY BANKING SOLUTIONS AND INVESTMENT OPTIONS TO CLIENT"
My title was Financial Services Manager.

it was SOOOO hard to get the reference letter from a bank!
 

jsm0085

Champion Member
Feb 26, 2012
2,665
293
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
tbll said:
We are on the same boat as my branch manager only stated: "TO PROVIDE DAY TO DAY BANKING SOLUTIONS AND INVESTMENT OPTIONS TO CLIENT"
My title was Financial Services Manager.

it was SOOOO hard to get the reference letter from a bank!
If that's all that was outlined in the ref. letter in relation to duties, you should be nervous.

Being honest, unless you provided a lot of supporting documents to the contrary, you should probably prepare yourself for a possible refusal.
 

gm_1215

Star Member
Mar 14, 2013
77
26
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
NOC Code......
1221
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Mar 14, 2013
Doc's Request.
RPRF/BIODATA Dec 31, 2013
AOR Received.
Apr 23, 2013
Med's Request
Dec 31, 2013
Med's Done....
Jan 3, 2014
Passport Req..
Visa Exempt
VISA ISSUED...
Jan 20, 2014
LANDED..........
Jan 20, 2014
tbll said:
We are on the same boat as my branch manager only stated: "TO PROVIDE DAY TO DAY BANKING SOLUTIONS AND INVESTMENT OPTIONS TO CLIENT"
My title was Financial Services Manager.

it was SOOOO hard to get the reference letter from a bank!
Banks are not cooperative, I even waited for two months for stupid ref letter from my former boss.
I don't know how others get letters... I heard formal HR policy is not to support any immigrant issues.
I will send out this coworker's letter (now I have two, one with company letterhead and plain paper, I haven't decide which one to send)
I don't think cic would call coworker, since they have letter from my supervisor, they should call supervisor to verify.
Also I am planning to attach a copy of ific certification.. of course after AOR...
Maybe one more letter from anther coworker,, I just don't know how to word differently,, I am still thinking...
If you think yours are not enough, ask your coworker and do the same thing I am doing right now. I totally understand how you feel...
Good luck!!
 

tbll

Star Member
Feb 20, 2013
87
0
when did you send out your application?
yes, i think you should attach your ific certificate, also, you may want to attch the job posting description.
i'm not sure if i will put my co-workers in a risky spot by asking them wrie a letter with comapny head.
By the way, was you doing lending when you were emplyed??