The Canuck EI Thread

[zilchfox 296]

oh no... you're available for EI because you moved and your job wasn't available where you were moving for family.

Yep I figured as much! Tried to tell my ex-boss that but he wouldn't believe me. Oh well. :/

[zilchfox 296]

Well, just called the EI Service Canada 'Out of Canada' hotline and they received my application as well as the antedate form I faxed! They said they're going to mail me a questionnaire and asked that I forward a photocopy of the NOA I get for the EAD when I send the questionnaire back.

[NikLR 13,230]

6 hours ago, zilchfox said:

Well, just called the EI Service Canada 'Out of Canada' hotline and they received my application as well as the antedate form I faxed! They said they're going to mail me a questionnaire and asked that I forward a photocopy of the NOA I get for the EAD when I send the questionnaire back.

sounds right on track!

[a.ali28 1]

I have a question hopefully someone can help me. I would like to do the online application for EI. My last payday from work was December 23, 2016. I noticed on the question they ask if I'm pregnant which I am. However I'm not looking to receive maternity benefits just regular benefits. I believe the regular benefit is better. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks 

[a.ali28 1]

10 minutes ago, a.ali28 said:

I have a question hopefully someone can help me. I would like to do the online application for EI. My last payday from work was December 23, 2016. I noticed on the question they ask if I'm pregnant which I am. However I'm not looking to receive maternity benefits just regular benefits. I believe the regular benefit is better. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks 

Oh by the way I move next week and I wouldn't be giving birth until the end of June. 

[NikLR 13,230]

26 minutes ago, a.ali28 said:

I have a question hopefully someone can help me. I would like to do the online application for EI. My last payday from work was December 23, 2016. I noticed on the question they ask if I'm pregnant which I am. However I'm not looking to receive maternity benefits just regular benefits. I believe the regular benefit is better. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks 

Maternity benefits are generally the same and you're eligible for longer without looking for work.  As long as you qualify in hours you should get 55% of your pay up to $543 weekly.  To be honest, I'd go that route over regular benefits with the requirement to be looking for a job.  

However,I don't think you're elgible for maternity yet because you're due in June so you can use regular benefits and look for a job, then as long as less than 6 months have passed I think you can get maternity as well.  I know they said I could reopen or reapply within a certain time frame when I ended mine in sept.  I thought it was may...  

 

Edited January 7, 2017 by NikLR

[a.ali28 1]

1 hour ago, NikLR said:

Maternity benefits are generally the same and you're eligible for longer without looking for work.  As long as you qualify in hours you should get 55% of your pay up to $543 weekly.  To be honest, I'd go that route over regular benefits with the requirement to be looking for a job.  

However,I don't think you're elgible for maternity yet because you're due in June so you can use regular benefits and look for a job, then as long as less than 6 months have passed I think you can get maternity as well.  I know they said I could reopen or reapply within a certain time frame when I ended mine in sept.  I thought it was may...  

 

Thank you so much. 

[AstroCanada 206]

Is there anyway to get EI on a CR-1 visa?  My partner will interview in mid-January and quit his job in preparation of moving in the middle of December.  Just wondering if there's any way for him to get EI upon initially moving to the US with his green card to join me.

[NikLR 13,230]

20 minutes ago, AstroCanada said:

Is there anyway to get EI on a CR-1 visa?  My partner will interview in mid-January and quit his job in preparation of moving in the middle of December.  Just wondering if there's any way for him to get EI upon initially moving to the US with his green card to join me.

Yes, CR1 can get EI.  I did.  I applied while still in Canada after my visa was returned to me, and put my US address.  Then once you're in the USA, he'll have to fill out a form and fax that and his endorsed visa as proof of his ability to work in the USA.   It's really not advisable to quit before getting the visa.  You don't know how long it will take to get it back.  Hopefully you won't have issues.  

Edited January 11, 2017 by NikLR

[zilchfox 296]

Small update for me:

Called yesterday to let them know that the questionnaire I've sent back along with copies of my documents might be late because USPS told me it'll take 10 business days to send back by regular international mail, and Patrick was fine with it and said he'd leave a note. He also informed me that my antedate form was approved! So this means that should I and once I receive benefits, they'll treat the application as if I filed it on time instead of late. Whew!  

