EDD claim with foreign employer office - misclassified as contractor - how to file?

You're definitely in a unique situation, but not an impossible one! In cases of misclassification with international complications, I recommend: 1. File online using their California office address 2. When you get to the phone interview (and you will since this is complicated), explain the full situation about the UK payments 3. Gather ALL your evidence: contracts, emails about work expectations, bank statements showing payments, any assignment instructions The key thing EDD looks at for misclassification is control - did they control how/when you worked? Did they provide tools/equipment? Were you integrated into their business? Document everything that shows you were treated as an employee. You might face a longer approval process, but I've seen people in similar situations eventually get approved.

i had somewhat similar thing happen but with canda office. just put the US address and when they call you to verify details explian the situation. thats what i did and it worked fine

Just to be clear about misclassification - this is VERY common and you're right to file. Use the AB5 test (or ABC test) to determine if you were truly an independent contractor: A) Were you free from company control? B) Was the work outside the company's main business? C) Do you have an independent established trade/business doing this type of work? If you answer NO to any of these, you were likely misclassified. For your specific situation with the international aspect, file using the California address since that's where you physically performed the work (I assume), then be prepared for additional documentation requests. When EDD investigates, they'll contact the employer for wage information, and this is where you'll need your evidence ready.

GOOD LUCK getting EDD to actually call you for an interview!!! I waited 11 WEEKS for my phone interview about a similar issue (though not international). The online system is absolutely BROKEN and nobody answers the phones. I called 47 TIMES in one day and couldn't get through!!! Document EVERYTHING. Save every email, every piece of correspondence. Take screenshots of your bank transfers. You'll need it all because they'll make you PROVE you were an employee not a contractor.

have you tried just calling the uk office and asking them to send you documentation? might be easier than dealing with edd honestly

I was stuck in a similar situation last year trying to reach EDD about a complicated claim. After weeks of frustration, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to an EDD representative in under 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km In your situation with the international aspect, I think speaking directly with a knowledgeable EDD rep would be really helpful rather than guessing at the application. They can tell you exactly how to handle the international employer situation and what documentation you'll need.

wait i'm confused... if you were paid from UK, wouldn't you need to file for unemployment in the UK not in california?? just wondering.

One more thing to consider - make sure you have documentation of your immigration/work status since this involves a foreign employer. EDD might request this information even if you're a US citizen/resident. Also, when you file, use the employer's Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) if you have it - this helps EDD match your claim to the correct employer. If you don't have it, use the California office's information and explain the situation in any text fields available during the application.