Colorado Springs Employment Assistance Information

Transcription

1 Colorado Springs Employment Assistance Information Prepared by Military Family Services (MFS) Colorado Springs Updated March

2 Background Since mobility is an inherent part of the military lifestyle, the Military Family Services Program (MFSP) promotes employment assistance by ensuring participants have access to services and programs that can help them meet their employment goals. The Military Family Services (MFS) Colorado Springs along with the Peterson Air Force Base and USAFA Airman & Family Readiness Centers supports an Employment Assistance Program. What can you do for yourself? Employment Insurance Benefits The information in the below section is taken directly from the Service Canada Website. Canada EI benefits may be paid to you when you reside outside Canada in the following situations: your last employment was in Canada, but you now reside in the United States; your permanent residence is in a country other than Canada or the United States, you are applying for maternity and parental or compassionate care benefits and you have a valid Social Insurance Number; or you are a commuter (a resident of Canada or the U.S.) who regularly crosses the Canada U.S. border between your residence and workplace How to file a claim for Canadian EI benefits for people residing outside Canada You may file your claim for Canadian Employment Insurance benefits online. If you are residing in the United States and claiming regular benefits, you must be available and actively seeking work and you must provide proof that you are legally authorized to work in the United States. You will also need to submit your Record of Employment (ROE) from your Canadian employer. You will need to submit your ROEs from all your Canadian employers who issued ROEs in paper format in the last 52 weeks. However, if your employer submits your ROE to Service Canada electronically, you do not need to submit a copy of your ROE to Service Canada, since we will have received it from your employer. On the same day your employer submits it, you will be able to view and print copies of your ROE online using My Service Canada Account. All claims received from people residing outside of Canada are processed in the Ontario region, at the Service Canada Centre in Kingston. For more information, call

3 Regular benefits: If you live in the United States, you can be paid a maximum of 36 weeks of regular benefits. The number of weeks payable is based on the number of insurable hours that you have accumulated in Canada during the last 52 weeks or since your last claim. To be eligible for regular benefits, you must show that: you have worked in a job that is insured under Canada's Employment Insurance program; in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim, you have worked between 420 and 700 hours*; and you are legally authorized to work in the United States. * In some instances, you may need at least 910 hours to qualify (for example, if you are in the work force for the first time or you are re-entering the work force after an absence of two years). However, if you have received at least one week of maternity and parental benefits in the 208 weeks before the 52-week period prior to the qualifying period, you will require between 420 and 700 hours to qualify for regular benefits. For more information, call The number of hours required is based on the regional rate of unemployment in the economic region where you last worked in Canada. Starting December 11, 2005, if you are living in one of the 23 participating economic regions, you could qualify for regular benefits with a minimum of 840 hours instead of 910 hours. Canadian government and Armed Forces personnel posted in the United States You may be entitled to regular, maternity and parental, sickness or compassionate care benefits if you or your dependants are posted in the United States and working for the Canadian government or for the Armed Forces. Dependants include your spouse, unmarried children under 21, unmarried full-time students under 25 and unmarried disabled children. You may file your claim for Canadian Employment Insurance benefits online. For more information, call Service Canada Centre Sub-Unit of interstate claim processing 299 Concession Street, PO Box 210 Kingston, ON K7K 2B9 Additional Helpful Information Employment Insurance Out of Canada Claims - NATO 2 Visa Holder- Posted to American Military Base. 3

