Originally Posted by BarrattsMini

Hello all,

I have been using LP TTF for a while now but mainly flicker between the UK forums and Australia’s. It seems the Canada forum over there isn't particularly busy and I was advised to head here so sorry for a HUGE first post I'm just copying and pasting from there to here

I apologise right now as this will be lengthy. Lots of questions. We are very serious on Canada and we only missed the bloody visas this time around as we didn’t get back from our farm work until mid-January so no internet meant no chance of applying.

My girlfriend and I are currently in Sydney on our second working holiday visas. This would finalise December 2014 so we are considering this working holiday visa for 2015.

I actually signed up to the Canada International webpage to let me know when this year’s went up for ‘sale’ but never received notice – they obviously go quickly as it seems all 3 scheduled releases for the UK have gone.

Question: Assuming they do similar date slots this year round does one have to apply on that specific date aka wait until it opens and then fill out the form and submit. Or do people fill the form out in advance, have everything ready and then as soon as it goes ‘live’ spam the submit button immediately?

There was 3 openings of the UK IEC and they were gone in minutes. You have to wait until it opens before you can apply. Usually the forms aren't posted until it opens.


Question: Does anyone have any idea how many applicants go forward from the UK per year? 5,000 is a small number and I assume the number applying is much larger. Being in Sydney it assumed I was Australian and they have over 8,000 still available. Considering the UK has probably 3 times the population and like 1/10th the size it seems a little unfair but I suppose there are reasons within immigration.

Because the UK only allows 5350 Canadians under their working holiday program. There is no quota for Australians for IEC Canada

Question: The website states $2,500 (Canadian) as a landing amount to cover the first 3 month. Is this feasible? Australia suggested $5,000 (AUD) but this is extremely conservative and by the time we found work (4-6 week) we had pretty much nothing left having paid bonds, rent, food etc. Assuming we go or get the visa what is a realistic amount?

Depends on how you live, some can make it on the $2500 others blow it in the first couple of weeks.

I mean it sounds great because it wouldn’t take much time to get that sort of money together + a cheap flight – Could be ready to fly pretty much from Australia, leads to my next question;


Question: Can we apply from Australia? The website seems to state we can apply from elsewhere and the letter of acceptance is received via e-mail?

Yes, but you put your country of residence as England and your mailing address as Australia. Don't forget you are going to require police certificates for every country where you have lived for 6 months or more. In the case of Australia, you need a traffic report as well


Question: I appreciate this may be a little silly but where would the best place be for securing office work?

In an office? One of the larger cities.

It seems a lot of folk go for the snow related work (Chalets, lift operators – whatever) but we aren’t bothered about that kind of work. We would very much be looking at probably plonking ourselves in one city for like 9-10 month to work/save and then travel around. I appreciate this would likely mean one particular city so wondering if anyone can give any recommendations.


Question: Type of work available …

Again this is vague but I worked for the Government in the UK (Department of Health) I worked for the City of Sydney out here and currently at NSW Housing. The level I was at home doesn’t warrant sponsorship so I am restricted to a lower ‘grade’ out here because of this (Visa crap) so;

Do people get ‘decent’ jobs in Canada or do employers see the Visa and are not so interested? Are you sort of forced in to bar staffing, waitering or Chalet related work?

I ask this because whilst I’m not exactly progressing my CV in Australia it is still Government based work, it still requires thought and effort and I have dipped in to different areas of this so I have gained a broader understanding of how some things work. Neither of us want to do the WHV and just come back after ‘x’ years to sit in an interview and basically say “Yeah we partied for 4 years”. We understand that if we were truly career orientated we wouldn’t go at all but we don’t want to hinder our CV’s with 1 year of working in Cafes as one example.

There are some good jobs going, but you can pretty well eliminate any Government jobs, since the usual requirement is citizenship or Permanent Residence.

On this note we are not restricted to particular job areas we would just like office work for our current level not call centres or wait staff??

Whatever you want, but there are certain jobs in the health care industry that CIC requires you have a medical.


Question: Out here we basically had to resort to recruitment agencies for work. Is it going to be a similar set up in Canada? If so would anyone recommend any in particular.

No, there are recruiters, but it in your situation it would be for office temporary work.

Out here we both have been successful with Hays, Robert Walters, Quay Appointments just not sure how global they are.


Question: So maybe from someone who has lived this visa – average hourly wage?

Anything above minimum about $11 depending on the province, BC alcohol servers $9

Again generic I appreciate but I would say that in Australia for an unskilled worker looking for non-management based office work you should expect no less than $21ph but likely no more than $33 – I would say most would find $25p/h to be reasonable.

Unlikely you will find jobs at that pay level

Question: Housing. As a couple (25, 27 y/o) we like our own space. We’re passed using dorms or if forced in to Hostels usually private rooms. We are extremely social (contrary to the last sentence) we just like living by our own standards. House mates out here have been a nightmare so another generic question;

How much would the rent be per week (or month) for a one bedroom flat in a city centre or it’s outskirts.

