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.

 

[CanUser8]

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.

Don't you worry, points may come down.