An applicant's friend was confused about which date to use for their worker status — the date they applied for a work permit, or the date it was actually issued — and whether work experience is counted from the same date.
What the group clarified:- Worker status itself is counted from the date the work permit was issued, not the date you submitted the application.
- Work experience, however, is counted based on the legal status you actually worked under — this includes time spent working under implied status (i.e., after your old permit expired but before the new one was issued, if you applied for renewal on time and are legally allowed to continue working under the same conditions).
Practical takeaway:- Don't count your 'worker status' start date from your application date — use the actual issue date of the permit.
- If you continued working under implied status while waiting for a renewal, that time generally still counts toward your work experience (e.g., for Canadian Experience Class purposes), since implied status is a legally recognized work authorization.
- Keep clear records (offer letters, paystubs, and copies of both old and new permits) showing continuous, legally authorized work through any implied-status gaps, since this distinction can matter when you calculate total qualifying experience.