Hoping for the best for you and your husband! <3

Thanks Misa!!! It will work out.. we're together.. that's the main thing.. i can face almost anything with him there with me

man after making a lot of money each month to getting EI is really disappointing.

I dont know how people can work for minimum wage.

Just called the 1-877-486-1650 number to officially file! But I got a voicemail asking for my name, SIN # and phone number...

So I left that but thought it weird that I didn't get to talk to a rep.................................

It is normal. They are very busy, but they always call you back the next day!

And I would suggest you, I filed on the internet, and it worked very good. It's a long form that takes about 30 min I would say to fill. Not sure if you can do this over the phone, I usually called them when they were receiving my cards too late to fill them over the phone....

But to start your claim it takes more time.

I thought I couldn't start a claim over the internet from the US.....

I filed over the internet to start my EI. First i talked to a dude over the phone. He emailed me on the steps and link to the site!1 Was very simple to do. In a few places one has to "trick" the pages, ie for ur current addy (or something liek that) one had to puit in an ontario address, etc etc

Yeah, I filed over the internet too, but that was after I spoke to a person who gave me the internet address. I don't remember the process, but it was pretty simple - I was able to put in my US address and everything.

I filed online too.

just filed online.

I made a bo-bo and added one of my jobs twice (woopsie) b/c it wasn't showing in the list at first til I "checked out".

I'll call in the am to talk to a rep.

Couple q's....

1) what did you EI cover letter look like? What did you discuss? I'm trying to write it right now and it is coming off very awkward.

2) did you fill out the 14 Highest Wks of Insurable Earnings? I do have wavering employment but it seems like such a pain to get those old schedules from management... does it really make a difference?

3) How long did it take for you to get your access code in the mail?

that's all I've got for right now =)

4) does it matter if you submit copies of your ROE and pay stubs or does it have to be originals?

been awhile for me, I'm sure others will pop in!! The ROE has to be the original (make a copy for urself) They will calculate how much $$$ get. They will automatically deduct 25% for taxes.

Cover letter??

I think I just wrote in better words why I had move here and why I was asking for EI. Copies of everythnig, but ROE has to be original.

I think I received my access code fairly quick after they approved my claim, but that itself took 3 months.

I guess i did do a short letter. More or less just stated why I was moving to the USA, nothing long winded.

I didn't even do a cover letter. Maybe that's why I got rejected

EI cover letter just listed what i was sending to them - and noted that i had relocated for marriage - don't think i put anything else in there - except my US address and my SIN number.

The best 14 weeks are to be filled on the ROE by the employer no? And it only applies to specific areas of the country.. so if they are not filled out by your employer perhaps you are not in those EI prone areas? Just thinking outloud here..

http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/ei/empl...on14weeks.shtml

It took until i received my first set of cards to get my access code. They told me to look at the bottom of the cover letter with the cards and it's printed there

Hope it helps!

HAHAHA..

I didn't either but I applied initially for regular benefits but I didn't get my ROE in on time and the denied it then Right after ai had our son so they sent me a form for parental.. sent that in with my ROe and few days later got a payment.. Don't be fooled you do not get 55% of what you made.. Well you do up to $464 a week I think.. Here I was hoping I was gonna get like 3500-4000 a month boy was I wrong hahaha..


also with parental I dont have to fill out the report cards.

Well there is certainly some good advice in here.

I filed online with my US address. Unfortunately I didn't file it immediately after crossing the border (Aug 2007), but instead just filed online last week and mailed my ROE in a few days later.

The best 14 weeks are not on the ROE. The ROE simply shows your last sets of gross pay. My area (south BC) isn't included in the 14 best weeks according to EI's website, but I filled them in on the application anyways. Can't hurt I figure.

By not sending this stuff off earlier, I may lose out on some benefits. I'm not sure though. My ROE had almost 2200 insurable hours. Even counting 52 weeks backwards from today's date, I still have something like 1400 hours of time. I think the difference would be that I would only get something like 22 weeks eligibility rather than 36.

Yeah, the 25% non resident tax off the top is a fairly good chunk of change. But I'd rather them take it off the top and then not have to deal with it later on.

