Proof of work experience is one of the necessary steps you must take to apply for immigration to Canada successfully. Though it’s a simple process, it can be daunting if you don’t know how to do it. This article will take you through the process of proving your work experience for Canadian immigration.
Proving Your Work Experience for Canada Immigration
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) body verifies every claim applicants make when applying for Canadian immigration. From marriage certificates to educational credentials to work experience, immigration officers are trained to recognize real immigration applications.
Once picked from the express entry draw, the IRCC will send you an invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence. You must submit all documents supporting your educational, work experience, age, and language proficiency claims at this stage.
The proof of work experience required for Canadian immigration can vary depending on whether you are an employee or self-employed. If your work experience is from a Canadian company, the documents you’ll provide will differ from those of foreigners. Let’s look at how you can prove your work experience when completing your application for Canadian immigration. Â
Ways to Prove Work Experience for Canada Immigration
These are the different ways to prove your work experience when applying for immigration to Canada:
Provision of Reference Letter
A reference letter from your employer is the IRCC’s preferred proof of work experience. This has to be an official document from your employer and must bear the company letterhead. It also contains important details like your name, the company’s contact information, and the details of your immediate supervisor or the company’s personnel officer.
In addition, the reference letter has to specify all the positions you held while working at the company. It must also include your roles, titles, the number of hours you worked per week, annual salaries and benefits, and the current job status.
For every work experience, you listed when submitting your express entry profile, you’ll provide a matching document to prove your work experience. Furthermore, this reference letter differs from the one you submit when searching for jobs. Therefore, the IRCC requires your employer to submit details like evidence of business ownership. This will enable them to verify the authenticity of your submitted reference letter.
Proof of Work Experience by Self-Employed Applicants
If you’re self-employed, you’ll have to submit other documents in place of the reference letter. The articles of incorporation are one of the preferred documents. However, you could submit any other valid proof of business ownership. Furthermore, you should provide proof of your self-employment income to show how well you’ve been able to manage your business. Another important proof of work experience here is documentation from third-party individuals indicating the service your business provided to them and the payments they made in return.
Though you’re a self-employed applicant, self-declared main duties or affidavits are not accepted as proof of self-employed work experience. That’s why your certificate of incorporation and third-party documentation is your surest proof.
Proof of Work Experience for Those with Canadian Work Experience
For applicants with Canadian work experience, documents like the T4 tax information slip, the Notice of Assessments, and Option C printouts issued by the Canada Revenue Agency are needed as proof. Other important proofs are your work and study permits. These documents enable them to confirm that you have the authorization to participate in full-time work in Canada. Students with study visas are not allowed to take full-time employment in Canada during the period of their studies. Similarly, immigrants without work permits cannot take official jobs in Canada.
What do You Use if You Can’t Get a Reference Letter From Your Employer?
If you can’t get a reference letter from your employer, these documents would serve as proof of work experience:
- Employment contracts
- Promotion letters
- Pay-stubs
- Work pictures
- Sworn declarations from former colleagues
Humans handle immigration application checks, and because of that, you may get through with the documents above. Sometimes, the immigration officer might call your employer to verify the documents provided and inquire why you didn’t submit a reference letter.
Conclusion on the Proof of Work Experience for Canada Immigration
Your immigration application isn’t complete if you didn’t submit proof of work experience. The immigration officer will return your incomplete application, which would take you back to the phase where you have to wait for your invitation to apply (ITA).
Furthermore, you have to be honest and transparent in your application. Any form of misinformation could get you a minimum five-year ban from Canada.
Hopefully, this article has presented you with all the information you need to prove your work experience in Canadian immigration.Â
