{"id":2113,"date":"2026-11-10T23:54:29","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T23:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/cec-refused-work-while-studying-self-employment\/"},"modified":"2026-11-11T05:27:42","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T05:27:42","slug":"cec-refused-work-while-studying-self-employment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawgicalcorp.com\/blog\/cec-refused-work-while-studying-self-employment\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian Experience Class refused because your work did not count: studies, self-employment and status"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a>, lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation \u00b7 Reviewed November 10, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2024, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Updated November 10, 2026: section 87.1 of the Regulations checked that day.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The fix:<\/strong> judicial review if the officer excluded work that should have counted; otherwise a new profile once you have 12 months that qualify.<\/p>\n

The deadline:<\/strong> 15 days if you are in Canada, 60 days if outside (IRPA s.72<\/a>). Reconsideration does not stop this clock.<\/p>\n

Why a lawyer:<\/strong> whether a period was “full-time study” or “self-employment” is often arguable, and only a lawyer can take it to the Federal Court. Why a lawyer<\/a><\/p>\n

Book a consultation<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The lawyers who review these refusals<\/p>\n

\"SundeepSundeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PrabhpreetPrabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a>\"PardeepPardeep S. Grewal<\/span>Barrister and Solicitor<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
\nAbout our lawyers<\/summary>\n
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Sundeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.<\/p>\n

Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha<\/a><\/strong> focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.<\/p>\n

Pardeep S. Grewal<\/a><\/strong> is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

If your Canadian Experience Class application was refused because some of your work did not count, the officer was applying section 87.1(3) of the Regulations. Work done while you were a full-time student does not count. Self-employment does not count. Work done without status or without authorization does not count. If what was left was under 12 months, the application fails. Where the officer put a period in the wrong box, such as treating an employee as self-employed or a part-time student as full-time, judicial review<\/a> can send it back.<\/p>\n

Lawgical Law Corporation<\/a>, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, reviews Express Entry refusals and takes them to the Federal Court; this guide is by Pardeep S. Grewal.<\/p>\n

What does section 87.1 exclude?<\/h2>\n

Under section 87.1(2)<\/a>, you need “at least one year of full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work experience” in Canada in the three years before you apply, in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. Section 87.1(3) then says:<\/p>\n