[NikLR 13,230]

21 hours ago, zilchfox said:

Small update for me:

Called yesterday to let them know that the questionnaire I've sent back along with copies of my documents might be late because USPS told me it'll take 10 business days to send back by regular international mail, and Patrick was fine with it and said he'd leave a note. He also informed me that my antedate form was approved! So this means that should I and once I receive benefits, they'll treat the application as if I filed it on time instead of late. Whew!  

I like Patrick. He handled my case too.  I think he does most people's.  Lol. 

If you guys ever want to fax them, its way quicker.  I use hello fax through gmail.  Scan the form with a printer/scanner and fax online with your email address.  That way you're not waiting on the mail. 

[zilchfox 296]

EI claim approved! They're just waiting for my EAD card now and then they'll start issuing direct deposit payments to my bank account in Canada. I would have never known this was possible if it wasn't for this thread. Thank you guys!

[hollycenations 11]

Is there any place I can read about this EI business? I was completely unaware of what it was, and I'm not sure if it'd be useful for me to know for my husband. I've gone through a few pages of this thread, but it's hard to gather info from context sometimes. D:

[zilchfox 296]

3 hours ago, hollycenations said:

Is there any place I can read about this EI business? I was completely unaware of what it was, and I'm not sure if it'd be useful for me to know for my husband. I've gone through a few pages of this thread, but it's hard to gather info from context sometimes. D:

I can summarize what you need to do. EI is Employment Insurance, very similar to 'Unemployment' in the U.S. and will allow your husband to receive EI payments in lieu of a paycheck while he looks for a job in the U.S., thus making financial decisions a bit easier on both of you as he'll have at least somewhat an income despite no job. What he will get paid depends on what his income was previously and the unemployment rate of his region. Payments are 55% of your regular weekly pay up to a maximum of $537 a week, and for how long he receives payments all depends on the unemployment rate. For example, I myself will be receiving $537/week for 36 weeks when I get my EAD. There's other eligibility requirements too and can all be found online.

 

Step 1:
Apply for EI within 4 weeks of leaving your employment, preferrably after POE into the US. You can do that here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-apply-online.html

If you do not apply within 4 weeks, you may be penalized from EI benefits. If you have a good reason for filing late, be sure to fax an Application to Antedate, located here:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/fi-if/index.jsp?app=prfl&frm=ins2987&lang=eng
The Antedate, if approved, will treat your late EI application as if you filed on-time. I recently had success with an Antedate appeal myself as I thought I couldn't file until I had my EAD, but I was wrong.

 

Step 2:

You will eventually receive a questionnaire by postal mail (hence why it's a good idea to start the process AFTER moving) as well as access codes. Read the instructions carefully, complete and mail back. They require a response within 10 business days, so you'll have to act fast on this step. I've heard some people fax back their responses, however I can't speak towards that but I can tell you I had no issues mailing it back physically.

 

Step 3:

At this point you'll have found out if your EI claim was approved or denied. If denied, well...not much you can really do. Maybe appeal it? Otherwise, congratulations! If you were a K-1 visa, you will be required to wait until you have your EAD before you will receive EI benefits, however with IR-1/CR-1 visa applicants, because these applicants can work immediately the moment they cross the border they will not hold EI payments and can issue payments right away as you are 'willing, ready, and legally able' to work. Keep your Canadian bank account handy, you're going to need it to receive payments.

 

Step 4:

The process here on out I believe is the same as a regular EI claim. You can always call the EI Out-of-Canada office at 1-877-486-1650 (phone number listed here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-outside-canada/apply.html) if you have any questions. It seems for the Out-of-Canada office, they're a very small team, so there's a high chance that you'll get the same person multiple times when calling, and they're all super nice and can explain every step of the process to you. I've personally dealt with Patrick twice.

Edited January 23, 2017 by zilchfox

[hollycenations 11]

Wow, thank-you for the great outline, it was very helpful!! Unfortunately, I don't think it will be applicable in my husband's case. He's been unemployed for quite some time.