I applied for CEC PR over 8 months ago. I've encountered a number of issues with the overall process, most importantly regarding an overstay of my previous work permit based on the incorrect belief I had implied status as a result of my PR application. I left Canada after getting advice from a lawyer on this subject, and I am preparing a statement to update the IRCC regarding this. This whole episode has meant I'm now worrying about every aspect of my application because it confirmed my long standing fears of making a mistake that means I can no longer live in Canada. I have also previously updated the IRCC via the webform regarding my marital status, as I was married in the summer to my American wife, who I added as non-accompanying.
This brings me to my current worry. I have a letter from my former employer that states that I was employed full time (30+ hours) for a calendar year in a skilled work (management) position for an independent company. It includes details of the relevant job duties for the n0c category, and my employer will verify that they were performed if asked, as well as the other details of the letter. I made sure the letter conformed to the required templates with a header, signature from the employer and so on. It is dated for a specific date, stating that my employment at that point was ongoing, and that it began one year prior. (The start date only references a specific month, largely due to the fact that I did not receive an official promotion letter or contract, I simply started performing more management duties as part of my existing employment.) I continued to work this position up until the entire staff was laid off due to Covid, which was around a month after the date of the letter and a month before I received my ITA in April. I started working again once we reopened in May and continued not only until the end of my work permit, but beyond this. The business also changed hands after the end of my permit, but the new owners retained all the staff, including me, despite the fact that I was now unknowingly out of status.
Alongside the reference letter I provided, I also included a number of payslips from throughout the year of skilled work experience claimed. These slips covered non-standard bimonthly pay periods, but each illustrated that I had worked for the company for 60+ hours for that period. However, the nature of the schedule at my work meant that week by week hours varied, and the way we were paid means it's pretty much impossible to provide an official record that proves I met the 1560 required hours on a 30 hour per week basis before my ITA. I'm also questioning whether I did in fact meet that threshold via the way the IRCC calculates this- which I did not fully consider at the time I applied. I was paid an hourly wage for the work I did, which was below the average salary for that job, and I did not have a specific contract for the management duties or required hours- my employer simply discussed taking on the extra responsibilities over the phone.
As I said, given my aforementioned circumstances regarding my overstay I'm now worrying about everything that could go wrong, mistakes I have made, and holes in my application. My main concern is the likelihood that the reference letter and payslips I provided will be considered sufficient evidence, or whether I will be required to provide more proof (which I think i will be unable to do to a sufficient level.)
What are the likely consequences I am facing? I'm obviously concerned that not only will my application will be rejected, but also that my inability to prove my work hours will be classed as misrepresentation. I don't really have anything to lose at this point as I already had to pack up and leave my life in Canada once I discovered my previous mistake re: overstaying and I'm already living my absolute worst nightmare- separated from my wife and friends in Canada, isolating in the UK during a covid lockdown and contemplating a very different future to what I was hoping for. I have barely slept for about a week due to my anxiety, I'm losing my mind and I don't know how much more of this I can take. I know I have made serious errors, but I never intentionally lied about the hours I worked or the nature of my job, I'm just an idiot who didn't do enough due diligence with aspects my application and status. Applying during a period of time where i was away from home, losing my job, worrying about how I would afford to survive and dealing with being separated from my partner due to coronavirus meant I clearly didn't concentrate enough on getting my application right. I'm trying to forgive myself for basically ruining my own life, and now that the worst has happened I want to get ahead and prevent any further damage. Whilst an application rejection will be upsetting, it'll simply confirm what has already happened. However, if it's likely that I'll face further issues relating to misrepresentation and I can prevent this, I need to do so immediately, especially if it could affect my ability to reapply with these mistakes fixed, affect my ability to enter Canada at all in the future, or affect my ability to move to America if my Canadian plans do seem to be destroyed.
