Questions re EE process (CEC)

[mahmou21]

Hello everyone,

Experts, I need your advise. I am planning to apply for PR through EE - CEC.

Some background/context:
I am currently in Canada (BC) on work permit (PGWP). I went to school (for a Phd) in ON and I graduated last summer then moved to BC for work. So it's been a full-year since I finished school and I've been working full-time since then.
I applied before for PR in 2012 as a skilled worker under the Phd stream and my application was rejected in 2014. The officer was not satisfied with my work experience- even though I had experience from 3 different jobs (one in Canada and two back home, Egypt). It seems that they were not satisfied with the employer letter (I can't understand why though since it had mentioned all the necessary details as stated on the website)- these jobs were mainly part-time jobs during my post-graduate studies (which was expected as I was applying under the Phd stream). Anyway, I didn't take it personally as many other Phd students' applications were rejected for similar reasons. I didn't appeal (I thought that this was not possible at the time) and decided to wait until I graduate and be eligible for another stream to apply again. And here I am..
I took the CELPIP test last February (with scores 9 and above).
I also got a police certificate (security clearance) from back home.
I renewed my passport as it was going to expire soon and I applied to extend my PGWP (it was issued last year to passport expiry date- valid until end of October 2016) earlier this month (May 2016).
I am currently married and my wife is a Canadian citizen.

My questions:
1. I guess this is still very early but I think I will be asked when I apply this time if I applied before for PR or not. So should I prepare a letter to explain my situation and attach it with the application? Any tips or advice to what include in the letter?

2. when I create a profile for EE, should I claim my pervious work experience? or should I only claim points for the one year of experience after I finished my Phd. When I use the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) - tool, I get 490 or 464 points if I do or don't claim an additional year of experience. My worry is that if I claim points for one of these years, then I am basically using the same work experience (and employer letters) that were refused before .. and if I don't, my points may be below the cut off for ITAs. I was thinking to include them anyway for the sake of completion but don't claim points for them but again this may reduce my chances to get an ITA. What should I do?

3. In the CRS tool, I was asked about the highest education degree that I obtained. This is my Phd degree which is from a Canadian institution. Do I still have to provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for my academic degrees (BA and M.Sc.) that were not obtained from Canada? If yes, do I have the report ready before creating the profile or when I apply?

Very much appreciate your input.

-Mohamed

 

[Andre_Smol]

Here is the complete information about everything your employment letters have to cover to make sure you dont have any issues this time:

The following documents are mandatory for each work experience declared:

a reference or experience letter from the employer, which
should be an official document printed on company letterhead (must include the applicant’s name, the company’s contact information [address, telephone number and email address], and the name, title and signature of the immediate supervisor or personnel officer at the company),

should indicate all positions held while employed at the company and must include the following details: job title, duties and responsibilities, job status (if current job), dates worked for the company, number of work hours per week and annual salary plus benefits; and

if the applicant is self-employed, articles of incorporation or other evidence of business ownership, evidence of self-employment income and documentation from third-party individuals indicating the service provided along with payment details (self-declared main duties or affidavits are not acceptable proof of self-employed work experience).

If the work experience is in Canada, proof may include copies of T4 tax information slips and notices of assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (the time period for these documents should reflect the work experience timeframe [e.g., work experience from 2006 to 2008 requires only documents from those calendar years]).

 

[mahmou21]

Thank you guys - very much appreciate your comments.

 

[dell2]

1) Explanation letter is not mandatory, but you can include one. When you answer "yes" to the question if you were denied a visa, they will send you a separate form anyways which gives you an opportunity to explain the situation.

What kind of form it is ? Schedule A or any other ?

Thanks

 

[dell2]

Yes, it would be Schedule A, and the relevant question is 6d.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm5669E.pdf

Thanks

 

[mahmou21]

1) Explanation letter is not mandatory, but you can include one. When you answer "yes" to the question if you were denied a visa, they will send you a separate form anyways which gives you an opportunity to explain the situation.

2) Only include the work experience if you can get updated reference letters that are fully up to scratch. Don't use the ones that have been rejected before. You can't list work experience in the main section for "completeness" and exclude it from assessment by the officer - they will always assess any work experience you tell them about. Once you have an ITA, there is a section called "personal history". This is where you can list work experience that you don't want assessed.

3) No, you do not need an ECA. Your Canadian PhD already gives you all the points you can get.

So now when I am creating the profile:
1. in the education history section, should I just add my Canadian PhD and don't add my other education since they are not ECA'd? Or should I add them anyway?
2. in the work history section:
a. in the "Primary Occupation" tab, do I need to provide this as CEC? If yes, should I use the NOC of my current job (my previous jobs fall within other NOCs)? Is this relevant for CEC or is it only for FSW? I am tailoring my profile for CEC, so would it really matter what NOC is entered under this section?
b. in the "Intended Work" tab, does that apply only to job offers supported with LIMA?
3. in the application details section, should I just choose the province that I currently live and work in or mark all? Is this question relevant in my case?

Thanks a bunch!
M