FSW Proof of Funds Exemption

[solarisagapov]

Hi, I just have a question - I understand that FSW normally has PoF, but that there is also an exemption.

When I submitted my PR application under FSW, about a month after AOR they gave me a compliance request letter asking for PoF - even though I meet the exemption requirements?

This is from IRCC website:

If you don’t have a valid job offer (which I do), you’ll need to provide proof of funds to be approved. A valid job offer has to be:

• from 1 employer - I've met this requirement
• continuous - I've met this requirement (been working since Aug 2024 until now)
• paid - I've met this requirement
• full-time (at least 30 hours a week) - I've met this requirement
• not seasonal - I've met this requirement
• for at least 1 year if you’re accepted as a permanent resident - I have a full-time permanent job offer, so it is PERMANENT and doesn't have an end date
• in a NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 - mine is category 2

It must also be made: (I meet the third one, I believe)

• by an employer with a new positive LMIA that approves the offer and names you and your position, OR
• if you’re currently working in Canada in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job on a work permit that was issued based on an LMIA, and:
  
  • you’re working for the employer listed on your work permit
  • you’re authorized to work in Canada on the day you apply for a permanent resident visa, and when the visa is issued
  • your current employer made you an offer to give you a full-time job for at least 1 year if you’re accepted as a permanent resident, OR
• if you have a valid work permit for a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job that is exempt from needing an LMIA, and you:
  
  • are currently working for the employer specified on the work permit - This is confusing for me - I don't need a LMIA, and I'm on PGWP so it's open work permit, and not employer-specific.
  • have 1 year of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work) for that employer under any work permit - I've met this
  • have a valid job offer from that employer for at least 1 year if you’re accepted as a permanent resident - again, full-time permanent job offer with no end date

I'm confused about this specifically:

• if you have a valid work permit for a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job that is exempt from needing an LMIA, and you:
  
  • are currently working for the employer specified on the work permit

Do I still meet this criteria? The thing is, I'm on PGWP and therefore it's open work permit, and not employer-specific. The wording is confusing for me. Does this mean as a PGWP-holder, I can't be exempted from the proof of funds?

Please let me know if anyone else has had a similar case, the anxiety is insane

 

[iSaidGoodDay]

Hi, I just have a question - I understand that FSW normally has PoF, but that there is also an exemption.

When I submitted my PR application under FSW, about a month after AOR they gave me a compliance request letter asking for PoF - even though I meet the exemption requirements?

This is from IRCC website:

If you don’t have a valid job offer (which I do), you’ll need to provide proof of funds to be approved. A valid job offer has to be:

• from 1 employer - I've met this requirement
• continuous - I've met this requirement (been working since Aug 2024 until now)
• paid - I've met this requirement
• full-time (at least 30 hours a week) - I've met this requirement
• not seasonal - I've met this requirement
• for at least 1 year if you’re accepted as a permanent resident - I have a full-time permanent job offer, so it is PERMANENT and doesn't have an end date
• in a NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 - mine is category 2

It must also be made: (I meet the third one, I believe)

• by an employer with a new positive LMIA that approves the offer and names you and your position, OR
• if you’re currently working in Canada in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job on a work permit that was issued based on an LMIA, and:
  • you’re working for the employer listed on your work permit
  • you’re authorized to work in Canada on the day you apply for a permanent resident visa, and when the visa is issued
  • your current employer made you an offer to give you a full-time job for at least 1 year if you’re accepted as a permanent resident, OR
• if you have a valid work permit for a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job that is exempt from needing an LMIA, and you:
  • are currently working for the employer specified on the work permit - This is confusing for me - I don't need a LMIA, and I'm on PGWP so it's open work permit, and not employer-specific.
  • have 1 year of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work) for that employer under any work permit - I've met this
  • have a valid job offer from that employer for at least 1 year if you’re accepted as a permanent resident - again, full-time permanent job offer with no end date

I'm confused about this specifically:

• if you have a valid work permit for a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job that is exempt from needing an LMIA, and you:
  • are currently working for the employer specified on the work permit

Do I still meet this criteria? The thing is, I'm on PGWP and therefore it's open work permit, and not employer-specific. The wording is confusing for me. Does this mean as a PGWP-holder, I can't be exempted from the proof of funds?

Please let me know if anyone else has had a similar case, the anxiety is insane

>are currently working for the employer specified on the work permit

^^ I'd think more about this line. Looks like, you aren't. Your WP isn't tied to the employer.

 

[solarisagapov]

>are currently working for the employer specified on the work permit

^^ I'd think more about this line. Looks like, you aren't. Your WP isn't tied to the employer.

Oh my agency said that IRCC could still reconsider and "hope that they'd approve" I wish they told me about it before I paid agency fees I submitted a letter of explanation (very detailed one) and all too

 

[Naturgrl]

If not eligible for CEC then you show proof of funds unless you have LMIA.

 

[iSaidGoodDay]

Oh my agency said that IRCC could still reconsider and "hope that they'd approve" I wish they told me about it before I paid agency fees I submitted a letter of explanation (very detailed one) and all too

Ask them(the agency) about what they think of that line I quoted. Is matching PoF not an option for you? You might be out of luck here.

 

[solarisagapov]

Ask them(the agency) about what they think of that line I quoted. Is matching PoF not an option for you? You might be out of luck here.

