Received ITA under CEC but confused about remote work period for Canadian employer

[lakshyaag]

Hi all,

I received my ITA today (Nov 13, 2025) with a deadline of Jan 12, 2026. I have a question about working remotely outside of Canada during my Canadian work experience period.

My situation: I have been working full-time (40 hrs/week) for Canadian employers since September 2024. However, during this period, I traveled outside Canada and worked remotely for short periods. Here is my complete employment profile (received Open Work Permit / PGWP on Sep 6 2024):

• Sep 25 2024 - Jan 8 2025: Working in Toronto, ON remotely for US-based startup, employed via Rippling Canada EOR (106 days ~= 15 weeks)
• Jan 9 2025 - Feb 17 2025: Working outside Canada for same employer - visiting family at home and working remotely (40 days ~= 6 weeks)
• Feb 18 2025 - Apr 16 2025: Working in Toronto, ON remotely for US-based startup, employed via Rippling Canada EOR - last working day with company is April 16 2025. (58 days ~= 8 weeks)
• May 12 2025 - Oct 11 2025: Working from office in Toronto, ON for consulting firm (153 days ~= 21 weeks)
• Oct 12 2025 - Nov 25 2025: Working outside Canada for consulting firm - visiting family at home and working remotely (45 days ~ 6 weeks; 1 week of paid vacation included)
• Nov 26 2025 - Jan 12 2026: Working from office in Toronto, ON for consulting firm (this is expected, 49 days ~= 7 weeks)

Based on my calculations, I will barely cross the 52-week / 1,560 hours requirement by the Jan 12 submission deadline.

My concern: I'm worried that being so close to the minimum makes my application risky. I understand that remote work performed outside Canada does not count toward CEC, even if working for a Canadian employer. My calculated CRS score is 554 currently (cutoff 533), but if I reduce the Canadian work experience from 1 year to "None or less than 1 year", the score drops to 501.

My question: Should I accept this ITA or decline and wait until I have accumulated more qualifying Canadian work experience (maybe 60+ weeks for a safer buffer)?

EDIT: Follow-up question, should I edit my EE profile to reflect the above or specify it in the e-APR only?

Thank you in advance!

 

[rohan012]

What did you finally do?

 

[rohan012]

@lakshyaag what did you finally select?

 

[Sakant]

Hi,

I need an urgent request because time is not on my side. I received an ITA today with the CEC draw (cut off 511, my score 513).

I completed my PhD in October 2022, I applied for a PGWP and received it with expiry Feb 07, 2026.

From Oct 2022-Dec 2022, I was employed part time (33h/week) in my work domain.
From Jan 2023, I was employed fulltime in my field of work. Since Jan 2023 to October 2025, I worked there. This comes to 2y 10months of my CEC experience (important later).

Background: I applied for Express Entry in February 2025. At the time I had a job.. In Oct 2025, I quit my job because I had no hope of scores going down and was leaving the country. I made a mistake of not updating my file that I quit my job. I kept my file and I proceeded to book my tickets to my country and was downsizing my life while my file existed as the way it was.

Now I check CRS and they gave me 64 points for Canadian work experience because of 3 years experience, but I have 2y 10months experience. Therefore, my work experience brings my score to 502.

What do I do? Thank you in advance.

I am only posting here, because my post is still awaiting approval since more than 1 hour

 

[canuck78]

Hi,

I need an urgent request because time is not on my side. I received an ITA today with the CEC draw (cut off 511, my score 513).

I completed my PhD in October 2022, I applied for a PGWP and received it with expiry Feb 07, 2026.

From Oct 2022-Dec 2022, I was employed part time (33h/week) in my work domain.
From Jan 2023, I was employed fulltime in my field of work. Since Jan 2023 to October 2025, I worked there. This comes to 2y 10months of my CEC experience (important later).

Background: I applied for Express Entry in February 2025. At the time I had a job.. In Oct 2025, I quit my job because I had no hope of scores going down and was leaving the country. I made a mistake of not updating my file that I quit my job. I kept my file and I proceeded to book my tickets to my country and was downsizing my life while my file existed as the way it was.

Now I check CRS and they gave me 64 points for Canadian work experience because of 3 years experience, but I have 2y 10months experience. Therefore, my work experience brings my score to 502.

What do I do? Thank you in advance.

I am only posting here, because my post is still awaiting approval since more than 1 hour

Don’t apply if you don’t meet the point cut-off after recalculation

 

[Sakant]

Don’t apply if you don’t meet the point cut-off after recalculation

Yep I got an ITA today because as of literally today I would have completed 3y canadian work exp so would have been 513. however upon changing the date to Oct 2025, i go down to 502.

Today had i been working, i would have been en route to PR, unfortunately after 10 years in canada, the door's closed for me. permanently.

no one's fault but mine.