Navigating Canadian Work Experience and Study Regulations for Express Entry Applicants

Many Express Entry applicants are facing challenges as immigration officers are now scrutinizing Canadian work experience in relation to full-time studies. A recent case shed light on a candidate who legally worked in Canada while pursuing a university degree through distance learning from an institution outside the country.

Upon completion of the program, the applicant included both the educational credential and the Canadian work experience in their permanent residence application. However, immigration officers deemed the studies as full-time, rendering the work experience during that period ineligible for immigration points.

Under Canadian immigration rules, work experience acquired during full-time studies cannot be utilized for programs like the Canadian Experience Class. This regulation applies regardless of whether the studies are conducted through distance learning or with an overseas institution. If the program is classified as full-time, any work experience from that timeframe may be disregarded.

For individuals juggling work and studies in Canada, the critical factor lies in determining the program’s full-time status. If the program is deemed full-time, the work experience accumulated during that period may not contribute to immigration eligibility.