PoF isn't an option for me right now since I've only been working in Canada for 14 months (unfortunately salary isn't that high and most of my savings were spent on Agency services ) Agency just told me "sometimes IRCC uses discretion". But idk, because I have trust issues lol I submitted another express entry profile anyway (eligible for CEC), and am waiting for another category-based draw on healthcare and social services instead

 

[Naturgrl]

PoF isn't an option for me right now since I've only been working in Canada for 14 months (unfortunately salary isn't that high and most of my savings were spent on Agency services ) Agency just told me "sometimes IRCC uses discretion". But idk, because I have trust issues lol I submitted another express entry profile anyway (eligible for CEC), and am waiting for another category-based draw on healthcare and social services instead

If eligible for CEC then no need to provide POF.

 

[solarisagapov]

If eligible for CEC then no need to provide POF.

Yes, but I'm still waiting for an ITA (hoping for a category-based draw on healthcare and social services!) I was just sad because I already have an ongoing FSW application, and was kinda led on by my agency that I "didn't need PoF because I was exempted".

 

[Naturgrl]

Yes, but I'm still waiting for an ITA (hoping for a category-based draw on healthcare and social services!) I was just sad because I already have an ongoing FSW application, and was kinda led on by my agency that I "didn't need PoF because I was exempted".

So you haven't even been invited? Why are you asking the question then? You would be eligible for CEC if you have Canadian experience.

 

[solarisagapov]

So you haven't even been invited? Why are you asking the question then? You would be eligible for CEC if you have Canadian experience.

When I was invited under FSW, I wasn't eligible for CEC yet (I only had 11 months of Canadian work experience when I got invited for FSW) so my agency went forward with the FSW application instead (and again, the flaw I see is the "exemption to proof of funds" that my agency told me I was qualified for ). I submitted letters of explanation plus other docs for it but haven't heard back from IRCC yet on their decision yet regarding this.

So given that the FSW application is in a risky position, I wanted to have a backup - now, I'm already eligible for CEC because it's been over a year since I started working in Canada. My backup plan is now to get invited under CEC too (under the healthcare and social services occupations) so if the FSW application falls through, I at least have the CEC one which doesn't need POF.

 

[iSaidGoodDay]

When I was invited under FSW, I wasn't eligible for CEC yet (I only had 11 months of Canadian work experience when I got invited for FSW) so my agency went forward with the FSW application instead (and again, the flaw I see is the "exemption to proof of funds" that my agency told me I was qualified for ). I submitted letters of explanation plus other docs for it but haven't heard back from IRCC yet on their decision yet regarding this.

So given that the FSW application is in a risky position, I wanted to have a backup - now, I'm already eligible for CEC because it's been over a year since I started working in Canada. My backup plan is now to get invited under CEC too (under the healthcare and social services occupations) so if the FSW application falls through, I at least have the CEC one which doesn't need POF.

IRCC generally invites you for CEC under even if you have 10 months of Canadian experience, assuming that you'll meet the 12 months before submitting your application. Are you sure that you weren't invited under CEC? Was it for sure FSW?

 

[solarisagapov]

IRCC generally invites you for CEC under even if you have 10 months of Canadian experience, assuming that you'll meet the 12 months before submitting your application. Are you sure that you weren't invited under CEC? Was it for sure FSW?

Hello, my invitation says FSW. ITA was given July 22, 2025. By that time, I've only been in my Canadian work 11 months (I was hired August 15, 2024). I think a couple weeks after the invitation was accepted, I became eligible for CEC. But since the FSW invitation was accepted, there wasn't another one issued for CEC.

I'm not quite sure - this was all done by my agency so I don't have visibility. Now with the FSW application at risk, I created and submitted another express entry application (now eligible under CEC) under my own gckey account.

I'm hopeful they'll give me discretion and grant an exemption, but in case it doesn't work out, I'm hoping to get drawn under CEC

 

[iSaidGoodDay]

Hello, my invitation says FSW. ITA was given July 22, 2025. By that time, I've only been in my Canadian work 11 months (I was hired August 15, 2024). I think a couple weeks after the invitation was accepted, I became eligible for CEC. But since the FSW invitation was accepted, there wasn't another one issued for CEC.

I'm not quite sure - this was all done by my agency so I don't have visibility. Now with the FSW application at risk, I created and submitted another express entry application (now eligible under CEC) under my own gckey account.

I'm hopeful they'll give me discretion and grant an exemption, but in case it doesn't work out, I'm hoping to get drawn under CEC

Ah! Your agency messed up in providing wrong info to you. I'd assume that the exemption is unlikely, simply because you don't meet the criteria for exemption. But, if you get another ITA again, you're game! You need to revisit whether you should work with this agency for the future or not. Most of the things are pretty much DIY (I went DIY route too).

 

[solarisagapov]

Ah! Your agency messed up in providing wrong info to you. I'd assume that the exemption is unlikely, simply because you don't meet the criteria for exemption. But, if you get another ITA again, you're game! You need to revisit whether you should work with this agency for the future or not. Most of the things are pretty much DIY (I went DIY route too).

I know, I'm really upset honestly because agency fees were 5k and all they can tell me now is "let's hope IRCC gives discretion."

I really hope I get drawn for CEC too