The Canuck EI Thread

[SapphireDreams 71]

Did anyone change their name to their married name for EI or just keep it in your maiden name?

I kept it in my maiden name since my SIN and bank accounts are still in my maiden name.

[coldwatersurf 5]

Just to let you guys know... if you are trying to get a hold of EI, they are pretty busy. My report cards are 4 weeks behind... it sucks but they're willing to take my information on the phone.... only if i can get through the phone line or if someone calls me back.

[minnew 4]

Applied for EI and since then they have sent me out a letter asking about when I entered the country and K-1 visa and another letter with 2 report cards. There are 2 different addresses listed on each of the reply envelopes...I send one back to Kingston...and my report cards back to Belleville? I don't get it!

Which brings me to my next question...I have logged onto My Government Accout and see that my employer submitted my ROE electronically...Do I have to send my original ROE then? If so, which address do I send it to?

When I did my online application, stupid me didn't submit my banking information. Which address would I send a void cheque to?

The my government account site won't let me add any bank information because it says invalid and I do not have an active claim...hence they have no received my mail yet!

[Holliday 4]

Applied for EI and since then they have sent me out a letter asking about when I entered the country and K-1 visa and another letter with 2 report cards. There are 2 different addresses listed on each of the reply envelopes...I send one back to Kingston...and my report cards back to Belleville? I don't get it!

Which brings me to my next question...I have logged onto My Government Accout and see that my employer submitted my ROE electronically...Do I have to send my original ROE then? If so, which address do I send it to?

When I did my online application, stupid me didn't submit my banking information. Which address would I send a void cheque to?

The my government account site won't let me add any bank information because it says invalid and I do not have an active claim...hence they have no received my mail yet!

Yeah, it's normal that you have to send things to the different addresses that you mentioned. At least that's what I was told to do. Also, I called for clarification on a few things, and I was told that I could fax in the completed form that asks when I entered the U.S. etc., along with the copy of my visa, so I did that.

I would recommend calling the interstate claims phone number (877-486-1650) and ask them about the other questions that you have. I imagine that you are supposed to send your banking information to the Kingston office. I would also guess that you don't have to send in your ROE, since they already have the electronic version. I think I remember reading that on the EI site. Also, when you call, they may even allow you to give them your bank info over the phone or by fax. It can't hurt to ask!

[TimandJoyce 1]

Did anyone change their name to their married name for EI or just keep it in your maiden name?

I kept it in my maiden name since my SIN and bank accounts are still in my maiden name.

When I finally get around to receiving EI, ( got the letter to say I wasn't going to get benefits because I need to prove I can obtain employment... , then they sent something to say I could be eligible for financial support in retraining.... to the US? I won't hold my breath.) I'm going to send a copy of our marriage certificate to my bank in Canada, and have my visa's changed to my married name, and then contact EI of how to do that too. My SIN was always in my maiden name, ( I've been married twice before) but it's never given me problems. My SSN is in my previous name, but when I get my EAD then I'll go have that changed too. My passport expires in 2011, but I don't foresee myself doing too many plane tickets to worry about, unless an emergency happens at home, but for now, my planned trip will be a year from now when my son gets married. ( unless I get homesick in the spring.. )

[SapphireDreams 71]

Did anyone change their name to their married name for EI or just keep it in your maiden name?

I kept it in my maiden name since my SIN and bank accounts are still in my maiden name.

When I finally get around to receiving EI, ( got the letter to say I wasn't going to get benefits because I need to prove I can obtain employment... , then they sent something to say I could be eligible for financial support in retraining.... to the US? I won't hold my breath.) I'm going to send a copy of our marriage certificate to my bank in Canada, and have my visa's changed to my married name, and then contact EI of how to do that too. My SIN was always in my maiden name, ( I've been married twice before) but it's never given me problems. My SSN is in my previous name, but when I get my EAD then I'll go have that changed too. My passport expires in 2011, but I don't foresee myself doing too many plane tickets to worry about, unless an emergency happens at home, but for now, my planned trip will be a year from now when my son gets married. ( unless I get homesick in the spring.. )

What bank do you bank with Joyce?

