Employment Insurance

You should apply for EI benefits as soon as you stop working, even if your employer has not yet issued your Record of Employment (ROE). Delaying your application by more than four weeks after your last day of work may result in a loss of benefits .

To collect Employment Insurance (EI) while residing in the U.S., you must be legally authorized to work, which means holding a valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Your benefits will not begin—or resume—until after you’ve received your EAD. If you’re already receiving unemployment benefits before the move, they will stop once you cross the border and won’t restart until your EAD is in hand. It should be emphasized that EI benefits are not retroactive, therefore the sooner you apply for and receive your EAD, the better. A delay in getting the paperwork done may result in a loss of EI benefits (weeks of payment).

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Reference: Employment Insurance Benefits (canada.ca)
EI - Workers and residents outside of Canada - Overview

Pro Tips

• Begin the Employment Insurance (EI) application process as soon as you stop working. If you delay this process for more than four weeks after your last day of work, you risk losing out on benefits completely.