The Canuck EI Thread

[NikLR 13,230]

I believe someone else on the board has applied the same way as the USC who was a resident of Canada. You paid into EI so you're entitled to receive it. However for you, you have to prove that you're relocating and didn't just quit. You can't get EI if you just quit without one of their valid reasons. You moved and the job wasn't available in the new place but they may ask why you moved and determine if the reason was good enough or not.

[oncefuturealien 45]

You can still apply. You just may lose benefits.

Turns out that my last day I worked was actually January 25, so I just squeaked by!

Filled out the form, requested an ROE from my employer, we'll see how it shakes out. I hope I get something, as I am going to owe on my taxes this year and it would be a lot more convenient to have CAD available to pay them!

Thanks for your help, NLR.

[NikLR 13,230]

You're welcome! Glad you made it!

[Mad & J 25]

I finally received my EAD (after 115 days since filing). As soon as I had it in hand I faxed it to the Interstate Claims office. The next day I called them and talked to Patrick again, who told me they had reopened my claim. I thought it was nice that he set the period of eligibility from the first day of the week in which my EAD was approved rather than the day they received my fax. Since I had to wait nearly two weeks to receive the card in the mail, this effectively adds two weeks to my period of eligibility. Anyway, I was able to complete my EI report for the first two weeks on the phone then and there, so I expect to start receiving payments soon. Finally! btw after fighting with USCIS for months over missing biometrics appointments and late EAD processing, it was very nice to talk to a government employee who knows what he's doing.

Question: How do they calculate the number of weeks for which you can get payments when there is such a long gap between filing for EI and being eligible to work? If I was originally eligible for 36 weeks, would they subtract the 19 weeks or so that passed between filing for EI and approval of EAD, or would I get the full 36 weeks? Hopefully I will start working soon and won't be needing EI for very long, but it would be nice to know.

[Mag&Chef 17]

I finally received my EAD (after 115 days since filing). As soon as I had it in hand I faxed it to the Interstate Claims office. The next day I called them and talked to Patrick again, who told me they had reopened my claim. I thought it was nice that he set the period of eligibility from the first day of the week in which my EAD was approved rather than the day they received my fax. Since I had to wait nearly two weeks to receive the card in the mail, this effectively adds two weeks to my period of eligibility. Anyway, I was able to complete my EI report for the first two weeks on the phone then and there, so I expect to start receiving payments soon. Finally! btw after fighting with USCIS for months over missing biometrics appointments and late EAD processing, it was very nice to talk to a government employee who knows what he's doing.

Question: How do they calculate the number of weeks for which you can get payments when there is such a long gap between filing for EI and being eligible to work? If I was originally eligible for 36 weeks, would they subtract the 19 weeks or so that passed between filing for EI and approval of EAD, or would I get the full 36 weeks? Hopefully I will start working soon and won't be needing EI for very long, but it would be nice to know.

Congrats for your EAD card!!!

according to my case: I filled my EI claim on October 2016 and received my first payment February 07, 2016, my 36 weeks will end on October, 2016, my advice is to open a account in service Canada, you will have all your payment and eligibility details there, also all the information you need.

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/en/msca/access.page .

Btw: i have a question about Canadian tax return refund: I'm still waiting for my refund since 07 weeks is that normal?

Thanks.

[tdotca 41]

Congrats for your EAD card!!!

according to my case: I filled my EI claim on October 2016 and received my first payment February 07, 2016, my 36 weeks will end on October, 2016, my advice is to open a account in service Canada, you will have all your payment and eligibility details there, also all the information you need.

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/en/msca/access.page .

Btw: i have a question about Canadian tax return refund: I'm still waiting for my refund since 07 weeks is that normal?

Thanks.

I think so. I myself waited at least 2mths before I finally saw the bank deposit. Because it was submitted 'manually' and/or you being out of Canada, it would take longer.

[Mag&Chef 17]

I think so. I myself waited at least 2mths before I finally saw the bank deposit. Because it was submitted 'manually' and/or you being out of Canada, it would take longer.

same here, submitted manually, thank you so much tdotca, as usual, always ready to help.

have a good day!!!!

[NikLR 13,230]

yes a paper return takes longer

Be prepared for it to be less than you expected to get though depending how much much you worked in the USA vs Canada.

[Mad & J 25]

Congrats for your EAD card!!!

according to my case: I filled my EI claim on October 2016 and received my first payment February 07, 2016, my 36 weeks will end on October, 2016, my advice is to open a account in service Canada, you will have all your payment and eligibility details there, also all the information you need.

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/en/msca/access.page .

Btw: i have a question about Canadian tax return refund: I'm still waiting for my refund since 07 weeks is that normal?

Thanks.