I bank with TD and they told me that I had to come in person to change my name on my accounts, they wouldn't take my marriage certificate by mail or fax. So I went this past weekend and they still couldn't change my TD Visa because they have to send the new card to the branch, they can't send to a US address... and they wouldn't hold the card for me until Christmas or mail it to me. So I have to call TD Visa back a couple of weeks before I'm back in Canada and then they'll issue me a new visa and send it to my brank in time for me to pick it up. So annoying!

[TimandJoyce 1]

What bank do you bank with Joyce?

I bank with TD and they told me that I had to come in person to change my name on my accounts, they wouldn't take my marriage certificate by mail or fax. So I went this past weekend and they still couldn't change my TD Visa because they have to send the new card to the branch, they can't send to a US address... and they wouldn't hold the card for me until Christmas or mail it to me. So I have to call TD Visa back a couple of weeks before I'm back in Canada and then they'll issue me a new visa and send it to my brank in time for me to pick it up. So annoying!

CIBC. I had filled out a "fax/phone" document that will allow me to do transactions, pay bills ( I do that online anyway) or anything I need to. As far as I was told, I could call up and talk with the person in charge, ( I also know her well, she married a Texan, and he moved to Canada, so we have a lot in common) and that I could probably just fax my license. Course haven't called her yet so I could get a different story I think I should be fine because of the authorization letter I signed.

Does TD have anything like that? Did you fill and sign one? Maybe something can still get worked out.

[SapphireDreams 71]

What bank do you bank with Joyce?

I bank with TD and they told me that I had to come in person to change my name on my accounts, they wouldn't take my marriage certificate by mail or fax. So I went this past weekend and they still couldn't change my TD Visa because they have to send the new card to the branch, they can't send to a US address... and they wouldn't hold the card for me until Christmas or mail it to me. So I have to call TD Visa back a couple of weeks before I'm back in Canada and then they'll issue me a new visa and send it to my brank in time for me to pick it up. So annoying!

CIBC. I had filled out a "fax/phone" document that will allow me to do transactions, pay bills ( I do that online anyway) or anything I need to. As far as I was told, I could call up and talk with the person in charge, ( I also know her well, she married a Texan, and he moved to Canada, so we have a lot in common) and that I could probably just fax my license. Course haven't called her yet so I could get a different story I think I should be fine because of the authorization letter I signed.

Does TD have anything like that? Did you fill and sign one? Maybe something can still get worked out.

TD basically told me that they can't do any name changes unless they are done in person...end of story. I can bank with them over the phone, but not do an actual name change. Also, in person they were willing to change the name on my credit card, the problem was that they couldn't mail me a new card to a US address, so you might want to confirm that CIBC will be able to mail you a new card in the US.

I barely use my cards from TD anymore anyways, I may not even change my credit card. It's such a hassle!

[TimandJoyce 1]

TD basically told me that they can't do any name changes unless they are done in person...end of story. I can bank with them over the phone, but not do an actual name change. Also, in person they were willing to change the name on my credit card, the problem was that they couldn't mail me a new card to a US address, so you might want to confirm that CIBC will be able to mail you a new card in the US.

I barely use my cards from TD anymore anyways, I may not even change my credit card. It's such a hassle!

I would also imagine getting new cards wouldn't be too much of a problem, as one of them is a US Dollar Visa, and that I use it here. The only thing I don't like about it is that I can't pay online because the number is American, not Canadian so I have to send a cheque or money order to Toronto by snail mail... Hopefully I can get it all changed ok..otherwise just like travelling in my previous name, I'll be signing receipts in my previous name...

[Danu 19]

TD actually told me that they will have to cancel my visa card if I leave the country perminantly. I don't understand that..I'm still a Canadian citizen..meh whatever. I don't plan on letting them know for awhile then so I still have a card to use. Its funny, cuz my Line of Credit which is much much higher..no problems keeping that open with a balance on it, and I can even keep the insurance. I'm still wondering if I can keep my EI going once I move (upon getting my EAD of course). Thinking I will have to call in December to find out.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

TD actually told me that they will have to cancel my visa card if I leave the country perminantly. I don't understand that..I'm still a Canadian citizen..meh whatever. I don't plan on letting them know for awhile then so I still have a card to use. Its funny, cuz my Line of Credit which is much much higher..no problems keeping that open with a balance on it, and I can even keep the insurance. I'm still wondering if I can keep my EI going once I move (upon getting my EAD of course). Thinking I will have to call in December to find out.

