Employment Inusrance/EI/UI, Laid off on TN Visa

Hi All,
I got my TN and started working the US on Sep 1. 2007; I will be getting laid off as part of a company restructure in mid April 2008.

Prior to Sep 1. 2007 I was working in Canada for the rest of the year and before that I was a full time student.

I am a Canadian citizen. I know I have to go back after my job is over and my TN gets cancelled.

I have the following questions:
A. Am I eligible for EI/UI?
B. If yes, then where Canada (BC) or USA (CA) ?
C. When can I apply? and when should I apply?
D. Is there some paper work I require that I will need to obtain from my employer if I will be filing for EI in Canada?
E. Is there anything I should be aware of? Anything that might help?
F. This is sort of personal but I contribute to 401K directly off the pay check, so my take home pay is less but I still get the same amount of money. Will I be sort of penalized for saving.I mean will they base the amount of EI on take home pay OR the full before tax and 401k amount?
G. Also can I do something about student loans if I get laid off?
H. Also how do you ever get a hold of the EI office in the CA, their lines are always jammed?

Depends on the State and their rules. Best idea is to go to the office and stand in line all morning. But as the employment was in California, if you are eligible for benefits that is where they'll come from. Given the length of your employment, I would think they were trivial.

Student Loan:

Where is your student loan from? If it is NSLC (federal post spring 2000), you can apply for interest relief if you are unemployed. More paperwork, I'm afraid, but it is worth putting on hold if you can, given their interest rates are generally lower than say, a credit card.

TN-1 Visa if sacked / leave current emloyment

Does anybody know how long one has prior to being deported/ export oneself if you are suddenly laid off from your job to which the TN status is tied? I'm anticipating being sacked any day with the recession, but hope there is enough lag time to tie loose ends, etc. Thanks!

You are required to leave immediately.

Your best option is to file a change of status to a B2 visitor visa so you can clean up your affairs.