Canadian Experience Class Questions and Answers

Q&A – Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

In this article, I will address a few detailed questions and answers for the Canadian Experience Class program which include pertinent information to consider when applying for this program. The Canadian Experience Class program was intended for foreign national workers who have work experience within Canada and have gained skills that will help them obtain employment and will ultimately lead to permanent residency in Canada. If you a skilled foreign national worker and would like to apply for the Canadian Experience Class program, I suggest you watch our video on “The Basics of Canadian Experience Class” before reading this question and answer article. The intention of this article is meant to clarify any misunderstanding or confusion with regards to the Canadian Experience Class program.

Q: What exactly is the Canadian Experience Class?

A: The Canadian Experience Class is a category of the Economic class of Canadian immigration. In this category, skilled foreign national workers that are currently working in Canada temporarily may qualify and apply for permanent residency in Canada.

Q: How do I qualify for the Canadian Experience Class?

A: Similar to any other immigration application, a foreign national that would like to apply for the Canadian Experience Class must have the following requirements met in order to qualify:

• Must have at least 1 year of full-time work experience in Canada, within 3 years before applying for CEC
• Must have the equivalent work experience if you are a part-time skilled worker
• Must have obtained your work experience through proper authorization in Canada, i.e. a work permit
• Must have adequate language abilities
• Must reside anywhere with the exception of Quebec

It is important to note that when applying for the Canadian Experience Class, the application will be processed through the Express Entry selection system and the applicants must proceed to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency in Canada before they submit an application for CEC.

Q: Can I still apply under the Canadian Experience Class if I am temporarily working in the province of Quebec?

A: Yes, thankfully, you can still apply under the Canadian Experience Class, even if you are temporarily working in the province of Quebec. The work experience that you lawfully gain in Quebec will be taken into consideration for your CEC application so long as the applicant intends to live anywhere in Canada but the province of Quebec.

Q: To qualify for the Canadian Experience Class, does my work experience have to relate to my education?

A: If you have recently graduated from a Canadian designated learning institution and you are a foreign national, your work experience does not have to be related to the education that you have gained in Canada. This all depends on if you have accumulated work experience after you have graduated from the designated learning institution in Canada.

Q: I have already returned to my home country and no longer live in Canada, am I still eligible under the Canadian Experience Class?

A: In fact, you would still be eligible to qualify under the Canadian Experience Class even if you have already returned to your home country and no longer live in Canada. There are some requirements if this circumstance applies to you. For instance, you must ensure that you have already submitted the CEC application as well as have at least one year of full-time work experience within Canada, within the three years prior to the submitting the application.

Q: If I only have a one-year degree or diploma from a Canadian designated learning institution, do I still qualify under the Canadian Experience Class?

A: In order to adequately qualify under the Canadian Experience Class, you must have at least a two-year degree, diploma or certificate for academic studies in Canada in addition to having graduated from a Canadian designated learning institution. However, it is important to note that there is an exception to this rule. An applicant can still be eligible to qualify under the Canadian Experience Class if they have successfully completed a one-year Master’s degree after first completing another program that is one year long from a Canadian designated learning institution. Therefore, both the Master’s degree and the other program must have been completed within two years.

Q: If I have taken an English-as-a-second-language course, would this count towards the education requirements of the Canadian Experience Class?

A: Unfortunately, no; English-as-a-second-language courses do not count towards the education requirements of the Canadian Experience Class. However, if an applicant has taken a second language course, the education can be counted so long as the second language course does not account for more than half of the course load of the educational degree, diploma, or certificate.

Q: Is it possible to apply for permanent residency right away under the Canadian Experience Class?

A: Unfortunately, no; candidates cannot apply directly for permanent residency under the Canadian Experience Class. They must first make an expression of interest to immigrate to Canada permanently through the Express Entry selection system. If the applicant is then selected from the Express Entry selection system pool, then they would be issued an invitation to apply for permanent residency. At this point, then the applicant can apply and submit their application for permanent residency in Canada.

Contact Akrami & Associates

Should you have any further questions or feel confused or unclear about how to apply under the Canadian Experience Class program, it is important to ask any questions you may have and discuss your concerns. By talking to immigration professionals about your concerns, this will ease your worries and assist with the application process. Many immigration applications are difficult to pursue on your own and it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to apply. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped our clients apply under the Canadian Experience Class program. If you believe that you may be eligible to apply under the Canadian Experience Class, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advice.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!