You Earned Your Experience. Now Secure Your Future.

For international graduates and temporary foreign workers, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is the most direct path to Permanent Residence. You have already built a life here—but transitioning from “Temporary Worker” to “Permanent Resident” is not automatic.

In 2026, IRCC’s automated systems are stricter than ever. A miscalculation of your work hours, a gap in your “implied status,” or a vague reference letter can lead to a refusal. If you are refused after your work permit expires, you may have no legal way to stay in Canada.

At Cambria Law, we specialize in CEC Audits. We don’t just submit forms; we mathematically verify your eligibility and protect your status while you wait.

The “1,560 Hour” Trap: It’s Not Just “One Year”

Many applicants assume that working for 12 months means they qualify. This is the #1 reason for CEC refusals.

  • The Rule: You must have exactly 1,560 hours of skilled work within a qualifying period.

  • The Trap: You cannot speed this up. IRCC caps your credit at 30 hours/week. Even if you worked 60 hours a week for 6 months, you only get credit for 30 hours a week. You must have 52 distinct weeks of full-time (or equivalent part-time) work.

  • Our Audit: We manually calculate your hours from your paystubs, filtering out sick leave, unpaid vacation, and ineligible hours (like work done while you were a full-time student) to ensure you don’t apply one day too early.

2. The “Student Work” Exclusion

Did you start working before you graduated?

This is a critical gray area for PGWP holders.

  • The Risk: Any work you did while you were a full-time student (on a study permit) does not count toward CEC.

  • The “Stop Date”: The clock only starts ticking the day your school issued your Final Transcript or Completion Letter—not the day of your convocation ceremony. We verify your timeline to ensure you aren’t claiming ineligible student hours.

3. Reference Letters: Duties vs. Titles

IRCC doesn’t care about your job title.

Your employer might call you a “Manager,” but if your reference letter describes duties that sound like an “Assistant,” your application will fail.

  • NOC Code Alignment: We review your employer’s draft letter before it is signed. We ensure the specific duties listed match the National Occupational Classification (NOC) description for your TEER category (0, 1, 2, or 3), satisfying the officer that you performed skilled work.

4. Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWP)

Don’t Let Your Status Expire.

Processing times for CEC can take 6+ months. If your current work permit expires while you are waiting, you cannot work—and you lose your health coverage.

  • The Safety Net: As soon as we submit your PR application and get the Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR), we file for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). This keeps your status valid and allows you to keep working until your PR card arrives.

Don’t Risk Your Canadian Journey.

You have worked too hard to lose your status over a paperwork error. Let our team audit your hours and lock in your permanent residency.