Am I Eligible to Collect EI When I Move to the USA

[scarlettfinne 0]

Ok.... so I just read on the Service Canada website that I may be eligible to receive EI after I move to the USA for up to 36 weeks. I have been working full-time for the same company in Canada for almost 10 years now. So I called my local Service Canada office (keep in mind I live in a very small town and the lady I spoke to may have never come across this subject before). She told me - no i can't apply for EI because I won't be eligible to work in Canada. I then read to her the statement on the Service Canada website that says that you can apply. Then she snobbily said 'well then apply.' If anyone from Canada that has moved to the USA on a CR1 Visa has applied and received EI benefits can you let me know if you were approved. Thank you so much to anyone who can answer this question.

[Inky 1,110]

There is a whole thread about people getting EI etc http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/8-the-canuck-ei-thread/

A lot of people are approved but it depends on certain things and how you leave your job.

[SapphireDreams 71]

You should be able to collect. When you leave the company, see if your HR dept. will mark on your record of employment that you are relocating for spouse. it's not required, but it will help.

Also just wanted to add, that you being eligible to work is important, but you don't have to be eligible just in Canada. You just need to prove you are eligible to work in the US. Which you will be able to do with your greencard after you cross.

Edited February 17, 2012 by SapphireDreams

[pocheros 101]

Usually you're eligible to collect as soon as you can prove that you're able and willing to work i.e. you have your green card. Make sure to open your case with EI within 4 weeks of quitting your job, even if you don't have your green card yet and you haven't yet moved to the USA. You just have to stay in touch with EI regularly.

[Flames9_RN 358]

As a cr-1/ir-1 ur eligible right away when u enter the USA, as these visa come with you being able to work right away(as long as you have enough qualified hrs in Canada, and you should) Just dont quit ur job too soon! 1 gal quit well in advance and they denied her Ei claim! I can't recall how long in advance she quit, but I think it was well lover a month.

You won't be dealing with ur small town Ei office for the claim, its an international office. Its been 2005 since I collected and things have changed! Best of luck

[Colleens 40]

Ok.... so I just read on the Service Canada website that I may be eligible to receive EI after I move to the USA for up to 36 weeks. I have been working full-time for the same company in Canada for almost 10 years now. So I called my local Service Canada office (keep in mind I live in a very small town and the lady I spoke to may have never come across this subject before). She told me - no i can't apply for EI because I won't be eligible to work in Canada. I then read to her the statement on the Service Canada website that says that you can apply. Then she snobbily said 'well then apply.' If anyone from Canada that has moved to the USA on a CR1 Visa has applied and received EI benefits can you let me know if you were approved. Thank you so much to anyone who can answer this question.

Yes, you can claim EI when you move to the US. Like the previous posters said, don't quit your job too early (I think it has to be within 4 weeks of leaving to the US, but the closer the better) and make sure you apply within the 4 week window. Your claim will be processed in the interstate office. They have a different # then the regular service Canada number and no one ever answers the phone, you will have to leave a message and they usually call back within a day or 2 (that is if you ever have any questions). You can apply online, just make sure you do so within the 4 week window.

You will be expected to be looking for employment just like in Canada, so make sure you keep a record of all the jobs you apply for etc just in case EI asks you.

Good Luck!

[The Getty 2]

You should be able to claim E.I. no problem while in the USA provided you have enough hours (which it appears you have) AND you are ready, willing, and capable of working/accepting work. You can call Service Canada's toll free number and speak to a representative. Better yet, call the Interstate Department - they are the ones who deal with E.I. claims OUTSIDE of Canada. Their number is 1-877-486-1650. This is a voicemail only number, so you can leave a message with your name, SIN, and contact phone #, and someone will call you back. Then you can discuss it with that person and they will give you the proper information.

I moved to the US in October 2011, and I had no problem getting my E.I. down here. You will get cards in the mail, and you will not be able to file your report on neither the internet nor using the automated phone system. (Once I received my cards, I just called the Interstate Dept. phone # and left my name, SIN, contact phone # , and report on the voicemail, and they were able to process it for me.)

