Unemployment Insurance from the US in Canada

Can i claim on unemployment insurance in Ontario after being laid off in California? I will be returning to Toronto at the end of this month, and would like to know if i would need to apply for EI in Ontario, or with the California State government.

Anyone have any insight or experience with this?

If you're returning to Canada, you can likely apply for EI there once you get back.

There's some really complicated formula for claiming it, have a look at the Service Canada site.

canadarch, any luck with this ? I am in a similar situation. I called up the local office in Ontario and they said i should claim directly with the US state.

You would only be able to collect from the State if your status allows you to stay so that you can continue to look for work. If you have a green card for instance. If you are in the US on TN though, and your employment terminates, you are expected to leave the US and return to Canada within 10 days of termination.

According to Service Canada website:

American Unemployment Insurance benefits may be paid to you if your last employment was in the United States and you now reside in Canada. If you also had previous employment in Canada, you may be able to file a claim for Canadian EI benefits instead. You may be able to receive benefits from either Canada or the United States but not both at the same time.


How to file a claim for American Unemployment Insurance benefits:

To file a claim for American Unemployment Insurance benefits, you must contact the Telephone Information Service or go to your Service Canada Centre, you will be asked to give your name, address, phone number, Social Insurance Number (SIN) and Social Security Number (SSN) along with the name of the State from which you want to claim benefits. Depending on the State in which you last worked you may be able to file a claim directly with the State via the Internet or by phone. If the State does not accept claims via the Internet or by phone, information will be forwarded to a designated office responsible for handling such claims based on where you reside in Canada. You may also contact the designated Service Canada Centre directly.

You must provide proof that your employment in the United States was authorized as per American immigration regulations and that you are available for and actively seeking work in Canada. If you are not a Canadian resident you will be asked for proof that you are authorized to work in Canada.

I am moving back to Canada after 12 years of working in California while on a TN visa. I am quitting and moving back on my own terms. Does any one know if I can collect UI under this case once I arrive back in Canada? I have read other posts but as I said this is not of an expired TN but it is quiting on my own terms. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

I would like to hear from anyone who has been successful in claiming for UI benefits after having worked in the US for a US company lost their job and now returned to Canada!

This is called an "interstate" claim. However, you are eligible only for the standard $ and weeks available in the Canadian region you move into. So, no 99 weeks.

Download the Canada-US agreement PDF at doleta dot gov in the UI Agreement section. I'd post the link, but this site thinks gov websites are "spamy" (sic). Document is agree_us_and_canada.pdf

Also, search Google for istate_agree_bene_payment.pdf