Hi,
I know that in order to claim points for the one year of Canadian work experience, that work experience must have been obtain legally in Canada, i.e. with a valid work permit.
However, while I was working under a work permit, I also took some language courses now and then. At most once a week, couple of hours, for a couple of months at a time. No certificate obtained. I had honestly thought this was allowed by my work permit (especially since I know that you cannot obtain a study permit for just these courses), as it was occasional, irregular, short term, and, imo not 'academic, professional or vocational training course'. Now I realize this may not be the case and taking these language courses without a proper study permit may have been, in fact, illegal.
I have two very important questions:
1) Was it in fact illegal?
2) Since I took those courses while on my work permit, assuming it was illegal to do so, does this invalidate all the work experience that I obtained under that work permit (for the sake of counting points)? i.e. Since I breached the terms of my work permit then, would CIC consider that this work permit was terminated at the moment I started taking courses illegally, and therefore, any work performed after I started taking these courses was itself illegal and not-elligible for CEC?
I'm starting to worry very much about this. Question 2) I'm especially worried about. Even if the answer to 1) is negative, if anyone has some information that could help answer this, I would be much grateful!
I know that in order to claim points for the one year of Canadian work experience, that work experience must have been obtain legally in Canada, i.e. with a valid work permit.
However, while I was working under a work permit, I also took some language courses now and then. At most once a week, couple of hours, for a couple of months at a time. No certificate obtained. I had honestly thought this was allowed by my work permit (especially since I know that you cannot obtain a study permit for just these courses), as it was occasional, irregular, short term, and, imo not 'academic, professional or vocational training course'. Now I realize this may not be the case and taking these language courses without a proper study permit may have been, in fact, illegal.
I have two very important questions:
1) Was it in fact illegal?
2) Since I took those courses while on my work permit, assuming it was illegal to do so, does this invalidate all the work experience that I obtained under that work permit (for the sake of counting points)? i.e. Since I breached the terms of my work permit then, would CIC consider that this work permit was terminated at the moment I started taking courses illegally, and therefore, any work performed after I started taking these courses was itself illegal and not-elligible for CEC?
I'm starting to worry very much about this. Question 2) I'm especially worried about. Even if the answer to 1) is negative, if anyone has some information that could help answer this, I would be much grateful!
