I would like to take my family, including wife, daughter, and sister-in-law to NYC on AC - perhaps on July 4 weekend - in part to celebrate all 4 of us just having received nexus/GE.

My sister-in-law is applying for EI. I would be essentially paying for all expenses - including Aeroplan award on AC through my SE account.

She is concerned that any foreign travel (incl. USA) would make her ineligible for EI.

She is basing that upon the fact that when she was on EI in 2007, and again she travelled with us to Phoenix, she was "dinged" by EI.

FT geekery - I presumed you were talking about Aer Lingus, and was wondering what they had to do with a trip to the US. Shame on me...

Anyway, my understanding is that she would need to report to the EI people that she's going out of the country on vacation, but that it's not a problem as long as she tells them in advance.

Here's the official word from the Service Canada website

Usually, you cannot receive EI regular benefits while outside Canada. (For exceptions, see "Am I allowed to leave Canada while receiving regular benefits?" in Section 4.) One measure we take to enforce this rule is to compare EI information with information from the Canada Border Services Agency. If we find you have been out of the country while collecting regular benefits, we will try to determine whether you are entitled to those benefits. If not, we will calculate your overpayment, which you will then have to repay.

We may also impose penalties of up to three times your weekly benefit rate or three times the amount of your overpayment. As well, you may have to work more hours to qualify for regular benefits in the future.

The Section 4 exception section states the following:

If you indicate that you have taken measures to be reached if an employment opportunity presents itself during your absence and that you are able to return to Canada within 48 hours, we will accept that you have proven your availability.

The exception seems very generous.

I've had a friend who got caught because he went to the DR for a week while on EI. They told him they get the info off the customs forms one fills out upon returning, and that if he'd have driven across the border, they'd never find out

Otherwise, foreign travel does not make one not eligible - one can just click the 'out of country' box while doing their bi-weekly online reports, and simply not get paid that week, it has no affect on other weeks in the claim.

I dont see how you paying her expenses, and especially you being SE has any relevance to this situation?????

The duration of the excursion is not clear but it doesn't seem problematic to be away for a long weekend - do they themselves work the office and actively contact people to offer jobs over the long weekend? Clearly, to the letter, advise them of the absence and be available to return.
I think the who's-paying issue is more relevant to welfare and disability support programs awarded on the basis of financial need. For those programs, benefits may be clawed back if other financial resources are available to a claimant. However EI is an insurance program. Benefits are due if premiums were paid in and eligibility requirements (unemployment) are met.

Not always. A colleague of mine traveled stateside to attend a trade show while collecting EI. She felt it was a good way to network and prospect.

You are allowed to be out of country on the weekend - just not on work days.

You dont advise EI of your absence ahead of time. You advise them when you return by filling out your bi-weekly report, question #1 is WERE YOU IN CANADA during the two reporting weeks. If you answer no, they dont pay you for that week. It does not affect any other weeks of the claim.

Send her down on the last flight Friday, back on the last flight Sunday. No issue.

Thanks to all of you for your responses.

So, the followup questions are these:


she goes Fri night and comes back on Sun night


1) does - she say that she did or she did not travel the proceeding 2 weeks, out of the country (I ask, because I suspect the intent of the question is to check if one is out of the country during weekdays, not weekends or holidays?)

2) if she flies by air, she has to fill out a customs declaration card (actually, she can be one of 4 family members living at the same residence who fill out the form); can this information get through to the EI people, so that if she answers that she was not away the prior 2 weeks (because she was away only on the weekend), she would be "caught with a lie" and therefore be penalized?

3) with a land crossing, usually there is no form to fill out, so there is no easy way for EI to verify one's absence from Canada, whether weekend (or even weekdays?) - unless specially mentioned in that form where the individual has to answer whether he/she was away from Canada or not, the prior 2 weeks.

She should answer the questions truthfully. If she goes away for the weekend, let EI know. She has to provide dates. It should not affect her payments. Worst case they ding her a day or two, much less of a penalty than being caught in a lie and losing her benefits permanently.

I received EI benefits after my son was born.. I took my year off for mat leave. I left the country for almost 4 months (went to Florida for the winter) and I still received it.

There is no requirement to be actively looking for work if you are getting EI for mat leave.

I was docked one week of EI payment a few years back after I went to Cuba for a week (I didn't indicate I was out of the country though as I had a working cell phone and email access). They got the info from Canada Customs.

Don't know how much truth there is to it but I've heard they won't know if you left/returned to the country by land.