Does work experience before PGWP application count?

[Anasone]

Hello!

I finished studies on December 7, 2018, and I started working on December 8. However, I didn't receive my confirmation of graduation letter till February 13, 2019. I applied for PGWP on February 14. So, can I use the work experience I gained before applying for PGWP for express entry?

 

[21Goose]

How did you start working before applying for your PGWP? You worked without legal status, and this will be an issue when you apply for Express Entry.

Unless you had some form of valid work permit (Spousal OWP?)?

 

[Anasone]

How did you start working before applying for your PGWP? You worked without legal status, and this will be an issue when you apply for Express Entry.

Unless you had some form of valid work permit (Spousal OWP?)?

I was a student, and I was working at this company. When I finished my studies, I continued working. I didn't know I was supposed t stop working. All my friends were working while waiting for their graduation letters.

 

[21Goose]

I was a student, and I was working at this company. When I finished my studies, I continued working. I didn't know I was supposed t stop working. All my friends were working while waiting for their graduation letters.

Unfortunately, "I didn't know" is not a valid reason to not meet the conditions of your study permit. Nor is "my friends did it too".

Were you working full-time at this company while you were a student?

The fact remains that you worked without status, and this can be an issue when you apply for Express Entry. Your employer will have to give a letter stating the date you started working, and your PGWP application date will be in the system. It will be clear that you worked without status.

There's nothing you can do about this now. However, you should understand the terms and conditions of any immigration programs for the next time.

 

[Anasone]

No, I was working part-time as a student, and I continued part-time for a while after I stopped studying.

 

[21Goose]

No, I was working part-time as a student, and I continued part-time for a while after I stopped studying.

If IRCC considers that your course of study was not complete, then it will be fine. However, if they say that your classes finished on Dec 7th, and therefore your right to work also ended, it will be an issue.

However - this is not an uncommon situation, and most of the time they are lenient, especially since you did apply for a PGWP as soon as you got your letter of graduation.

In terms of work history - any work done during a course of studies is not counted under the Canadian Experience Class. However, work done after getting a PGWP is counted (even on implied status). In your case, I don't think you should count the work you did between Dec 8 - Feb 14, since one of these two possibilities must be true:

1. You were working without status - this cannot be counted, only legal work can be counted.

OR

2. You were working with status - but the status was that of a student, and this work cannot be counted under CEC.

To be on the safe side, count only work you did from the day you applied for a PGWP.

 

[vik2595]

Hello!

I finished studies on December 7, 2018, and I started working on December 8. However, I didn't receive my confirmation of graduation letter till February 13, 2019. I applied for PGWP on February 14. So, can I use the work experience I gained before applying for PGWP for express entry?

Hi ,

did you got your PR?

I've same issue with my work experience.

 

[Anasone]

I didnt use work experience before applying for pgwp

 

[vik2595]

Yh but it's illegal to work full time before you apply for PGWP.

but I've worked full time for 2 weeks before I applied PGWP.

What's in that case?

 

[Rupinder93]

Hi all.. please help
I have applied for PR. I counted experience of one year from the day i applied for work experience. But the problem is while applying I forgot to mention in LOE that I counted experience from the day i applied
-Is it necessary to tell this in LOE??
-If yes then how can i tell them now?? And what document i should add so that i could prove that i applied for work permit

Please help

 

[Anasone]

Hi all.. please help
I have applied for PR. I counted experience of one year from the day i applied for work experience. But the problem is while applying I forgot to mention in LOE that I counted experience from the day i applied
-Is it necessary to tell this in LOE??
-If yes then how can i tell them now?? And what document i should add so that i could prove that i applied for work permit

Please help

You don't need to tell them anything. You are ok.

 

[Rupinder93]

You don't need to tell them anything. You are ok.

Thank you for reply..how will they know this? I am afraid they dont reject it because i counted experience before getting work visa..how will they know when i applied

 

[Anasone]

They know everything. CIC has all your application history.

 

[Rupinder93]

They know everything. CIC has all your application history.

Thank you so much..god bless u .