One thing that I must point out is that in other posts I have read in response to your question, you have been given wrong information, namely as follows:

"You just need to prove you are eligible to work in the US. Which you will be able to do with your greencard after you cross,"

"Usually you're eligible to collect as soon as you can prove that you're able and willing to work i.e. you have your green card,"

"As a cr-1/ir-1 ur eligible right away when u enter the USA, as these visa come with you being able to work right away"

A green card alone does NOT make you eligible to work in the U.S.!!!!! Until you receive a vaild Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration that does not have a restriction preventing you from working (which it shouldn't on a CR-1 visa), you CANNOT LEGALLY accept work in the U.S., and thus will be deemed by Service Canada as NOT being able to work and not eligble for E.I. benefits.

Edited February 19, 2012 by The Getty

[The Getty 2]

I should qualify my previous post. As a CR-1 visa holder, you can apply and are eligible to work in the U.S., but you will need to have your SSN first.

Service Canada will see you as not eligible to work with only a green card as you cannot legally accept work without a SSN.

A green card alone does NOT make you eligible to work in the U.S.!!!!! Until you receive a vaild Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration that does not have a restriction preventing you from working (which it shouldn't on a CR-1 visa), you CANNOT LEGALLY accept work in the U.S., and thus will be deemed by Service Canada as NOT being able to work and not eligble for E.I. benefits.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I'm fairly certain back in 2005 when I came on a CR-1 visa that I didn't have my SSN when I started collecting Ei. Oodles of posts on VJ on what to do when ur SSN does not arrive soon

I know there have been a fair # of people on VJ that have started to work as well without a SSN--they just didn't get paid until they provided the SSN

[The Getty 2]

I'm fairly certain back in 2005 when I came on a CR-1 visa that I didn't have my SSN when I started collecting Ei. Oodles of posts on VJ on what to do when ur SSN does not arrive soon

I know there have been a fair # of people on VJ that have started to work as well without a SSN--they just didn't get paid until they provided the SSN

Back in 2005, it may have been the case that you didn't need your SSN to start collecting EI and perhaps things have changed....I don't know. All I do know is when I arrived in the US just 4 months ago, until I had my SSN, I was not paid any EI from Canada as I was considered to NOT be available for work. This came straight from the agents who actually review and process the EI applications. I had to be ready, willing, and capable of working to receive EI benefits - capable of working meant being able to legally accept work in the US, and not having an SSN was deemed to not be able to legally accept work.

As for the second part of your response, from my own experience, before I had my SSN I was told point blank that without an SSN, my application wouldn't even be accepted/reviewed. maybe this was just the businesses where I tried to apply, or maybe it was because of the state in which I live; your guess is as good as mine.

To the OP:

In my honest opinion, you would be better waiting until you had your SSN before applying for EI benefits from Canada. As I've posted, without my SSN I was deemed to not be available to legally accept work in the US, thus, not eligible for EI until I had received my SSN. If you want to try with just your green card, by all means try. And if you are successful, then all the more power to you. I'm just relaying personal experience from 4 months ago.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Back in 2005, it may have been the case that you didn't need your SSN to start collecting EI and perhaps things have changed....I don't know. All I do know is when I arrived in the US just 4 months ago, until I had my SSN, I was not paid any EI from Canada as I was considered to NOT be available for work. This came straight from the agents who actually review and process the EI applications. I had to be ready, willing, and capable of working to receive EI benefits - capable of working meant being able to legally accept work in the US, and not having an SSN was deemed to not be able to legally accept work.

As for the second part of your response, from my own experience, before I had my SSN I was told point blank that without an SSN, my application wouldn't even be accepted/reviewed. maybe this was just the businesses where I tried to apply, or maybe it was because of the state in which I live; your guess is as good as mine.

