EE after refugee claim

[okaraev]

Hello everyone.
I was a refugee claimant years ago in Canada and won the process and received necessary documents to apply for PR, but I didn’t. I had to come back home country and signed a document where it was said that I was refusing my status in Canada as a protected person and got my passport back.
Now, years later, I want to apply to EE programs. The question is: am I eligible for EE?

 

[moscatojuices]

Hello everyone.
I was a refugee claimant years ago in Canada and won the process and received necessary documents to apply for PR, but I didn’t. I had to come back home country and signed a document where it was said that I was refusing my status in Canada as a protected person and got my passport back.
Now, years later, I want to apply to EE programs. The question is: am I eligible for EE?

To answer this I think we need to understand the reasons behind why you went to the trouble of becoming a successful refugee claimant but then failing to follow through and apply for PR. Can you explain?

 

[okaraev]

Thanks for your reply.
Circumstances in my family forced me to return. For conventional refugees it is not allowed to travel to home country. Only option was to wait for citizenship. That’s why I didn’t apply for PR and came back.

 

[moscatojuices]

Thanks for your reply.
Circumstances in my family forced me to return. For conventional refugees it is not allowed to travel to home country. Only option was to wait for citizenship. That’s why I didn’t apply for PR and came back.

You can apply, but obviously you need to declare this. I'm not sure what IRCC will ask but I don't think you did anything illegal so shouldn't be an issue overall.

 

[okaraev]

I really appreciate your help

 

[canuck78]

Hello everyone.
I was a refugee claimant years ago in Canada and won the process and received necessary documents to apply for PR, but I didn’t. I had to come back home country and signed a document where it was said that I was refusing my status in Canada as a protected person and got my passport back.
Now, years later, I want to apply to EE programs. The question is: am I eligible for EE?

You can but you can’t count the time working in Canada as a refugee claimant as time working in Canada.

 

[moscatojuices]

You can but you can’t count the time working in Canada as a refugee claimant as time working in Canada.

Ah I didn't know that!
--

Can I count experience I got in Canada while waiting for a decision on my refugee application?


No. Under the Canadian Experience Class, you must have had temporary resident status and the proper work or study authorization when you gained the Canadian work experience or educational credential you are claiming.

Refugee claimants who have authorization to work or study while waiting for a decision on their claim do not have temporary resident status and cannot apply under this category.

https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=387&top=29