Under Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), having a job offer doesn't automatically exempt you from Proof of Funds (POF) — the exemption depends on the offer meeting IRCC's specific definition:
- Only a 'valid job offer' as defined by IRCC exempts you from POF. This generally means a genuine, LMIA-supported (or LMIA-exempt under specific categories) full-time, non-seasonal offer meeting IRCC's criteria — not just any employment offer.
- A job obtained while on an Open Work Permit generally does NOT count as a valid job offer for this exemption, because it wasn't obtained through the LMIA process that IRCC requires for the POF exemption. If this is your situation, expect to be asked for POF regardless of having current employment.
- If IRCC requests POF, submit your bank statement(s) promptly as part of your response — this is a standard, mandatory requirement unless you specifically qualify under the valid-job-offer exemption.
Double-check your job offer against IRCC's current definition of a valid job offer for FSW before assuming you're exempt from POF.