(This is the third in a series of articles on the factors by which applicants under the federal Skilled Worker class are assessed. )

WORK experience relates to the 38 occupations the applicant must qualify in under current federal Skilled Worker class regulations. Points are awarded based on the number of years of full-time ( or their equivalent, if part-time) work experience. The maximum score possible is 21 points, which is for four or more years of work experience.

An applicant is automatically disqualified if he/she has less than one year of work experience (score:0), or if the work experience was obtained more than 10 years prior to applying, because he/she does not meet the definition of a skilled worker (pls. see first article on age).

Work experience can be proven through various means. The Canadian Embassy gives substantial weight to letters from  employers (past or present). When requesting this letter, be sure to ask that the inclusive dates of employment, specific duties and responsibilities and remuneration be clearly stated. The letter must be in official company letterhead and signed by the company official who would have direct knowledge of the facts, e.g., immediate supervisor or HR department personnel. If the company or business has ceased to exist, a former co-employee, client, customer, supplier or any person with whom the worker had contact with during the relevant period, who has direct knowledge of his/her work experience, can provide a sworn statement (affidavit). Other secondary sources of information could be income tax documents and social benefits records, e.g., unemployment insurance and disability claim forms. The Embassy does check into the veracity of documents submitted so misleading or, worse, false documents should never be filed. I will discuss misrepresentation in a future article.

Next, language proficiency.

Atty. Abesamis is back in the Philippines and will again be holding a series of free seminars on immigrating to Canada. Those interested in attending these free seminars can send an e-mail, with resumé attached, to seminars@abelaw.ca.