EI and Canuck Clearinghouse Threads

[Team J and B 2]

Good morning, Canadians:

I just saw the EI thread a couple of days ago and it *seems* everyone can apply for EI once they move to USA on their K1 visa *if* they have worked the 52 weeks prior to their leaving.

Or you can always apply and it's up to HRDC whether you're eligible or not.

So my q is, is EI one of those things you should take care of before leaving? Ie., closing your bank accounts, cutting ties to Canada, declaring non-residency, getting your ROE and applying for EI?

I can't access EI's older thread.

Secondly, the Canuck Clearinghouse thread. I was reading some posts in there and can't make out what it's about. Lots of posts on knitted dish cloths and Montreal medicals. Am I missing something here? What is "Clearinghouse" exactly? I'm assuming it's some kind of legal information?

Again, I am unable to access the older Canuck Clearinghouse thread.

Thanks for your responses in advance.

Cheers,

J of Team J and B

[trailmix 77]

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QUOTE(Team J and B @ Mar 18 2008, 08:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good morning, Canadians:

I just saw the EI thread a couple of days ago and it *seems* everyone can apply for EI once they move to USA on their K1 visa *if* they have worked the 52 weeks prior to their leaving.

Or you can always apply and it's up to HRDC whether you're eligible or not.

So my q is, is EI one of those things you should take care of before leaving? Ie., closing your bank accounts, cutting ties to Canada, declaring non-residency, getting your ROE and applying for EI?

I can't access EI's older thread.

Secondly, the Canuck Clearinghouse thread. I was reading some posts in there and can't make out what it's about. Lots of posts on knitted dish cloths and Montreal medicals. Am I missing something here? What is "Clearinghouse" exactly? I'm assuming it's some kind of legal information?

Again, I am unable to access the older Canuck Clearinghouse thread.

Thanks for your responses in advance.

Cheers,

J of Team J and B

Well I don't know much about it but at the dish cloths. I do know you should apply for it as soon as possible

[Krikit 1,165]

Sorry, but I had to laugh at your reference to dish cloths. Too funny.

No, EI doesn't have to be taken care of before leaving. In fact, you should probably leave your Canadian bank account open so they can do direct deposits. (Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here.) The older Clearinghouse thread links to a database which no longer exists, which is why you can't access it. "Clearinghouse" is just a term someone came up with for the thread. It just means it's a central area for the collection of information.

Edited March 18, 2008 by Crikey!

[TheATeam 0]

I've got a question about EI as well. Does it have to be that specific number of hours, 700 for Edmonton, in a particular job? Or do I have to send my ROE's from my other job too to show that I worked my butt off and should get EI?

[trailmix 77]

I've got a question about EI as well. Does it have to be that specific number of hours, 700 for Edmonton, in a particular job? Or do I have to send my ROE's from my other job too to show that I worked my butt off and should get EI?

Regular benefits:

If you are living in the United States, Regular benefits can be paid to you up to a maximum of 36 weeks. The number of weeks payable is based on the number of insurable hours that you have accumulated in Canada during the last 52 weeks or since your last claim.

To be eligible for regular benefits you must show that you:

have worked in a job that is insured under Canada’s EI Program; and

in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim, you have worked between 420 and 700 hours.

^^^^ you will need to submit all ROE's that cover the last 52 weeks, or longer if there is a cross over.

You might find this web page helpful, there is a table at the bottom:

http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/ei/info...de_canada.shtml

[Flames9_RN 358]

I do believe many start the EI process just before moving. I didnt start my EI claim till I was in the USA, but I had no clue one could get EI, but I dont belive it really mattered. Many dont have any problems gettign EI, (that is if they have enough hours) but One member was denied because in EI's eyes she quit her job too far in advance. I was originally denied--because I was in the Cdn air force had we have contracts, and I had to break mine---but I appealed and won! best of luck

[trailmix 77]

I do believe many start the EI process just before moving. I didnt start my EI claim till I was in the USA, but I had no clue one could get EI, but I dont belive it really mattered. Many dont have any problems gettign EI, (that is if they have enough hours) but One member was denied because in EI's eyes she quit her job too far in advance. I was originally denied--because I was in the Cdn air force had we have contracts, and I had to break mine---but I appealed and won! best of luck

Yes, basically you can't apply until you have a U.S. address. If you apply within 4 weeks of quitting your job, then the benefits start calculating from the day you quit. If you apply after those 4 weeks it starts calculating from the day you apply instead.

