Research assistant while studying

[pedi_sarvi]

Hi all,

I am graduate student at one of the universities in Canada and at the same time working as a research assistant in a laboratory.
I have already completed 2.5 years of my study which is equivalent to 2 years of working experience. I don't have any work permit since I am working with my study permit. Do I qualify for applying under the Canadian Experienced class?

Thanks,
Pedi.

[jes_ON]

No.

http://www.ci.gc.ca/english/immigrate/cec/graduates.asp

[Essat]

You need to have graduated from a 2 year post-sec program from a Canadian institution or 1 year Masters program + 1 year pre-requisite year, and obtained 1 year (1095 hrs) experience after graduation. Note that If you complete a 2 year masters program from a Canadian institution, graduate, start a PhD and work as an RA (while pursuing the PhD) for 1 year, you qualify for CEC (NOC 4122). Ofcourse you need to meet the language requirements.

[helios]

You need to have graduated from a 2 year post-sec program from a Canadian institution or 1 year Masters program + 1 year pre-requisite year, and obtained 1 year (1095 hrs) experience after graduation. Note that If you complete a 2 year masters program from a Canadian institution, graduate, start a PhD and work as an RA (while pursuing the PhD) for 1 year, you qualify for CEC (NOC 4122). Ofcourse you need to meet the language requirements.

it's 1950, 37.5hrs/week * 52weeks

[Essat]

That's right Helios. Its 1950 hrs. Sorry about that.

[pedi_sarvi]

Thanks for the reply.

I have another question. If someone is a M.Sc. student and will graduate in less than 8 months and right after that will start his Ph.D. program working as a research assistant. Does he qualify to apply under CEC NOW? I mean, can he apply when he hasn't been graduated yet?

[Essat]

No. To apply under the graduate stream of the CEC, you need to first graduate, and then have 1 year work experience. There is no way round that.

[pedi_sarvi]

Hi,

Can I apply as a Temporary Foreign Worker (not graduate) since I have already completed 2 years of full-time work (NOC 4122)?

[Essat]

Hi,
The previous posts on this topic supposed that you would be applying under the post-graduate stream. Thinking about it now, I think you would qualify under the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) stream. However, you need to be aware that that stream was intended for applicants with work experience gained while holding a Worker Permit, so it will all depend on the immigration officer handling your case. I think though that if you can submit all the required docs, there shouldn't be any problem. I'm a PhD student at one of the Canadian Universities and I have interacted with a few students who have actually used the 2 years research assistant work experince and qualified under the TFW stream. However, the best thing to do would be to call CIC and ask.

[bhuv2004]

You need to have graduated from a 2 year post-sec program from a Canadian institution or 1 year Masters program + 1 year pre-requisite year, and obtained 1 year (1095 hrs) experience after graduation. Note that If you complete a 2 year masters program from a Canadian institution, graduate, start a PhD and work as an RA (while pursuing the PhD) for 1 year, you qualify for CEC (NOC 4122). Ofcourse you need to meet the language requirements.

Thanks for the useful information so far!!!
I have completed my 2 years of Masters and have already completed 1 year of Phd(full-time Research), Apparently, my Research assistant experience was under my Phd program on a student permit. I am wondering, if this experience should be on the work permit or I can still claim it under CEC NOC 4122 on student permit?

Please advise!!! Appreciated

[jes_ON]

As long as you performed the work after graduation with a valid permit, your experience is valid - so, yes - as long as you meet all the other requirements.

[nixiao]

Yes, you are qualified under the stream of temporary worker, (Not the graduate)

Notice that under that stream, you just need to gain 2 years full time work experience under temporary residence status, (Not work permit). So I think your case have a on-campus job under study permit still qualifying.

Go Ahead apply, I heard some graduate students already got PR through CEC (before getting a canadian degree)

[bhuv2004]

Yes, you are qualified under the stream of temporary worker, (Not the graduate)

Notice that under that stream, you just need to gain 2 years full time work experience under temporary residence status, (Not work permit). So I think your case have a on-campus job under study permit still qualifying.

Go Ahead apply, I heard some graduate students already got PR through CEC (before getting a canadian degree)

Thanks for the reply!!!
Temporary worker stream needs atleast 2 years of full time work experience but I have only 1 year under my phd as a research assistant. I also completed my 2 years of masters. So I believe that i am qualified under Graduate stream. However, my question is if I can claim this 1 year RA experience on study permit or it should be on a Work permit? Please do not hesitate to correct me if I am wrong in any sense.

CEC requirements:-
a temporary foreign worker with at least two years of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in Canada, or
a foreign graduate from a Canadian post-secondary institution with at least one year of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in Canada

[jes_ON]

bhuv, you are right, you would qualify under the graduate stream with 1 year of FULL TIME EQUIVALENT work experience.  As I stated above, the type of permit is irrelevant as long as you are working with proper authorization.

See p. 9-10 of the OP 25
http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGLIsh/resources/manuals/op/op25-eng.pdf

[pedi_sarvi]

If during your master program, you also served as RA, I guess you would have 2 years full-time experience to apply under temporary worker stream!