Check Kiiji or Craigslist for the cities you are interested in

Now this may be an annoying sort of question but I’m just looking at averages right now so I can gauge an idea of cost per month and then looking at what possible jobs you state are available the wages there to have an idea of how we may live. For example – I’d say moving to Sydney you would likely average $220per week per person for rent so roughly a $1,000 bond. I’d say you could go +/- $50 on that amount as a general backpacker. This is definitely fair. We lived with 4 other people and paid $220 each and had luxury. We now live on our own and pay $275 and it’s on par but that’s in the city and a one bedroom. Just an idea of rent cost.


OK DONE

I’m sorry I very much like to have a good grasp of things long before I get on board.

Right now I’d say we average around $850 (AUD) a week. After rent, food, gym, phone credit, transport we usually have around $400 left. We stick $200 in to savings every week leaving us with $200 to spend. Some weekends consist of just the beach so the following weekend it would be $400 to spend. So often we do something ‘big’ every third week. Just wanting to try and figure out whether we’ll be able to have a similar standard of living rather than just working just to say I’ve worked in Canada?

I appreciate any advice and/or positive criticisms – we are trying to give ourselves a good 10 month of preparation on this which is exactly what we did for Australia. Our biggest downfall here was underestimating living costs. We should have waited longer and landed with more money, this would have made a huge difference.

Thank you for your time I really do appreciate it and feel free to only answer questions you feel you can rather than the whole book of questions haha

Originally Posted by BarrattsMini

Thanks,

I understand the openings are closed which is why we would be aiming for 2015.

My biggest worry really from reading odd forums is the price of rent is expensive.

and

Getting work that's not in the ski/snowboard areas.

Are there any restrictions as to how long you can be employed for? Like in Australia its 6 months in one job?

Thank you

Originally Posted by JonboyE

IMO office work at $25 ph on an IEC visa is dreamland. Of course, someone will post that they have got a high paying job on an IEC visa but this is not the norm. I think the purpose of the visa is to give young people the chance to experience Canada, travel a bit, work a bit, and have a blast.

Lots of young people come to Vancouver on IEC visas. They work in hospitality or in the ski resorts. They earn minimum wage or close (though tips can increase this substantially), share a basement with others, drink and smoke too much, and generally have a good

Originally Posted by beckiwoo

However...there are some of us on IEC (and going out to Canada) that are looking at securing employment and trying to go through the PNP/PR. At 29 my aim is not to be going out, getting drunk every night and laying in until 3pm the next afternoon.

Originally Posted by sazzle.pops

I agree with this, I'm 30 and looking to see if Canada is the place for me, so will be having a little fun but also looking to get PNP. If Canada isn't the place for me then its off to NZ I go.

The places go very quickly, they went within 7 minutes in each round.
In looking to take a lot more with me than the $2,500.

Originally Posted by MrFloyd

This is me also, except a little younger

The usual thing with an IEC visa is that you have a wide range of jobs to apply to - it's not tied like a LMO. Having said that the maximum you could be employed for is a year without getting another IEC visa or extending it another way. If you were an employer and someone came over with a year visa (likely less than that by the time you actually get a job), you would be wary of committing a worthwile position to them.

Originally Posted by MrFloyd

(likely less than that by the time you actually get a job)

Originally Posted by JonboyE

IMO office work at $25 ph on an IEC visa is dreamland. Of course, someone will post that they have got a high paying job on an IEC visa but this is not the norm. I think the purpose of the visa is to give young people the chance to experience Canada, travel a bit, work a bit, and have a blast.

Lots of young people come to Vancouver on IEC visas. They work in hospitality or in the ski resorts. They earn minimum wage or close (though tips can increase this substantially), share a basement with others, drink and smoke too much, and generally have a good time.

A one bedroom rental downtown will start around $1,000 but most are more. In the suburbs you can rent a basement suite from $600 and up. Other living expenses will be similar to OZ.

Originally Posted by beckiwoo

However...there are some of us on IEC (and going out to Canada) that are looking at securing employment and trying to go through the PNP/PR. At 29 my aim is not to be going out, getting drunk every night and laying in until 3pm the next afternoon.

Some people appear to do well for jobs on IEC but others take the hospitality jobs. More of a tipping culture though then Australia.

Just wondering, have you guys considered the NZ WHV?? (that was my second choice). Also did you guys do your 3 months of fruit picking work or whatever it is for Australia to get your second year out there? Or have they changed it all now?

Originally Posted by sazzle.pops

I agree with this, I'm 30 and looking to see if Canada is the place for me, so will be having a little fun but also looking to get PNP. If Canada isn't the place for me then its off to NZ I go.

The places go very quickly, they went within 7 minutes in each round.
In looking to take a lot more with me than the $2,500.