Work Experience Before Convocation

[MTweet12]

Hi everyone,
So I submitted my master thesis in Aug,2012. Started working right after. I received a letter from school saying that I've passed all the degree requirements in Nov,2012. I received my PGWP in Jan,2013. My convocation was in May,2013.
Now I know this question has been asked so many times before but I wasn't able to find an accurate answer.
Does my work experience count from the time I received my PGWP as I had finished my degree requirements at that time, or does CIC consider work experience only from the time of convocation (May,2013)?
Note: The online portal of my school shows the following in my account:
"Graduation Term: Fall 2012; February Graduation; June Convocation"

Any help is appreciated

 

[samir3132]

I think from nov-2012

 

[seton]

It's a grey area, and you will get varying opinions here. The safest route is to use the date printed on your diploma (i.e. the day it was conferred), but obviously personal circumstances may require you to apply earlier. It is an area of ambiguity that you will not find a simple answer to.

 

[CEC2013]

It's a grey area, and you will get varying opinions here. The safest route is to use the date printed on your diploma (i.e. the day it was conferred), but obviously personal circumstances may require you to apply earlier. It is an area of ambiguity that you will not find a simple answer to.

agreed... i'm always for the safer approach. my dilemma here is that my school treated graduation as conferring the credentials, while others may consider convocation as the conferral date. just no simple answer! but, if you can wait till may of 2014 and then apply, that would be safer. if not, then i would at least wait till the graduation date (february, i guess).

sorry cant give you a more solid answer...

 

[rohitoarxl]

safest bet is to go with the may 2013 date as thats when you were officially conferred the degree....

 

[esbex550]

Hi everyone,
So I submitted my master thesis in Aug,2012. Started working right after. I received a letter from school saying that I've passed all the degree requirements in Nov,2012. I received my PGWP in Jan,2013. My convocation was in May,2013.
Now I know this question has been asked so many times before but I wasn't able to find an accurate answer.
Does my work experience count from the time I received my PGWP as I had finished my degree requirements at that time, or does CIC consider work experience only from the time of convocation (May,2013)?
Note: The online portal of my school shows the following in my account:
"Graduation Term: Fall 2012; February Graduation; June Convocation"

Any help is appreciated

If you were on a work permit before finshing your degree & then it is counted. BE it a parttime or full time, work experience is counted by cic. also, to be on the safer side, please consult a immigration consultant & not immigration lawyer.

 

[CEC2013]

If you were on a work permit before finshing your degree & then it is counted. BE it a parttime or full time, work experience is counted by cic. also, to be on the safer side, please consult a immigration consultant & not immigration lawyer.

Perhaps I misunderstood what you meant, but I disagree with this statement "if you work before finishing your degree". This is poor and inaccurate advice and often leads to confusion. As per 5609E guide for CEC:

Note: Any periods of self-employment, unauthorized work, or periods of employment during which you were engaged in full-time study (e.g. work experience gained on a co-op, off-campus or on-campus work permit) will not be included when calculating the period of qualifying work experience. You must have had temporary resident status during the period of work experience acquired in Canada.

Even the main description implies this:

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Individuals who have gained skilled work experience in Canada, such as temporary foreign workers and foreign students who graduated with a Canadian educational credential, often have the qualities to make a successful transition from temporary to permanent resident status as they are familiar with Canadian society, and have demonstrated the ability to contribute to the Canadian economy.

Experience while on student status is NOT counted, as studies are the primary purpose of your stay in Canada. Once you have graduated and obtained a valid work permit, then your primary purpose has changed to a temporary worker....and gaining skilled experience.

 

[gladaki]

Perhaps I misunderstood what you meant, but I disagree with this statement "if you work before finishing your degree". This is poor and inaccurate advice and often leads to confusion. As per 5609E guide for CEC:

Note: Any periods of self-employment, unauthorized work, or periods of employment during which you were engaged in full-time study (e.g. work experience gained on a co-op, off-campus or on-campus work permit) will not be included when calculating the period of qualifying work experience. You must have had temporary resident status during the period of work experience acquired in Canada.

Even the main description implies this:

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Individuals who have gained skilled work experience in Canada, such as temporary foreign workers and foreign students who graduated with a Canadian educational credential, often have the qualities to make a successful transition from temporary to permanent resident status as they are familiar with Canadian society, and have demonstrated the ability to contribute to the Canadian economy.

