doubleym

Oh and one extra point I forgot to mention, with your British and Irish Citizenship, you *theoretically* could manage 4 years of IEC in Canada, which should be plenty enough time to get you through to the end of Spousal sponsorship (I'm sure it's less than 3 years but someone will correct me if I'm wrong )

This is of course if the IEC isn't gutted next year...

beckiwoo

Your only allowed 2 participations in your lifetime regardless of passport or so I was told (unless your australian). The most you can get is 1 year UK and 2 year Irish. People got rejected last year for trying that one.

doubleym

Really? I'm sure I'd seen people doing it before unless they've changed things in the last year...

beckiwoo

The only way that would change is if the UK gets 2 years as well in one go - we should do as that's what Canadians get when they come to the UK on a WHV

doubleym

Ahh that must be what I'm thinking of.

Still think it's super weird that the UK got 2 x 1, especially as you mentioned that Canadians get a single 2 year, I thought it was supposed to be reciprocal.

But then obviously the Aussies have the best deal...naturally because far more young Canadians would like to go over there than head to the UK :P

beckiwoo

Possibly. I do believe someone informed me that agreement was put in place for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 (Definately not recent thing).

Not sure how the numbers compare but one of my work colleagues (Canadian) has just applied for her 2nd year Oz permit - despite Australians getting unlimited 2 years visas until they are 30. Canadians still have to do the fruit picking work that entitles them to another year in Oz (same as the UK).

ChrisBan

As others have pretty much answered your questiion I won't go into too much detail.

2) You have to be physically living together. It would have to be until you get over there on IEC, but in my opinion the fact you're spending all this time and money maintaining a long distance relationship it would probably be worth discussing with her at some point prior to going over if it's something she'd be comfortable with.

3) Skills must be classed as 0, A or B on the NOC. This link is where you can find the info and without looking I'm guessing the wiki on this forum has a quicker explanation. Welcome to the National Occupational Classification 2011 I know a couple of IEC participants who have been successful down this route. Just worth thinking about in advance, get some speculative job searching done.


As for the embassy. That would be a waste of time IMO. This process is dealt with by Ottawa and the High Commission's Twitter account pretty regularly directs a lot of immigration questions elsewhere, especially IEC related questions. I don't have a job at the moment so I spend a little too much time trawling the websites in between looking and applying for jobs

ChrisBan

Yeah it's definitely not a reciprocal agreement there the cynic in me would believe that it's because the majority of the thousands of Aussies go up to the snow resorts, cheap seasonal labour. Also, not that it's really related but I don't know any Australians that consider staying in Canada permanently, most seem more than happy to go back to Aus (as have most of my Australian friends), whereas pretty much everyone applying for UK and Ireland atleast would give their left arm to stay

Burke

Right so my plan should be to go for the Irish one as soon as it's up and if I don't get that move straight to the British one? Do you know if, or where I can check to see if, I need different documents for the Irish IEC?

From 15th to 500th in a minute, that's pretty scary! Were you checking it hourly or something in the week before?

Burke

We'd be fine doing the spousal visa once I'm already there and settled for the required year etc, it's just at the moment we're looking for the fastest route for me to get my foot in the door so to speak, hence IEC!

I'll have a look at the skilled jobs but like I said, I sincerely doubt I'll either have any of these skills or be able to attain them in the time frame I want to go back there. Unless there is a worker shortage for freelance writers.

I know this probably has been asked before but do you, or anyone else reading this, know roughly how long from hitting submit on the day it will take to being approved and allowed to go?

Thanks for your help everyone, really nice to hear from competent people!

ChrisBan

For sure your quickest route will be IEC! It's entirely possible that you could gain the experience required to qualify because things you wouldn't think count, actually would. It's quite a big area to look into so I wouldn't completely write it off, especially if you can get an employer to provide a permanent job offer for bonus points!! There will be some professions classed as skilled that you wouldn't even imagine being skilled.

How long the process takes varies on each individual. Previously some have completed the process in 2 weeks, others have had to wait months. It's hard to say.

As for the Irish program, exactly the same docs are required. As others have said your best bet would be one or the other. The Letter of Introduction is valid for one year so applying for multiple programs if allowed, you end up risking not being able to use one and it'll still count as a participation.

HannahM

Hi all,

I'm planning on applying for the IEC when it opens this year. As I spent 6 months in the USA when I was 19 I was preparing to send off for my FBI check. As this is supposed to take 14-16 weeks I contacted the IEC people to clarify whether, if the certificate still hasn't arrived by the time it is requested by CIC, there would be a time limit on how long they would extend the period to allow me to upload it. This was the response...

You will require a police certificate from each country that you have lived in for six consecutive months within the past 24 months. The case processing agent may ask for further police certificates at the time of processing.

At this time we advise you to apply when the quota opens and have your application assessed. The case processing agent will give you specific instructions at the time they process your application if further information is required.

Should you be unable to provide the information and/or other documents requested by CIC at Step 2 of the application process, you must advise them in writing, the detailed reasons why you cannot provide the document/information requested. You must upload this written explanation electronically through the MyCIC portal in lieu of the document requested.


So apparently I only definitely need a police certificate for places I've spent 6 months in the last 24 months (not since 18 as expected). Now I'm confused as to whether I should just go ahead and get my FBI check now (in case they do request it as they said they may request others) or wait until (if) they do request it. Had anyone else been in a similar situation in previous years? Any advice?

Hope this is of use to others and it hasn't confused anyone else!
Hannah

Burke

If I get an employer to offer me a job, that would bypass the whole system right? The only thing I noticed is that employers now have to pay a $1k fee and prove that there are no Canadians available for the job before offering to to a foreign national. As I don't have any in demand skills that would put me above the average Canadian, is it still worth me looking in to?

Also, what determines some people taking 2 weeks and others months? Any tips to become part of the former camp?

ChrisBan

Yeah I guess, it's pretty difficult but it's not impossible it's an option.

As for why applications take longer than others? Who really knows. Usually it's because they request more paperwork, but a lot of people previously posting claim they didn't understand why their application was being held up, so the only advice that can be given is just dot your i's and cross your t's

Aviator

The new fees are why there are a 78% drop in LMIA applications. If you don't have any skills that are in short supply, I doubt your chances even fall into single digits.

The purpose of the WP program is tom make sure Canadians/PR get hired over foreign labour.