Thanks!

I was approved for the full amount of weeks I thought I was eligible for, which is good. I received my first payment today, which was about 70$ less per week than what I expected from my calculations. Oh well. Still better than nothing!

I haven't been able to access my Service Canada account online. The Out of State Claims lady I talked to said that it was because I was from out of country. Did you already have an account before moving to the States?

[oncefuturealien 45]

IIRC I got that online account to work by saying I was in Ontario? it feels nefarious when you do it but when you sign in it has all your correct info.

[Mad & J 25]

IIRC I got that online account to work by saying I was in Ontario? it feels nefarious when you do it but when you sign in it has all your correct info.

I tried that by putting New Brunswick as my province (where I lived and worked before moving to the US), but that didn't work either. Maybe I'll have to call their help line.

[oncefuturealien 45]

I tried that by putting New Brunswick as my province (where I lived and worked before moving to the US), but that didn't work either. Maybe I'll have to call their help line.

My home province was BC. I think it works that way because the office that looks after out of the country claims is in Ontario.

[NovaSprings 89]

Just wanted to relay an experience with folks in case anyone is thinking of doing the same as I did.

I filed for and have been receiving EI since March. My previous employment in Canada was in the IT world so the easiest thing for me to do was pick up a consulting job. I lived and worked in Nova Scotia, but due to my previous employment, I have lots of contacts in large IT firms in Toronto (ie IBM, HP, Microsoft, etc) With only being in the US for 2 months I don't have a lot of IT contacts here, so I planned a trip for late April to go to TO to network with my contacts and see if I could get some work. I did not have specific "interviews" but more of making contacts, seeing what projects where on the go and see if my skills matched any gaps they had.

I flew to TO on a Tuesday, and networked Wed, Thursday and Friday, stayed the weekend and flew home on Monday. I was honest with EI. Before I even took the trip I let them know my plan, and intentions. The person I spoke to on the phone (international claims) said it sounded reasonable and took my information and said someone would review it but that it should not be a problem. When I was away I made my report and again relayed in the information on my travel (as I was outside my home location). I was informed that they would be holding back the payment for that week until a decision was made. This sounded reasonable, but no red flags.

Fast forward to the next report (ie 2 weeks later), I called in my report as per normal, no issues....I noticed a few days later there was no deposit. I called and they said that since my claim was under review for my travel, that I should continue to report, but no monies would be paid until a decision was made on my travel 3 weeks previous. I found this a bit annoying because I had not been out of my home area since my return and had indicated so on my report.

2 weeks later, I made another report....no payment. I asked where my case was and why it was taking it so long. At that point I was transferred to level 2 and the person evaluating my case....I have to say this was not the best experience I have had in a while. The first question from her was what was the "real" reason why I went to Toronto? I repeated my story. Then she wanted contact info for the HR departments of the companies I went to because she did not believe that a Canadian company would ever hire a US consultant. I provided examples of hiring US consultants when I was working in Canada. She would not except the explanation and insisted on HR contacts. I indicated that I never met with HR but with contacts I knew that could either recommend me or provide other contacts. She did not want these contacts, she wanted interview dates and times and HR contacts. I could not provide those to them. The conversation was getting a bit heated, it was being insinuated that I was going home (ie to Nova Scotia), that I really wasn't looking for work. At that point I had not been paid for 5 weeks, so rather than hold this up anymore I stopped the process and agreed to not get paid for the time in TO.

The reason for me sharing this is as a bit of a warning. If you are looking to be out of your home area, looking for work, please, please make sure you have lots of proof, make sure that the folks you are meeting with will agree to have a conversion with EI to confirm, etc. I guess the most frustrating thing about this (besides losing a week of benefits) is I had consulted with EI weeks before, had been open and upfront and honest about my intentions and was told it would not be a problem, but this would not hold true. I know that there is lots of suggestions of what I could have done...but use this as what not to do.

[NikLR 13,230]

There is the looking for work part that they are strict about, even when you're in Canada. People have abused the system and it falls hardest on those who dont (rather like immigration.)

They are within their rights to confirm you are indeed looking for work. I agree to get names and numbers of HR or other personnel when you get calls or interviews or are simply making contact about employment. The longer you are on EI, the mlre likely they are to demand such references.

Thanks for posting the reminder for everyone and sharing your story.

[Mag&Chef 17]

Thanks!

I was approved for the full amount of weeks I thought I was eligible for, which is good. I received my first payment today, which was about 70$ less per week than what I expected from my calculations. Oh well. Still better than nothing!

I haven't been able to access my Service Canada account online. The Out of State Claims lady I talked to said that it was because I was from out of country. Did you already have an account before moving to the States?

no, I opened an account while I m in the state.