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Self-employed experience (startup company) for an International Student

R

Red and Black

Hero Member
Mar 12, 2012
284
36
Hello,

This is in regards to self-employment and Express Entry system, and I am hoping someone can assist me here.

My brother (who is an international student in Canada) plans to work with me in my startup after his graduation (he is doing undergrad here in ON) and after getting his Post Grad Work Permit. He will be included as a Director and Shareholder in the Articles of Incorporation.

We will also be able to get letters from customers and other third party individuals/companies who should be able to attest my brother's experience.

My question is will this experience (assuming he applies after 1 year) qualify as a valid Canadian Work Experience, and help him get points in the Express Entry system?

Looking forward to your response. Thank you.
 
Red and Black said:
Hello,

This is in regards to self-employment and Express Entry system, and I am hoping someone can assist me here.

My brother (who is an international student in Canada) plans to work with me in my startup after his graduation (he is doing undergrad here in ON) and after getting his Post Grad Work Permit. He will be included as a Director and Shareholder in the Articles of Incorporation.

We will also be able to get letters from customers and other third party individuals/companies who should be able to attest my brother's experience.

My question is will this experience (assuming he applies after 1 year) qualify as a valid Canadian Work Experience, and help him get points in the Express Entry system?

Looking forward to your response. Thank you.
Click to expand...

My suggestion is, your brother should work in a regular job to meet CIC guidelines until he is under immigration control as there can be lots of restrictions with regards to self employment and starting a business.

Another option is for you to start your company and employ your brother.
 
Thank you for the responses. Are you referring to this clause under CEC category (within the umbrella of Express Entry)?

Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (for example, on a co-op work term) does not count under this program.

Typically Self-employment experience counts but it appears it does not count if applying using the requirements of CEC...and for International Students, CEC is still the most suitable category... correct?

xpressentry, can you kindly expand on this?

Another option is for you to start your company and employ your brother.

I didnt think of it and I think its a great suggestion. However, wouldn't the CIC see it with a grain of salt even if the job will be real and he will be doing actual work. Perhaps the CIC's doubts may be cleared if we provide sufficient documentation... your thoughts?

Thank you
 
I'll put it this way, whether he applies under the CEC program or FSW program he will not gain ANY CRS points whatsoever from self-employment in Canada.

IF he's an employee and performs the duties of a skilled job then he might be fine if the officer truly believes that such was the case.
 
Red and Black said:
Thank you for the responses. Are you referring to this clause under CEC category (within the umbrella of Express Entry)?

Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (for example, on a co-op work term) does not count under this program.

Typically Self-employment experience counts but it appears it does not count if applying using the requirements of CEC...and for International Students, CEC is still the most suitable category... correct?

xpressentry, can you kindly expand on this?

Another option is for you to start your company and employ your brother.

I didnt think of it and I think its a great suggestion. However, wouldn't the CIC see it with a grain of salt even if the job will be real and he will be doing actual work. Perhaps the CIC's doubts may be cleared if we provide sufficient documentation... your thoughts?

Thank you
Click to expand...

I meant that you are the boss and you employ your brother. IMO, it will be considered nepotism if you are comfortable with that label.
 
Red and Black said:
My brother (who is an international student in Canada) plans to work with me in my startup after his graduation (he is doing undergrad here in ON) and after getting his Post Grad Work Permit. He will be included as a Director and Shareholder in the Articles of Incorporation.

This would make him a co-owner and the work experience would be excluded as self-employed.

Even if you did not make him an owner and employed him, it would likely raise red flags that he is your brother, unless there are a substantial number of other employees.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for the responses.

So given the circumstances, what are his best options for PR? I guess self-employment is out of the window now. We will likely have other employees and directors in the startup who can also vouch for his experience.

And any idea as to how many points will he likely get under the EE system (assuming he has gathered one year skilled experience and applies under the CEC category as he is an international student)? He is also fluent in english.

Thank you

P.S. Mr. delpiero... enjoy another exit at the hands of barcelona :)
 
Red and Black said:
Thank you for the responses.

So given the circumstances, what are his best options for PR? I guess self-employment is out of the window now. We will likely have other employees and directors in the startup who can also vouch for his experience.

And any idea as to how many points will he likely get under the EE system (assuming he has gathered one year skilled experience and applies under the CEC category as he is an international student)? He is also fluent in english.

Thank you

P.S. Mr. delpiero... enjoy another exit at the hands of barcelona :)
Click to expand...

Does he have any foreign work experience? Not self employment, but regular job something he can prove? In that case he can try FSW stream

Also we cannot guess how many points he will get. Use the CRS calculator on CIC website to get an idea
 
No he does not have any foreign experience. He is an international student here in Canada so I believe the best category for him would be CEC, correct?
 
Red and Black said:
So given the circumstances, what are his best options for PR?

His BEST option would be to work for one year with an established employer.

And any idea as to how many points will he likely get under the EE system
This site explains how points are awarded -
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/express-entry/grid-crs.asp

And there are online calculators he can use to get an estimate -
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/crs-tool.asp
Click to expand...
 
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