To the OP:

In my honest opinion, you would be better waiting until you had your SSN before applying for EI benefits from Canada. As I've posted, without my SSN I was deemed to not be available to legally accept work in the US, thus, not eligible for EI until I had received my SSN. If you want to try with just your green card, by all means try. And if you are successful, then all the more power to you. I'm just relaying personal experience from 4 months ago.

1 has to appply for EI benefits within a certain time frame as well. Usually the SSN comes rather quickly. if after approx 10 days after POE arrival, 1 can go and check/reapply for it, so its usually not an issue. But just having a SN does not make 1 eligible to work. cheers

[scarlettfinne 0]

1 has to appply for EI benefits within a certain time frame as well. Usually the SSN comes rather quickly. if after approx 10 days after POE arrival, 1 can go and check/reapply for it, so its usually not an issue. But just having a SN does not make 1 eligible to work. cheers

To The Getty:

How long did it take you to get your SSN? I have been told by other members that with my CR1 visa (once approved)that I will be eligible to work in the USA right away (something about having a stamp in my passport stating 'employment authorized'). I am assuming from your post this is not entirely correct until I receive my SSN. I just hope that doesn't take too long.

BTW - thanks to all who have posted replies - they have all been very informative and helpful.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

You are not required to present your SSN # on a job application in the US, yes they have a place for it, but you can politely decline until you're in a hiring situation. There is nothing wrong with decliing and if it's an electronic application use 000-00-0000 or the like if you can't get past the field. Your SSN is valuable personal info, I woudln;t be giving it out all over the place.

I also politely decline to give my race or gender - they can ask, but one is not required to provide it. Very unconstitutional imo

Off topic...sorry

Back in 2005, it may have been the case that you didn't need your SSN to start collecting EI and perhaps things have changed....I don't know. All I do know is when I arrived in the US just 4 months ago, until I had my SSN, I was not paid any EI from Canada as I was considered to NOT be available for work. This came straight from the agents who actually review and process the EI applications. I had to be ready, willing, and capable of working to receive EI benefits - capable of working meant being able to legally accept work in the US, and not having an SSN was deemed to not be able to legally accept work.

As for the second part of your response, from my own experience, before I had my SSN I was told point blank that without an SSN, my application wouldn't even be accepted/reviewed. maybe this was just the businesses where I tried to apply, or maybe it was because of the state in which I live; your guess is as good as mine.

To the OP:

In my honest opinion, you would be better waiting until you had your SSN before applying for EI benefits from Canada. As I've posted, without my SSN I was deemed to not be available to legally accept work in the US, thus, not eligible for EI until I had received my SSN. If you want to try with just your green card, by all means try. And if you are successful, then all the more power to you. I'm just relaying personal experience from 4 months ago.

Edited February 20, 2012 by Udella&Wiz

[SapphireDreams 71]

You don't need to have your SSN to APPLY for EI benefits from Canada. You may be required to prove you can work later into the process, but you should most definitely get the ball rolling and fill out their online application within 4 weeks of quitting your job.

They'll process your application and then ask you to prove you are eligible to work in the US. You won't need to do that right away, you can wait until you get the right documentation. You just won't get paid right away but once you send them your SSN and greencard, they'll process it, you'll begin your two week waiting period and then start getting the payments.

[Flames9_RN 358]

To The Getty:

How long did it take you to get your SSN? I have been told by other members that with my CR1 visa (once approved)that I will be eligible to work in the USA right away (something about having a stamp in my passport stating 'employment authorized'). I am assuming from your post this is not entirely correct until I receive my SSN. I just hope that doesn't take too long.

BTW - thanks to all who have posted replies - they have all been very informative and helpful.

After approx 10-14 BUSINESS days after POE and still no SSN card (if u checked the box on the DS-230 form) head down to ur local SSN office and get them to check! If the # has not been issued, they will ask you to submit a new SSN application! So what most do is print 1 out at home, so when they ask for it, viola--u hand it to them! They will ask for ID--such as ur Passport and birth cert. And there are other acceptable ID that they will accept. Quite often the SSN arrives approx a week later.

http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/