TD has their head up their butts - I phoned to change my address to the US one after moving...and he told me they can't use a US address, ...and I quote here..."how about we use your parent's address if they still live in Canada'....

So obviously the rules for that are loosey goosey!

So now, for the last 2 years, they mail my TD VISA statement to my parents (and my mum faithfully mails it to me) and occasionally stuff about my bank account, got a new bank card recently even. They said I had to activate it from home...so technically you'd think I'd have to be at my parents and calling from that area code....but I phoned from VA...the girl asked if I was at home, I said yes...she paused and then she continued on as usual...

[Flames9_RN 358]

President choice doesn't allow a USA address either! I have used my parents addy in Sk. since I have moved here with no problems!

[SapphireDreams 71]

TD actually told me that they will have to cancel my visa card if I leave the country perminantly. I don't understand that..I'm still a Canadian citizen..meh whatever. I don't plan on letting them know for awhile then so I still have a card to use. Its funny, cuz my Line of Credit which is much much higher..no problems keeping that open with a balance on it, and I can even keep the insurance. I'm still wondering if I can keep my EI going once I move (upon getting my EAD of course). Thinking I will have to call in December to find out.

TD has their head up their butts - I phoned to change my address to the US one after moving...and he told me they can't use a US address, ...and I quote here..."how about we use your parent's address if they still live in Canada'....

So obviously the rules for that are loosey goosey!

So now, for the last 2 years, they mail my TD VISA statement to my parents (and my mum faithfully mails it to me) and occasionally stuff about my bank account, got a new bank card recently even. They said I had to activate it from home...so technically you'd think I'd have to be at my parents and calling from that area code....but I phoned from VA...the girl asked if I was at home, I said yes...she paused and then she continued on as usual...

You should try calling them back and just changing the billing address (unless you already did that).

I know when I called to change my address they wouldn't do it, but they said if I came in person with a proof of address they would change it for me. We'll see if my bills actually get sent to me in NY. The lady helping me seemed really unsure about changing my address. It's like no one at their branch had ever moved out of the country before (which I find hard to believe). I

I liked TD Bank up until now. They made it so difficult for me to change my name and are making it even more difficult to change the name on my CC! They should really have a better system for helping people out of the country using their services! /Vent over.

[Sam and Ben 2]

I'm sure that there are a fair few people in the same situation as I, so I thought to pose it here...

Obviously, if I'm able to receive EI benefits once eligible, that'd be a great way to balance out the funds a bit. But, as my employers have been aware for many months now that I would eventually be leaving, my full-time status dropped down to part-time only. It's been like that for almost six months, with a couple of three-week-long vacations thrown in.

With the way the economy is now, I imagine anyone who informed their employers of their situation ahead of time could easily have found themselves in this position, so how much will this affect my likeliness of receiving EI benefits? And, I assume, they'll be mostly looking at my part-time wages over the past six months to decide the amount I'm eligible for, if I can receive at all?

[SapphireDreams 71]

I'm sure that there are a fair few people in the same situation as I, so I thought to pose it here...

Obviously, if I'm able to receive EI benefits once eligible, that'd be a great way to balance out the funds a bit. But, as my employers have been aware for many months now that I would eventually be leaving, my full-time status dropped down to part-time only. It's been like that for almost six months, with a couple of three-week-long vacations thrown in.

With the way the economy is now, I imagine anyone who informed their employers of their situation ahead of time could easily have found themselves in this position, so how much will this affect my likeliness of receiving EI benefits? And, I assume, they'll be mostly looking at my part-time wages over the past six months to decide the amount I'm eligible for, if I can receive at all?

I don't know exactly how it's calculated, but it's something about your best 12 weeks or something like over a certain amount of time. You'll have to have a certain amount of hours or something. Check out the official website, I think they explain how to calculate if you aren't sure if you qualify. I know that I worked full time for 2 years and I received 42 weeks at the max amount, but I was making well over their minimum and and I often worked 50 hour weeks. You may or may night qualify depending on your total amount of hours. Your full time hours might help you out there so I wouldn't rule it out. No harm in applying and seeing what happens, but I wouldn't rely on it or anything.