I'm just crossing my fingers that I do actually qualify for EI.

I didn't file for EI until like a month after I entered the USA, as I had no clue I could recieve it, (thanks Cassie) I dont believe I lost any benefits, got it for the maximum time. Of course I initially got denied,but redressed and won!! Cheerio

ok the hubby should be getting his first 2 weeks of EI sometime soon. He's been working the past 2 weeks and will work this week but then won't work till early Jan-not his choice, the company is putting the project he's working on hiatus. will he be eligible for EI for those few weeks? this will probably continue for a few more months-working a few weeks then not working for a few weeks. he's been hired as full-time as needed, he expects to be offered a real full time management position in the spring, but what to do in the meantime?

I had *no* idea what EI was. {sigh} I should have read this sooner but I thought it was only for K visa folks. I have a couple of questions:

1. Are full-time students eligible? The Service Canada webpage doesn't say that they aren't but my hubby thinks that he's eligible.

2. Can CR1 visa applicants apply for this also??

Thanks!

Yes cr-1 can apply, actually much easier for a cr-1 as ur eligible to work right from the start. I was a cr-1. Not sure about the student thing. One has to be able to work, if u cant work, no EI, at least from my understanding, but students can stil work!! I think your allowed to "study" to a certain limit before they deduct $$$, unsure what the hours or credits would be. You can contact them via the phone and they can answer any questions. They were extremely friendly when I called. As wel lexpalin you had no clue that u could receive EI benefits in the USA, and the reason ur in the USA is to be with ur spouse. Of course you have to have had enough insurable hours in Canada to collect EI, if not, no EI.

I just got my access codes and everything.. and so I went online and it said this:

We are not able to establish a claim for you because you did not work the required number of hours to qualify for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. For more information refer to the notice that was sent to you. Information, about qualifying for benefits is available from the EI site.

Did you have enough hours?? If so you can redress it. My claim was initailly denied for another reason, but redressed it and won.

Friend of mine worked for a couple years and then collected EI while going to school full time. This was all in Canada.

Good news: I got my first EI cards in the mail yesterday along with my access code.

So so news: The My EI online account doesn't have any record of me when I try to log in.

EDIT: I can log on and check it now. I was putting BC (my old province). Needed to enter ON for Ontario and it worked....No mention on the next page about my claim. Still says undecided at the moment. We shall see.

Bad news: Got an RFE for my I-485. They want me to send in the I-864. Hmmm, I seem to recall sending it in. And I triple checked everything before sending it off. Oh well. Better my green card than my work or travel permission.

As i think about it more, I do recall the Ei lady stating I could could to school for only soo many hours each week, before they would deduct $$$, not sure what the magic # was, and that was back in 2005, so things may have changed

ive gotten like 6 payments and mine still doesnt show anything online

That surprises me.. hmm it always accurately documented my payments and I used it to predict when they would hit my CDN account.. You might want to ask them about that next time you chat with them on the phone.

Texanadian - Remember they can send you cards before they reach a "verdict" on your claim. I had filled out a bunch of cards and that status still remained undecided. Keep on those people at the office to make a decision on your claim. Keep calling them (I called every week) squeeky wheel and all that jazz..

I just got my first cards Friday - a load of them actually all of Nov, plus the 1st week of Dec too i think.

So.......just to confirm - last time I collected pogy (sp?) was 1990 when I got fired from a wonderful waitressing job

Do I need to fill out the cards at all if I can do so online?[list]

I obviously report the outstanding vacation pay which I was paid along with my last pay, correct? I was paid the week after I quit because it was the normal pay period

I gave them my banking info already when I filed online.....do I need to send anything further? Their stupid Benefit statement doesn't really help...it has a caned message on the bottom about//We will stop sending you benefits statements if...you are enrolled in Direct Deposit, blah blah blah

Thanks

I dont believe u can file the cards online from the USA, at least u could not back in 2005, had to mail them in

Does anyone have a response for this question above?

I also just recieved my first set of report cards, and I'm not sure how to answer this question.

Hello,

I just recieved my first set of report cards. There are two of them, for different date periods.

