EI summary clarification

[tdotca 41]

Hi, I have gone through several posts/topics about employment insurance , including the pinned one http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/8-the-canuck-ei-thread/. Yes I have read all 85 pages ( My head and eyes and neck now hurts).

I've been working for a long time / paid into EI but never had to process a claim. Be nice to get some of the money that I have been paying out since I was 22yrs old.

Scenario: Going to the US on a K1 visa. Keeping my surname. Keeping my Cdn bank account opened.

Can someone who recently went through using K1 visa please confirm if my summary is correct? Lakehouse on pg 69 gave a good summary but not for K1.

1)if/when I quit my job, due to immigration(getting married) , this is considered just cause and am eligible to collect Employment Insurance (EI), correct?

2) if so, when I quit, tell them that I am leaving due to immigration and ask that my record of employment ( ROE) reflects this & my company will file my ROE with Service Canada, correct? I should be receiving a copy of this ROE also, correct?

3)as soon as I quit, I can apply for EI from Canada to get the ball rolling , correct?
> Some of the posts in the PINNED EI thread says to do it from US. Does it really matter?
*note: if EI is calculated based on the date you applied for EI , won't it be beneficial to apply right after you quit your job( before you go to the US)?If they know that you are immigrating to the US on a K1 and they know you can't work until you get the EAD (and EI get paid out ), why don't they save money and not send those cards?!

>If I apply from within Canada, I submit things like ROE/ k1 visa, correct? Do I have to send in pay stubs? Some 2008 posts talk about 'best weeks documents'.. what are these? I am in a salaried job so I think that pay stubs/best weeks documents don't apply to me, correct?

>I should be able to enter my US Address even though I have not moved yet ( will still be in Canada for 1 month after quitting my job) ,correct?
*note:don't see why there should be an issue if you wait a bit after quitting job to move.. people have stuff to freaking do/ plan/ finish up before one moves. I have a stressful enough job so I don't need to have added stress of doing all of this at the same time.

4)when I get to the US, apply for Drivers License/ SSN.Get married (within the 90days of setting foot in the US) then Apply for AOS & EAD (cheaper to do AOS/EAD at same time). When I finally get EAD, I send Service Canada copy of this EAD as well as Driver's License,correct(fax it to 1-613-969-4017; use a cover letter and give them my SIN#),correct?
*note: from what I have been reading, being married has no bearing on being able to get EI.

5)While I wait for the EAD, I need to be looking for jobs? What kind of proof do I have to send in? How do you prove that you called around or even applied to jobs?

6)as a k1, I can't work until I get EAD but I will still be receiving cards from EI to be filled in. Instead of wasting money on postage, I call the international number 1-877- 486-1650 to report ( basically that I still can't work), correct?

PS: many many many mentions about talking to Donna. How do you talk to Donna when 1-877 -486-1650 is only leave a message/ they will call you back??? Just call /leave vm to have Donna call you back? You'd think they would get smart and get Donna to train the rest (rhetorical question).

PPS: EI info on the CDn Wiki page .leads nowhere/ empty( says no text or not authorized to see page) . I am logged in as well.

[JustBreathe 22]

I entered on a K-1 and got EI from March- Sept in 2014

1. You cannot get EI until you are "ready willing and able to work" meaning--- you have to have your EAD or Greencard already. You cannot apply as soon as you move. I did that and was denied. I had the decision reversed once I gave them a copy of my EAD. They also asked for a copy of my visa as well as ll the other stuff you mentioned. I recommend you do not apply till you have EAD cause your claim starts when you file, I got screwed cause of that and my claim was shorter.

2. I had my employer put on my ROE- "relocation due to marriage" and EI never once questioned it, or gave me a hard time.

If you have more questions let me know! I know how confusing it is!

[tdotca 41]

Justbreathe, thanks for the reply and the offer. I will more than likely take you up on that later.

