Question on hours worked

[crama123]

Hello

In the 2yrs worked in Canada, if I am away from Canada for 5 weeks(Out of which I was working from my home country for 4 weeks on the same canadian project and 1 week paid vacation) do I have to wait for 2yr 5 weeks before file my application under CEC ?


thank you!!

[jes_ON]

Usually, a business trip and a paid vacation would not be cause for concern, you would not have to "deduct" the time.  The fact that you were in your home country, at home, might raise a question mark, but if your employer verifies that you were on company time, it should be OK.

But just a word of caution about applying too soon - people have miscalculated their eligibility date and applied as soon as they thought they could - only to find that CIC calculated it differently and they applied before they were eligible (application rejected).  My only point is - unless you have a really good reason to cut it close, don't cut it too close - give your application a little breathing room!

[Torap]

Hi crama123 ,

What Jes_on said is right, as you are getting paid you should have payslips generated during your vacation which adds to the number of hours. Better to be on a safer side. But, if you are in a hurry, you can take the risk.

Good luck!!

[aussiemama]

Agree with Jes_On & Torap.

It's all going to come down to the hours you log via payslip.  CIC count a full time work week as 37.5 hours and so you need two full years of those hours (either done full/part time, which of course would take you longer than 2yrs to accumulate).  If you're working in a job that does 40 hour weeks, then realistically you hit the 2 year threshold faster.

When I considered this category, even though I'd done more hours working a 40 hour week, I made sure that I held out until the date where I would be eligible under a 37.5hr work week.  It's just not worth having immigration return an application.

[jes_ON]

If you're working in a job that does 40 hour weeks, then realistically you hit the 2 year threshold faster.

When I considered this category, even though I'd done more hours working a 40 hour week, I made sure that I held out until the date where I would be eligible under a 37.5hr work week.  It's just not worth having immigration return an application.

That was smart, because you cannot hit the 2 yr threshhold faster than 2 years !     

CIC's requirement is 2 years of full-time employment.  Full-time employment is "at least 37.5 hours per week."  In other words, 40 hours per week is the same "full time employment" as 37.5 hours per week, or 44 hours per week - you still need a minimum of 2 years!

3900 hours are given as the "full-time equivalent" for part-time workers only (those who work less than 37.5 hours per week).   

[crama123]

Thank you all!!

[jennlitt]

I have a similar question. I'm on my second IEC visa and hoping to apply with CEC once I have completed them. However, I wasn't able to be paid for the first couple of weeks I was working as I was waiting for a SIN number. I did receive backpay for these weeks though. Would that affect my application at all. My contract states my first day.

My timeline is also pretty tight, I started work on June 29th 2010 and will stop on July 3rd 2012. It's over two years so hopefully should be fine? What do you think?

[bravosix]

But just a word of caution about applying too soon - people have miscalculated their eligibility date and applied as soon as they thought they could - only to find that CIC calculated it differently and they applied before they were eligible (application rejected).  My only point is - unless you have a really good reason to cut it close, don't cut it too close - give your application a little breathing room!

Hi Jes,

Your post made me wonder. I want to send my application as soon is I reach the worked year so it would one day after the "anniversary".

Started May 2nd 2011 and want to send application on May 3rd. It's been full time work (40 hrs p/week) no sick days, no un-paid vacations, etc.

Should I wait a couple of weeks after May 3rd?

Thanks in advance

[jes_ON]

Technically, it with your hours, it should be OK, but -

CIC doesn't actually say this, so this is just my opinion - your Letter of Employment should not be dated BEFORE you complete the work experience requirement.  It is a key piece of documentation, and it should be attesting to the completed work experience - If the Letter is dated before you actually complete the required work experience, then, it's not really proof of the qualifying experience.  OK, I suppose some employers will post-date the letter, and it is possible to get the Letter one day after, and send it the same day, but...

Anyway - I understand wanting to get it in as soon as humanly possible (some people actually need to because of expiring police clearances, work experience that may be "expiring etc.) but some people who have done so have ended up regretting it...  If you do it, you'd better be 100% sure that everything is spot-on