4 If you hold a visa that permits you to work (i.e. NATO 2, A-1, A-2, J-2, K-1 or L-2), you are authorized to work only when USCIS completes the paperwork. So, do not delay in making an appointment with the CFSU COs Administrative assistant to complete an Application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD). You must get your claim established but you may not be eligible for payment until you have provided a copy of your work authorization card. You must prove that you cannot only look for work but you could start immediately. If you are not a Canadian citizen and your Social Insurance Number is temporary and begins with a "9", you must also provide a copy of your Canadian work authorization from Dept. of Immigration. It is strongly recommend that you choose the Direct Deposit method as a mode of payment when asked about this on-line. It can be costly for you to attempt to cash a Canadian EI cheque when outside Canada and several EI cheques have been lost when sent by mail. Tips to Assist when filing a claim online When asked Why are you no longer working, if you have left your job in Canada due to your spouses posting, check the option of I quit as this includes moving to accompany a spouse or dependant. When asked Which reason best describes why you quit, if you have left your job in Canada due to your spouses posting, check the option of I quit to accompany a spouse, fiancé, or dependant. When asked Was this move made because your spouse took a new job or was it because of some personal choice, if you have left your job in Canada due to your spouses posting, check the option of New Job. When asked We have asked you about the reason and circumstances about quitting this particular job. Are there any additional remarks that you wish to make, if you have left your job in Canada due to your spouses posting, insert a statement to the effect that My spouse is a member of the Canadian Forces who is posted to the United States for a period of X years. I left my employment with to accompany my spouse. This provides a clear picture to the EI office. Spousal Employment Services Benefits may be reimbursed under the Integrated Relocation Program (IRP) for spousal employment assistance. Spousal Employment Services The following spousal assistance services shall be reimbursed: Custom benefit Employment search; Employment assistance; 4

5 Interview travel up to a maximum of three days/two nights (including travel) lodgings, meals and incidentals as per prescribed rates; CV preparation; Photocopy and transmittal costs for transcripts of academic records; and Costs associated with re-establishing current credentials for the same certification in the new province. Upgrading and re-certification do not qualify as eligible expenses for reimbursement under the CFIRP Receipts will be required and amount reimbursed is subject to funds available in your custom/personalized relocation envelope. These are taxable benefits for the Canadian Armed Forces member, and are subject to Canada Customs and Revenue Agency policy and guidelines. EMPLOYMENT PROCEDURE FOR CANADIAN MILITARY SPOUSES CAF family members are entitled to work while living in the U.S. CAF family members must apply for and receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in order to apply for jobs. CAF family members must have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in order to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN). You should receive your EAD within four to six weeks, the card will be sent to your home. Once you have the card you can apply for a SSN. Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) entitles you to work in the U.S. during your spouse s military tour only. You are not eligible for employment in the U.S. without the EAD. The paperwork for the EAD is currently processed through the Commanding Office's administrative assistant at the Canadian Forces Support Unit CFSU(CS). The following documentation is required to apply for the EAD. Your passport with Visa and I-94. Your spouse s passport with Visa and I-94. Posting Message. The paperwork currently takes approximately four to six weeks to process and your EAD will be valid for only three years from the date you receive it. If you plan to work in the U.S., it is important that you complete your EAD as soon as you arrive. Should the length of your spouse's tour be more than three years, you will be required to renew your EAD. Renewal Process Family members 14 years and older may not apply for a Social Security Number until they have received their EAD cards. 5

6 The following guidelines will help prevent any delays in the renewal process: a) If an EAD card is expiring you must start the renewal process no later than 120 to 90 days in advance. You will be required to provide both Colorado State and Federal tax transcripts for the years you have been employed in the U.S. and for the years that you were unemployed. INS requires this to prove that you do not owe taxes to the United States Government. b) In accordance with the NATO Dependant Employment Authorization Policy all spouses of active members must file their U.S. taxes as: Married-Filing Separately and not as Single. No dependants should be claimed on their U.S. taxes for deductions. These are the two (2) most common mistakes, which will hold up the EAD card renewal process. c) When a CAF member s tour of duty is extended, all pertinent documentation supporting the new COS date, must be provided. Passports and Visas must be renewed before a new EAD card will be issued and the NATO 2 Visa must have a minimum of six (6) months left or a new EAD card will not be approved. It is your responsibility to be aware of when your EAD card is expiring. INS will not send a renewal application or a reminder. If more information is required, please feel free to contact the Commanding Office's administrative assistant at the Canadian Forces Support Unit CFSU(CS), at More helpful references and authorities can be found at the following phone number and websites: Social Security Number You can proceed to the Social Security Office in order to apply for your Social Security Number (SSN) once you have obtained your EAD. Most employers will NOT hire you until you have completed this step. In order to receive you SSN you must present yourself at the Social Security Office with your passport, posting message, I-94 and your EAD. Once you have completed the application process, you can generally get your number within 24 hours by calling the toll free number listed below. You should receive your card within two weeks. There is no fee for a SSN. The Social Security Office can be found at: 1049 N Academy Blvd. (Corner of Academy and Galley) Colorado Springs, CO Toll Free Number: Local Phone Number:

7 Peterson Air Force Base and USAFA Employment Assistance The Peterson Air Force Base and USAFA Family Readiness Centers offer many outstanding services to all military members and their families including excellent support services for those seeking employment. The Employment Assistance Program The program offers: Labor market information Employment trend and tracking Skills and Interest identification Skills development workshops Job Referrals Volunteerism Networks to local employers On and off base resources Workshops These workshops are offered monthly at both Peterson AFB and USAFA: Basic Resume Writing Job Search Techniques Behavioral Interviewing Small Business Seminar Career Tracks View calendars: Peterson Airman & Family Readiness Center: USAFA Airman & Family Readiness Center: State of Colorado Professional Licensing Information For information on licensing requirements for other professions or trades see the Colorado State Government web site of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Registered Nurses: Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools 3600 Market Street, Ste 400 Philadelphia, PA Phone: Colorado State Board of Nursing 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350 Denver, Colorado

8 Phone: Dental Hygienist: Teachers: Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350 Denver, CO Phone: Fax : Colorado Department of Education 201 East Colfax Avenue, Room 105 Denver, Colorado Phone: Job applications are available on-line for many of the Colorado Springs School Districts. Job opportunities and job fair announcements are posted regularly by Colorado schools and districts at You can begin the process of application for a Teacher s License prior to leaving Canada. Child Care: Real Estate: Division of Child Care Colorado Department of Human Services 1575 Sherman St. Denver, CO Phone: Division of Real Estate 1560 Broadway St., Suite 925 Denver, CO Phone: or Cosmetology/Barbers: Office of Barber and Cosmetology 1560 Broadway St., Suite 1350 Denver, CO Phone: Social Workers: Mental Health Licensing Section 1560 Broadway St., Suite 1350 Denver, CO Phone:

9 Local Employment and Related Websites Pikes Peak Workforce Centre Job Search, Salary and Research Sites America s Job Bank Nation Job Network Education Page Military Spouse Corporate Career Network Career Related Resources 1 st Steps in the Hunt Career Builder Network Careers in Business Small Business Administrative What Colour is Your Parachute? Private Industry, Technical ATMEL Ciber Computer Jobs Dice Hi-Tech Jobs Online Hewlett Packard Intel ITT Exelis Lockheed Martin Raytheon Medical Centura Health Memorial Hospital Staffing Services Accountemps Adecco Add Staff Aerotek Apple One Apprentice Personnel Inc. CLP

10 Express Employment Pro. Goodwill Staffing Colo Spgs Kelly Services Manpower Technical Modis IT Staffing Office Team Per Diem Medical Staffing Inc. Q Shift Nurses Corporation Elwood Staffing Spherion Staffing Solutions Staffing Solutions Ten Til Two Part Time staffing Volt Services Group WSi Healthcare Personnel School Districts and Teaching Opportunities Harrison School District 2 Widefield School District 3 Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 Colorado Springs School District 11 Cheyenne Mtn. School District 12 Academy School District 20 Lewis-Palmer School District 38 District 49 Falcon Colorado State Dept of Education 10