Alien Registration number for UI application

I worked in Texas for the past 12 years on TN and I just got laid off in July. I am trying to apply for for UI and in going through the application it asks for Alien Registration Number. I don't know what this is as I don't think I was ever assigned one as I just received SSN when I first started to work. Some say the I-94 number can suffice for the Alien Registration number but I already surrendered the I-94 when I left the US. What can be done in this situation?

You do not have such a number becuaee you do not have a GREEN CARD.
Do not put any number there. Explain that you are Cdn, now living in Canada. Contact Service canada to coordinate your benefits if you have a problem.

The online application has a question "Are you a US citizen"? If you answer No you are forced to put in an Alien Registration number before you can proceed. And unfortunately calling to apply by telephone is impossible as the phone line is constantly busy that you can't even queue up to wait your turn.

What do you mean by Services Canada? Are you saying I can go through the Canada Employment Agency to apply for Texas UI claim?

Yes. Unless you can get your case handled by phone, you will not be able to register thu TX UI, and even if you do, it will be denied until TX applies the UI treaty with Canada.

Services canada will help you.
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/i ... nada.shtml

But, there is no point putting a fake GC number just to get the application moved forward. You need to go over the head of the website.

I am going through the same headaches too, and no department seems to know anything regarding this Alien Registration Number (or at least I have been getting conflicting information).

I was on a TN-visa and was laid off last April. I have been working in Colorado for 11 years and I have been paying may taxes/benefits both in Canada and the U.S.

Here's what I have been told:
- I have called Service Canada which they did some research and called me back saying that I am entitled to UI benefits due to a Treaty with the U.S. (Unemployment Insurance Agreement of 1941). I would have to apply for UI through the state where I had worked.
Service Canada directed me to ColoradoWorkforce.com (and a 800 number) to start a new benefits claim.

- Went on the Colorado Workforce website, which I started to complete the online application form. There it asked me for an Alien Registration Number. I do not have this number, which unfortunately would not allow me to continue on the online form.

- I called the Colorado Workforce 800-number (which was a long wait), and no one there seems to know if I have this Alien Registration Number or knows where I could ontain one. They directed me to a local (city) workforce office.

- Called the Denver Workforce Center number to try to apply live with an agent. The agent told me that I must need this Alien Registration Number and without it I could not proceed with the claim. The agent took my information and said she will forward it to another agent who will call me back. She also suggested I call a Customer Service Line with specific prompts to get me to the right person/department.

- I called this Customer Service Line which prompts did not work and I was disconnected a few times trying search through the appropriate prompts (where there wasn't any). I eventually did speak to someone and I didn't get anywhere and that Customer Service rep suggest that I contact USCIS regarding this Alien Registration Number.

- I called the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) of USCIS, they could not help me and they directed me to go on their website and click on the InfoPass link.

- I just happened to be back in Colorado for a wedding and scheduled an appointment via InfoPass (infopass.uscis.gov). There I talked to a service agent confirmed that I do not have a number and could not get one. He said that because a TN-visa is a "non-immigrant classification" I could not get an Alien Registration Number. He seemed not very knowledgeable (and a bit rude) regarding the TN-visa and said that I am not eligible for UI claims, dispite what all the information I have collected and shared with him. I asked him if he knew of any other department which could help me in filing my claim, which he didn't know.

Anyone have any luck in getting UI claims without this Alien Registration Number? I am getting very frustrustrated.

You do not have and will never get a Alien Registration number because you are not a Registered Alien (ie. a Green card holder). That doesn't mean you aren't entitled to UI form CO, it just means that the normal application process doesn't apply to you. I hope you documented when you first contacted CO UI, as this will determine if they will pay you for the past 5 months or not

Don't bother Immigration about UI. That's like asking Customs officer abouta parking ticket.

You need to push this up the chain of command at CO workforce, and at Service Canada (since they are the Cdn agency charged with enforcing the treaty). 1000's of Cdn collect UI from US every year under this treaty: someone in CO workforce will have dealt with this. Someone at service canada will have dealt with CO workforce to get benefits for a Cdn. If not, you can blaze the trail!

By letting this drag for 5 months however, you are leaving a perception with the agencies that you are not that keen on collecting your UI.

Thanks agnelson!

The reason why that it has been 5 months I am filing for a claim since my layoff, is because I was told that I could not apply for UI until I return to Canada (which is not really the case, and I returned to the U.S. as a visitor for a few months to move and to take care of various personal business), and I didn't need UI benefits (eventhough I am entitled to it) at the time.

You are right, USCIS was rather clueless and unable to help me.
The Colorado Workforce Customer Service was eventually able to help me, though the process has been very slown (took many calls) as each and every inquirery required an agent to call me back.

My UI claims has been initially filed, and I have received paperwork (though it still asks for my Alien Registration Number). I will make a note in the Alien Registration Number box to refer to the attached documents which I will include a copy of my last I-94 application form and slip. I am thinking it would be better to provide more documentation than less.

Anyone else care to share their experience and process?

Just wanted to clarify one statement you made: "because I was told that I could not apply for UI until I return to Canada (which is not really the case..."

It most certainly is required that you return to canada before you can successfully apply for and legally receive state UI benefits.

You may be able to file and submit docs for your claim before returning, but to get your weekly check one MUST be in canada, or one is not considered immediately able to work and would be commiting fraud.

Found this on the Service Canada web site, which seems like it might be interesting for folks in this discussion:

(6) Subject to subsection (7), a claimant who resides outside Canada, other than a major attachment claimant referred to in subsection (5), is not disentitled from receiving benefits for the sole reason of their residence outside Canada if

the claimant resides temporarily or permanently in a state of the United States that is contiguous to Canada and
is available for work in Canada, and
is able to report personally at an office of the Commission in Canada and does so when requested by the Commission; or
the claimant is qualified to receive benefits under Article VI of the Agreement between Canada and the United States respecting Unemployment Insurance, signed on March 6 and 12, 1942, and resides temporarily or permanently in one of the following places in respect of which the Commission has not, pursuant to section 16 of the Employment and Immigration Department and Commission Act, suspended the application of that Agreement, namely,
the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico,
the Virgin Islands, or
any state of the United States.

I'm a newbie so I can't post the actual link, but it's from servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/legislation/ei_regs_part1_34.shtml

If I'm reading this correctly, I could collect a weekly check while in Washington State because it directly borders Canada and thus I could report to work in BC in a matter of hours.

It's a bit of a stretch, but I'm wondering if the second part says that if you are receiving benefits under the treaty (i.e. you lost your job in the US) that you are still entitled to benefits if you are in DC, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or an US State.

Anyone familiar enough with the Act and Regs to decipher this?

Yup. All that is saying is that a US resident is sentitled to Cdn EI, if he is otherwise eligible to work in US -- and lives there.

It has nothing to do with what you said.
Its the same principal that applies to Cdns who go to work in US, get laid off and come back to Canada -- they get UI from US so long as they live in canada.