[TheATeam 0]

Hmmm...it will be interesting to see if I've got my ROE for my previous job! Looks like some digging to be done! I guess it's a good thing I haven't gone through my mess of papers yet!

[Mephys 2]

Just to confirm that yes, yuo can have your EI deposited in your Canadian account. That's how I did it and I just used my ATM card to withdraw the money here. Pretty simple and hassle free.

[Flames9_RN 358]

one can do it that way, but many banks charge fees and give out crappy exchange rates, especially through an ATM! Best to sign up for a RBC acct(whats it called centura??) or what i did was use Customhouse.com Free and a great exchange rate

[Cassie 8]

Secondly, the Canuck Clearinghouse thread. I was reading some posts in there and can't make out what it's about. Lots of posts on knitted dish cloths and Montreal medicals. Am I missing something here? What is "Clearinghouse" exactly? I'm assuming it's some kind of legal information?

Again, I am unable to access the older Canuck Clearinghouse thread.

J of Team J and B

The point, when this thread was originally started by me on the old VJ, was to have links to all Canadian related information threads in one master thread (we didn't have the Canada forum like we do now). The links were organized at the beginning of the thread according to topic (Montreal information, Vancouver information, moving, etc etc etc), so we could go to one place instead of searching through many many threads all over VJ. We also had links to external sites, like websites where you could order Canadian food, various government agencies (like CRA), etc etc. When we switched over to the current site, we could no longer access the old links, and this thread never really got organized like the old one -- and that was my fault. I might just get Ewok to unpin this thread.

Just so you know. It really was useful, I promise. It was a lot of work to keep it organized, but I enjoyed it, and lots of people helped with link suggestions.

As for the dishcloth thing, I just attribute it to our tendency in the Canadian forum to completely divert from the original topic into something totally different! It made sense at the time.

Edited March 18, 2008 by Cassie

[EmilyandJason 0]

Just a quick question - would I be able to apply if I enter the US on a K3 visa?

What does "proof that you are legally authorized to work in the United States" consist of? Is this the SSN I'd have to wait for?

Also, does anyone know how it would work for maternity benefits if say .. I moved in August, waited for SSN for 3 months and then had a baby in December? Would my EI benefits be cut below the max due to the three months of unemployment?

[Flames9_RN 358]

Just a quick question - would I be able to apply if I enter the US on a K3 visa?

What does "proof that you are legally authorized to work in the United States" consist of? Is this the SSN I'd have to wait for?

Also, does anyone know how it would work for maternity benefits if say .. I moved in August, waited for SSN for 3 months and then had a baby in December? Would my EI benefits be cut below the max due to the three months of unemployment?

With the K3,one requires the EAD document!! Not sure on maternity,there is one VJ member that is currently on maternity, maybe she will pop in

[Carlawarla 1]

Two things I want to comment on. #1. I almost lost out on EI benefits because I was waiting for me ROE from my employer. It had been over 1 month since my last day of work when I applied. I was let through with EI because it was just a matter of days...however I was told explicitly, that you must apply for EI benefits within one month of leaving your job. Don't wait for your ROE, or ROE's at all. Send them in later. I applied on-line so that was good. I had to send them a copy of my I-94 and a copy of my visa. According to the US gov't. K visa's are authorized to work in the US. I know..I know that is confusing. EI doesn't care about who gets a stamp. Remember also that all your benefits will be minus 25% withholding tax. I had my monies just deposited in my Canadian bank account. You can get them mailed to you in the US as well, but try cashing a Canadian cheque in a US bank....you might have some difficulty. If you are questioned by anyone at EI in Belleville (they are awesome ladies!), then there is a specific link in the EI thread that you can print out, that indicates authorization to work in the US with a K visa upon entering. I printed those pages, highlighted them, and sent them along with my copy of the visa etc. When I got my GC, (I didn't bother with AP or EAD...I had a choice then), then I sent a copy of the GC to them.

#2. The pinned threads on the Clearinghouse and EI are/were excellent threads. They really helped me. I know that Cassie did a lot of work on them, and asked maybe before Christmas if we wanted to continue this...or update it. I don't know if you have the time Cassie, but maybe it's time to rethink this again.

Edited March 19, 2008 by Carlawarla

[EmilyandJason 0]

Thanks for the info. I'll read through the thread a little further as well