Experience while on student status is NOT counted, as studies are the primary purpose of your stay in Canada. Once you have graduated and obtained a valid work permit, then your primary purpose has changed to a temporary worker....and gaining skilled experience.

In 2013..They started counting from your work permit. few People who applied in 2013 after one year of PGWP date they already got the recommend pass ..Also they are not asking for any transcripts or degree now so they gave no way to decide stupid convocation dates...

 

[CEC2013]

In 2013..They started counting from your work permit. few People who applied in 2013 after one year of PGWP date they already got the recommend pass ..Also they are not asking for any transcripts or degree now so they gave no way to decide stupid convocation dates...

hmmm... I just pulled this off the most recent guide and OP. regardless, I was disputing the legitimacy of the claim that work before you finish your degree is counted. "The PGWPP allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience" "Any periods of self-employment, unauthorized work, or periods of employment during which you were engaged in full-time study (e.g. work experience gained on a co-op, off-campus or on-campus work permit) will not be included when calculating the period of qualifying work experience"

Wording used in the comment "If you were on a work permit before finshing your degree & then it is counted. BE it a parttime or full time, work experience is counted by cic." Still maintain its inaccurate by all means and what it implies is quite wrong. If you are a full time student and have not graduate yet, then your primary purpose is that of studies. If you graduated and obtained a PGWP, its a completely different story.

Anyways, I dont want to get into a prolonged discussion. I was merely pointing out the mistake in wording. Back to the issue....if obtaining a PGWP counts as recognized experience, regardless of convocation, then even better. Since they eliminated the post-graduate student stream, you really wouldn't have to submit your documents I suppose. I wonder though....how would they treat them if they ask that you prove your status in Canada prior to PGWP and you submit these?? Food for thought.

 

[esbex550]

In my case they counted it. As well as I know, many of my friends who started working on off-campus work permit, we all have submitted our payslips. And till now, they havent given us any remarks.

Perhaps I misunderstood what you meant, but I disagree with this statement "if you work before finishing your degree". This is poor and inaccurate advice and often leads to confusion. As per 5609E guide for CEC:

Note: Any periods of self-employment, unauthorized work, or periods of employment during which you were engaged in full-time study (e.g. work experience gained on a co-op, off-campus or on-campus work permit) will not be included when calculating the period of qualifying work experience. You must have had temporary resident status during the period of work experience acquired in Canada.

Even the main description implies this:

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Individuals who have gained skilled work experience in Canada, such as temporary foreign workers and foreign students who graduated with a Canadian educational credential, often have the qualities to make a successful transition from temporary to permanent resident status as they are familiar with Canadian society, and have demonstrated the ability to contribute to the Canadian economy.

Experience while on student status is NOT counted, as studies are the primary purpose of your stay in Canada. Once you have graduated and obtained a valid work permit, then your primary purpose has changed to a temporary worker....and gaining skilled experience.

 

[CEC2013]

In my case they counted it. As well as I know, many of my friends who started working on off-campus work permit, we all have submitted our payslips. And till now, they havent given us any remarks.

I hope that you are right! And I guess we will know once you get your notes.... I was quoting CIC language and what it implies. How they enforce it, well, that's up to the VO's discretion. I say again...hope you are right, but lets see when you get notes or decision.

Good luck eh!!

 

[gladaki]

In my case they counted it. As well as I know, many of my friends who started working on off-campus work permit, we all have submitted our payslips. And till now, they havent given us any remarks.

Did u check your notes yet .

 

[esbex550]

I havent received my notes yet. Just called my immigration consultant, and he said tht CPP- Ottawa has stopped 100% processing work for all types of PR from last monday....

Did u check your notes yet .

 

[lpc19800]

I havent received my notes yet. Just called **spam**, and he said tht CPP- Ottawa has stopped 100% processing work for all types of PR from last monday....

Sorry but where did you hear this?

 

[CEC2013]

I havent received my notes yet. Just called **spam**, and he said tht CPP- Ottawa has stopped 100% processing work for all types of PR from last monday....

Was this sarcasm? Cuz, how can that be...when I just saw reported cases of DEC 2012 applicants receiving MR! Even if this was a residual effect of previously processed cases, it wouldnt be for more than a few a days.

Not sure what to make of this claim... ???