I’m considering applying for PR, and I’m girigiri between the 70 and 80 point tracks.
I’m wondering what counts as work experience — I have 8.5 years of full-time company employment, which gives me 15 points, but if I include two years in which I freelanced as a writer, it would come to 10+, which gives me 20 points. I spoke briefly with a lawyer who said he didn’t think freelance would count, but I’m wondering if anyone has direct experience with this.
I’m wondering if I show that I had contract agreements for each piece, and can provide the links to the finished articles, if that would be sufficient as work experience. (The publications were also fairly reputable, I don’t know if immigration would know or care though.)
Anyone have any experience with declaring freelance as work experience? Insights much appreciated. Thanks so much.
6 comments
Lawyer is right. Freelance doesn’t count.
Assuming all your taxes, nenkin and health insurance were paid and up to par, I don’t see why not.
If you created the company like goudou gaisha and paid yourself a salary, you probably can omit the fact you are your own boss. :p
Why exactly would you bother asking a lawyer if you weren’t going to believe what he told you anyway?
You can always apply and try, and let them be the judge, right? I don’t think you lose much besides time.
Btw, I heard you can acquire the 80 points whenever you want and switch to the 1-year track. So, presumably in 1.5 years you might be able to demonstrate 10 years of experience, though you might lose points in other categories (age, income, etc) so it’s not a sure thing. Still I don’t remember who told me that, so don’t take it as legal advice.
I think a lawyer has direct experience in this? Sometimes he applies the forms on behalf of the PR applicant. I think the lawyer is right and freelancing doesn’t count.