[kc247 22]

I applied as soon as I moved and had no issues at all. Maybe I was just lucky though. I applied online and filled out the form they mailed to me. Then when I got my EAD I faxed them a copy. I probably had to send a copy of my visa at some point but honestly don't remember clearly...I did way too much scanning of everything back then to remember what I did with it all! I also just had 'Quit' on my ROE and had no issues.

You should be applying for jobs when you get your EAD, I kept a list of everywhere I had applied to in case EI called and wanted to know, but they have never.

I use to call the number to do my reports, I would call as early as I could and then usually within a few hours I'd get a call back. Lately I have been doing paper forms (I only have 2 weeks left of EI now anyways), because I work too late in the day on Fridays to call and get a call back the same day, and I only get a small portion of my EI so I'm not as desperate to have the money as I was before, since it takes quite a bit longer to process when you do the paper forms.

[MissSarah 22]

I applied as soon as I moved and had no issues at all. Maybe I was just lucky though. I applied online and filled out the form they mailed to me. Then when I got my EAD I faxed them a copy. I probably had to send a copy of my visa at some point but honestly don't remember clearly...I did way too much scanning of everything back then to remember what I did with it all! I also just had 'Quit' on my ROE and had no issues.

You should be applying for jobs when you get your EAD, I kept a list of everywhere I had applied to in case EI called and wanted to know, but they have never.

I use to call the number to do my reports, I would call as early as I could and then usually within a few hours I'd get a call back. Lately I have been doing paper forms (I only have 2 weeks left of EI now anyways), because I work too late in the day on Fridays to call and get a call back the same day, and I only get a small portion of my EI so I'm not as desperate to have the money as I was before, since it takes quite a bit longer to process when you do the paper forms.

I went through the same process; my claim was on hold until I received my EAD and sent a copy to them. I did have to send a copy of my Visa. They don't accept any documents by e-mail so you'll have to fax or send by snail mail.

[Loki_Go 126]

So what's the timeline look like between quitting your job, moving over, getting married, applying for/receiving your EAD and finally applying for EI? I thought you had to apply for EI ASAP after leaving a job, otherwise it puts your claim at risk.

I'll be moving at the end of the year and I'm not sure yet when we'll get married, but it might not be as soon as I move over.

[NikLR 13,227]

You are supposed to apply within 4 weeks after ending your job. It can be denied but you can also ask for an appeal. If you claim after those 4 weeks you may lose on benefits.

[tdotca 41]

Anyone out there who has applied for EI when still in Canada? If so, I need some advice.

My last work day was Feb 27 and I am leaving Apr 1. As stated everywhere, application for EI should be done within 4wks of your last work day. I have started the online application but I am stumped already at mailing address.. should I put my current Canadian address or my future US address?

[NikLR 13,227]

Anyone out there who has applied for EI when still in Canada? If so, I need some advice.

My last work day was Feb 27 and I am leaving Apr 1. As stated everywhere, application for EI should be done within 4wks of your last work day. I have started the online application but I am stumped already at mailing address.. should I put my current Canadian address or my future US address?

I left fairly quickly after my interview so I put my address as the USA. You won't get EI until after you get your EAD. So I would wait as long as possible to apply and then use your US address since it will be very close to the time you will be moving.

[tdotca 41]

So if I apply for EI 5/6 wks after my last work day, there would be no issues except for possibly not getting ALL of the potential monies( potential meaning if they approve my application), correct? If so, great and one less thing for me to worry about at this moment.

Not really the topic but I have the old red/white OHIP card and today they sent me notification that I need to change it! ha. Do I really need to tell them that I am moving out of the country?

As usual, NLR , thanks for your responses.

[NikLR 13,227]

Well if you apply at week 4, that puts you at the 27th of March, which is super close to the 1st of April, your move date. It takes a while to update any info with Service Canada regarding your EI claim, (and no matter what you won't see a dime until you get your EAD) so it's pretty safe to say at that point your address will be the USA.

and no you don't have to, but you may want to if you're normally charged.