I also recieved 5 little sheets, exactly the same, that have questions like "Dates worked during the week" "Gross amount earned". The sheets are all for the same time period. Do I send back all 5, even though they are the same, or does EI make a habit of just sending extra's in case I need them?

Thanks!

I said 'YES'....a further note indicates to refer to 'E' and if you look at that on the front it is for Group Sickness/ maternity.


I feel somewhat uncomfortable saying I was able to work myself...because frankly, I'm a K1 and I can't yet....

Yes, You are ready and willing and capable to work!! They want to make sure you are work authorized and as a K-1 you are work authorized.. just can't be hired by an employer without a stamp - SO it's a catch 22 and basically on paper you ARE work authorized and thus elligible for EI...

It's strange and confusing but it's the way it is

Ok, thanks folks, I appreciate the help.

It's a tricky question isn't it? Reading page 1 of the thread, it seems to say that yes you are willing and able to work based on the K-1 theory of giving out 90 work permits (even if you don't get one). There is also the new issue mentioned on other parts of the board that the I-94 they attach to your passport is actually a valid 90 work permit as well.

90 days minus 2 week period at the start is 10 weeks worth of EI. I'm kicking myself for not filing as soon as I crossed the border. I lost out on thousands of dollars. I've been here for 4 months on zero income.

Dont feel bad, I had no clue either until Cassie mentioned it. Luckily for me it was just after I entered. Then I was at first denied, but then got a nice retro-cheque!!!

So, I officially got denied cuz I only had 848 out of the 910 hours I needed.. So, I'm scrambling to find additional ROE cuz I may be able to pad those hours by a little bit cuz of my own oversight!

sigh.

the hubby sent off his first set of cards Nov. 30 and has gotten the first weeks pay. but hasn't gotten any more cards or actually any letter saying that he was approved, just the money. anyone have any idea what's up?

Give them a call.. i know that i had trouble with my cards cause they wrote my address as 108-2 N. Main st. Apt# first then street address( Canada does apt # first then the street # - it freaks US postmen out I guess.. it's always address first THEN apt # here).. the cards were rejected by US postal service.. they came through some times and other times were sent back.. If he got $$ he's got to be approved.. so chances are something wrong with the addy!!

thanks, I'll see if I can get him to call (it's like herding cats to get him to deal with anything official)

I hear you!! UGH.. but is $$ an incentive? perhaps a bribe deserving enough of a phone call?? you might want to check the envelope / address on the 1st set of cards if you still have it to see if the address is written funny.. it might not be the issue at all, but either way I would call them.. seems odd they didn't send more cards

Tell him not to call, dont worry about it!!! But if the EI people no get cards returned, he no get $$$$ lol

you'd think it'd be enough incentive. I've had numerous conversations with my grandma and mom, they've given me no hope that he will eventually realize that these things can't just be ignored-apparently neither my dad or grandpa have come around and they've been working on them for a lot longer. "ugg, me caveman. me kill food. me deal with no paperwork" This week's battle is over him switching his Ab license for a NM one.

I don't think that we still have the first envelope-I'll look and see if the address is correct. we live in a house so the apt. address thing shouldn't be a problem. maybe if I just lower my voice, I can talk to EI

Need some advice here:

Aside from the cards I already received......I also received a letter from them, asking some questions about whether I'm a US citizen etc. The 1 question is tricky.....

If you are not a US citizen, do you have a working visa issued by the Government of the US, authorizing you to accept employment.....

I am choosing to select 'No' and then adding some additional information saying that I'm actually on a K1, with is not a work VISA, but for immigration purposes.

Can anyone help me out with the wording I should use please? I really do feel like I'm lying because frankly none of us K1's can work without an EAD

Thanks......BTW, anyone else gotten one of these questionnaires?

I got that same sheet in the mail today. I'm going to attach a paper to it and write my own answer to the question.

I remember reading on one of the posts about the SSN it asks for when applying for EI but i cant find it now lol..

My question is, On the online application, it asks for my SSN, does that mean i gotta wait until i get my SSN from the states before i can even think about applying for EI?

Sure you mean SSN ? I applied online, no where was I asked for an American SSN.....of course I provided my SIN.