Reference Letter

[Catie1989]

Hi guys,

My husband and I have an ITA through the CEC express entry process. They are asking for reference letters for all of our work history. One of our work histories was an UNPAID INTERNSHIP in the USA for which we didn't have a visa, as the company we interned with have said their company policy is to not involve themselves with any visa processes. They don't even involve themselves in Canadian visa processes, this means that we are unable to get the reference letter and nor do we have pay stubs.

Have we shot ourselves in the foot by putting unpaid work on our EE profile and if so does that mean that our only option now is to decline the invitation, amend the EE profile and hope for another ITA?

The internship doesn't add to our points as it is low skilled and irrelevant to either the CEC or FSW categories that we meet criteria for.

Have we made a mistake in even mentioning an unpaid position in the first place?

Really hoping some light can be shed on our situation, and hoping it's good news and that we don't have to decline the ITA :/

Thanks!

 

[Catie1989]

We do also have contracts signed by us for the duration of our internship. Will this plus a letter of explanation of the companies policy suffice in lieu of a reference letter?

 

[Telitos]

1 Up. I would really like to know the answer to that question as well.

 

[madlouni]

Hi guys,

My husband and I have an ITA through the CEC express entry process. They are asking for reference letters for all of our work history. One of our work histories was an UNPAID INTERNSHIP in the USA for which we didn't have a visa, as the company we interned with have said their company policy is to not involve themselves with any visa processes. They don't even involve themselves in Canadian visa processes, this means that we are unable to get the reference letter and nor do we have pay stubs.

Have we shot ourselves in the foot by putting unpaid work on our EE profile and if so does that mean that our only option now is to decline the invitation, amend the EE profile and hope for another ITA?

The internship doesn't add to our points as it is low skilled and irrelevant to either the CEC or FSW categories that we meet criteria for.

Have we made a mistake in even mentioning an unpaid position in the first place?

Really hoping some light can be shed on our situation, and hoping it's good news and that we don't have to decline the ITA :/

Thanks!

You don't really need to tell why you are asking for reference letter
It is your right to have a written document stating your duties and title during your working period at one company regardless to whether it was paid or unpaid.

Since you already approached the company and they got afraid of providing a letter, you can simply print the copy of that email saying they wont provide a letter + use whatever you have that can prove the info you put on your EE profile to IRCC with an explanation letter

That will do it

Depending under what skill you are applying and what country you are residing in the situation will differ​

Example: If you applied under CEC with at least 12 months of work experience inside CANADA then whatever you have outside Canada is not very important specially that what you are trying to get a letter for is an internship so not actual paid full time job.



For future, any volunteering, internship or work you do somewhere, at the end ALWAYS ask for a reference letter and keep it with you

Good luck