I got my Canadian Residency in 15 months. I just got it last week. If you file from US, I think you can still get your process done in 15-16 months. For the work experience, I showed an old letter from my employer and copies of old pay stubbs. I had worked at that particular job for 5 years. But when I filed for my Canadian papers, I had left that job few months earlier. I didn't bother to go and ask them for a new one . I just sent the old one they wrote me when I made a trip to Nepal. (That letter was 3 years old.) I also sent my resume. That worked. I would suggest, if you can get your old employer/employers to write you a letter that would be superb. But if you can't (for some reason or the other), just send them the letter you signed when you started that job. It also helps to write a letter explaining why you can't get a letter from your old employer. Thats what I did. I hope this helps. Cheers