A PGWP holder working full-time in Canada wanted to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program via a category-based (STEM) draw and asked whether proof of funds is really needed.
What group members clarified:- A PGWP job is not a 'valid job offer.' For Express Entry purposes, a valid job offer generally means an LMIA-backed offer. Simply working on a PGWP does not exempt an FSW applicant from proof of funds.
- FSW requires proof of funds; CEC does not. If you qualify under Canadian Experience Class, no settlement funds are needed — worth checking before defaulting to FSW. (The dollar threshold changes periodically; check IRCC's current table for your family size.)
- The '6-month average' is the norm, but there's flexibility. The standard expectation is showing the required amount as a ~6-month average balance. However, one member didn't have 6 months of history: they opened a fixed deposit in their home country about a month before applying, uploaded the FD receipt plus a bank letter detailing both the savings balance and the FD, and got PR approved without issue.
- Documentation quality matters more than account type. The advice that worked: make sure the bank letter spells out everything — account balances, the FD, and their history.
If funds are recent, consider adding a letter of explanation for the source of funds to preempt questions.