EI from Canada in States

[Galateia 1]

Duh *smacks forehead* Meant EI, yes. Sorry about that

Well, guess I'm outta luck for collecting EI then. Circumstances made it that I had to quit 2 weeks before my interview. Add 1 week to receive my visa, that leaves only 1 week to move and claim. No way I can do it that fast.

Hmm. Is your reason for quitting not for relocation?

If relocation is your only reason for leaving your job, you could always try calling the Belleville office (their numbers are in the EI thread) and asking them for advice. I've heard of people running into huge delays because they mistakenly applied while still in Canada and then once they moved to the US their cases had to be transferred to the Out of State Claims Unit (aka who handles us Cdns married to USCs) and it being a PITA. I wonder what would happen if you deliberately made that 'mistake' and filed within the 4 week limit and then moved to the US and changed your address.

You'd still have to haul tail to the US as soon as you could.

I was able to quit and pack up everything, book the U-pack stuff, get my travel arrangements, make sure all services were canceled, within two weeks. If you pre-pack everything while you're waiting, you could definitely swing it if you've got 3 weeks before your visa arrives.

[Pandora01 0]

Mean reason is for relocation, yes, but I also was sick and tired of working there (I was even getting physically sick because of the stress I endured there). However, I doubt that that's the reason my employer will write. All they want is to make sure their a** is covered. They don't care about employees' future once they've left and to them I leave of my own freewill.

[Galateia 1]

Mean reason is for relocation, yes, but I also was sick and tired of working there (I was even getting physically sick because of the stress I endured there). However, I doubt that that's the reason my employer will write. All they want is to make sure their a** is covered. They don't care about employees' future once they've left and to them I leave of my own freewill.

Hmm. If I were you, I would request my employer specify 'relocation to be with US spouse' on your ROE (Record Of Employment).

Maybe say something like

"Dear [Whoever is your HR manager],

I wished to clarify that Human Resources is aware that 'Relocation to be with Spouse' is to be specified on my forthcoming Record of Employment as my reason for resigning, in order to reassure Employment Canada that it was not any failing of my employer that prompted me to resign."

At the worst, you are no better off than you are now, at the best they want to avoid any sort of inquiry into the suitability of their workplace environment and mark down relocation correctly to avoid a stink.

I read in another thread that you are basically all set and mostly packed up already? Is there any reason why you couldn't leave essentially immediately after getting your visa?

[Pandora01 0]

I should be receiving my ROE this week. I'll see what they wrote on it and take it from there. I might indeed send them a letter like you suggest. I guess it wouldn't hurt and might even help.

Well, I'm counting a week to receive the visa. Then my sweetheart has to make arrangements for our pets and then he has to drive all the way up here. I'm in Quebec and he's in ND. It'll take him at least 3 days to get here, maybe 4. Give us a couple of days to say goodbye and then it's an additional 3-4 days to go back. I stopped working a week ago and my interview is Friday this week. So all in all, it'll be over a month I stopped working when I finally get in ND. And that's if everything goes smoothly.

Edited October 13, 2008 by Pandora01

[Texanadian 10]

Duh *smacks forehead* Meant EI, yes. Sorry about that

Well, guess I'm outta luck for collecting EI then. Circumstances made it that I had to quit 2 weeks before my interview. Add 1 week to receive my visa, that leaves only 1 week to move and claim. No way I can do it that fast.

Not so fast!

You can still file and I would think you'd be able to collect. I filed a few months after I moved to the USA and was approved. I lost out on the amount of weeks that EI would pay (due to the amount of hours on my ROE being reduced due to me filing months after coming to the USA).

Let's say your Record of Employment has 2000 hours on it. Every week you are not working and haven't filed, that number will go down by 40......EI calculates the amount of hours you worked from 1 year ago until the day of filing for EI. So if you filed today, they would calculate the hours as from Oct 13th 2007 until Oct 13th 2008.

For me, my ROE hours said 2200. But since I filed months later, EI calculated my hours as around 1500. Thus I was approved for 27 weeks instead of the maximum 36 weeks.

Your only issue may be the 4 week delay between your last day of work and your arrival in the US. For me, I think I worked until about 3 days before I moved. Since you moved as soon as you got your visa, you may be approved. It's not like you quit and then sat on your visa for 6 months in Canada before moving.

Moral of the story: File for EI the day you arrive at your new home in the USA. Don't bother waiting for your ROE. File online and quick.

[Pandora01 0]

Sounds like it might work then. I'll have received my ROE by the time I move (should receive it this week) so I could always give it a try once in the US. I guess the worst that can happen is to be refused.

How about income tax though. I know I have to do the Canadian tax think at the end of the year, but if I receive EI and it goes into the next year, does that mean I'll also have to do the Canadian taxes for 2009 as well?

[Flames9_RN 358]

no for 2009 (wel u can if u want depends if it works to YOUR benefit) they automatically deduct 25% off for taxes!

With regards to EI, doesn't hurt to apply, all they can do is deny ya!

[Pandora01 0]

So for 2009, I would declare the EI revenue on the US tax forms and that would be it, right? Now that I'm thinking about it, don't they withheld an amount for Canadian taxes on those EI payments? It's been years since I received any so I don't remember.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I stated, they automatically DEDUCT 25% off for Cdn income tax! Now do you have to report it to IRS, i do believe so, but Canada/USA do have a tax treaty, so you should not get double taxed, but you still have to report it. At the moment cant recall the forms you fil out!

[Pandora01 0]

Ok. No worries about which forms to fill, I'll find an expert when comes the time to do them. Guess that would mean I would have to file taxes for 2008 as well then. Oh, the joys of income taxes. I can just see myself filling out tax forms for Canada, Quebec, and the US this year and the next!

Edited October 13, 2008 by Pandora01

[Texanadian 10]

You'll simply fill out a normal Canada tax return as you always have and mark that you emigrated on it. Your last date of being a resident will be Dec 31st.

[Pandora01 0]

Ok, this is getting all confusing now Guess I'll leave this for the time being and concentrate on my interview this coming Friday. I'll check into EI and income tax later. Right now, it's just too much for my little head!

[Carlawarla 1]

If you're worried about being too close to the one month deadline for filing EI, you can always apply on-line (as you should anyway), and put your address as your US one and do it now rather than waiting until you move.

[Pandora01 0]

That's an idea. Let's see. If I'm approved on Friday, I should get the visa sometime in the following week. Once I have the visa in hand (just to be on the safe side) then I could apply for EI with the address in the US and I would still be within the four week period. It might just work. I'm still waiting for my ROE but it should come in this week.

Just thought of a problem though. What would I put in for a phone number where they can reach me? My number is in Canada. That wouldn't work with a US address

[Carlawarla 1]

Put down your US telephone number. No one is going to call you before you move...