URGENT EE QUESTION: Must I Declare Foreign Experience which Omitted on Study Permit but submitted on Work Permit application?

[raman1997]

I arrived in Canada in May 2022 on a Study Permit. When I originally applied for my Study Permit through an agency, I had 7 months of foreign work experience. My representative advised me not to declare this experience, stating that anything under one year was irrelevant and would not help my application. Due to this guidance, I did not list the employment on my study permit application.

However, after my visa was approved but before I travelled to Canada, I continued working and completed a total of 1 year and 2 months of foreign experience. Later, when applying for my Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), I truthfully declared this foreign work experience.

Currently, I have a high CELPIP score and a CRS score of 540 if I include this foreign work experience. My concern is regarding consistency: Since I omitted the experience in my Study Permit application but disclosed it in my PGWP application, should I claim it for my Express Entry profile?


I want some suggestions, any recent experience in 2025, if someone has had a similar situation. Please do let me know

 

[scylla]

I arrived in Canada in May 2022 on a Study Permit. When I originally applied for my Study Permit through an agency, I had 7 months of foreign work experience. My representative advised me not to declare this experience, stating that anything under one year was irrelevant and would not help my application. Due to this guidance, I did not list the employment on my study permit application.

However, after my visa was approved but before I travelled to Canada, I continued working and completed a total of 1 year and 2 months of foreign experience. Later, when applying for my Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), I truthfully declared this foreign work experience.

Currently, I have a high CELPIP score and a CRS score of 540 if I include this foreign work experience. My concern is regarding consistency: Since I omitted the experience in my Study Permit application but disclosed it in my PGWP application, should I claim it for my Express Entry profile?


I want some suggestions, any recent experience in 2025, if someone has had a similar situation. Please do let me know

I would talk to an immigration lawyer.

What evidence do you have to prove the foreign work experience?

 

[raman1997]

I would talk to an immigration lawyer.

What evidence do you have to prove the foreign work experience?

I do have an experience letter, an Offer letter, Pay slips (Cash salary), and my previous company agrees to provide affidavits.

 

[Naturgrl]

I do have an experience letter, an Offer letter, Pay slips (Cash salary), and my previous company agrees to provide affidavits.

So you may need to explain why you lied and misrepresented yourself in your study permit application. Also cash is an issue. Ask a lawyer.

 

[scylla]

I do have an experience letter, an Offer letter, Pay slips (Cash salary), and my previous company agrees to provide affidavits.

I would speak with a good immigrant lawyer since you are dealing with a cash salary.

 

[canuck78]

I arrived in Canada in May 2022 on a Study Permit. When I originally applied for my Study Permit through an agency, I had 7 months of foreign work experience. My representative advised me not to declare this experience, stating that anything under one year was irrelevant and would not help my application. Due to this guidance, I did not list the employment on my study permit application.

However, after my visa was approved but before I travelled to Canada, I continued working and completed a total of 1 year and 2 months of foreign experience. Later, when applying for my Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), I truthfully declared this foreign work experience.

Currently, I have a high CELPIP score and a CRS score of 540 if I include this foreign work experience. My concern is regarding consistency: Since I omitted the experience in my Study Permit application but disclosed it in my PGWP application, should I claim it for my Express Entry profile?


I want some suggestions, any recent experience in 2025, if someone has had a similar situation. Please do let me know

Many didn’t declare work experience and education because it may have made securing a study permit more difficult. Had you declared the work history your study permit may have been denied and never made it to Canada. This is why it becomes problematic to now claim the work experience and could lead to refusal due to misrepresentation. Although consultant advised you, you are in the end responsible for anything included in your applications. Agree consult a lawyer but claiming the work experience would be incredibly risky. If you have no other chance to secure PR and will not in the future then may be worth the huge risk.