Originally Posted by David K. Barnes

Never used this forum before so a first timer here!

I am very interested in applying for the IEC scheme. I'd love to go to Canada in September after I've finished with my work at the Edinburgh Fringe and live and work in Canada for a year. I also have a friend who lives in Toronto who has offered me a place to stay for the year, so finding accomodation won't be a problem.

I registered at the IEC site and had the personalised application form sent to me. However, I have yet to actually send it off as I had to weigh up various options over the past month.

I'm wondering: is it probably too late for me to apply now? The website doesn't specifically say places have run out but wondered whether it's worth my while at this stage?

Originally Posted by mattieuk

Can't let this slip without correcting it (some people scour these forums and accept everything at literal face value). You can repeat once, and you can participate for a maximum of two years (as far as I know through my own application). Repeating it twice would give you 3 years, which is not possible under the IEC scheme.

Not being a jerk, but I know a lot of people base all their hopes on stuff like this so, just wanted to clarify in case anyone digs through this thread in a few months and gets all excited and starts firing off a million PMs to you to find out how to get 3 years! Spot on about the student and non student stuff though.



I don't think that is entirely fair. BUNAC have been doing this for quite a while, and they weren't lying to you regarding the information they gave you - as what they were saying was based on a case of best-guessing, and I was in the same camp they were in. Work Canada visas for non students went in a matter of two or three days (if they lasted that long!). With the student/non student definition gone, there was definitely reasonable scope for them to believe that these new visas would sell out very fast as well. From the way that the embassy are cutting BUNAC off, I strongly doubt they were giving BUNAC updates on how the applications non-BUNAC were going. Plus, under the old BUNAC-only system you had a visa reserved as soon as you originally signed up with BUNAC and paid your money - under the new IEC scheme, no one knows when the visa is properly reserved (probably at the payment stage if when you 'know' you have one reserved).

I'm not an all out defender of BUNAC - and I think the benefits of their SWAP office are somewhat overrated (I used them to get my SIN card, and had a brief look over their job boards - but in truth it is mostly Craigslist adverts printed off). They do have free to use computers with the internet, and printers, which is very handy for newcomers, but there are plenty of libraries and internet cafes, so this isn't completely essential for the money.

That said, if anyone is canceling their BUNAC membership/went alone, and experience any questions or anything when coming out here (specifically looking at people coming over to Vancouver really, as I've never experienced the city of Toronto), they are more than welcome to get in touch with me (via PM or whatever), and I will try to give as much advice as possible. The SWAP office definitely isn't the mecca for BUNAC users I thought it would be - and the staff have to deal with knowing protocol for different nationalities, and backpackers as it operates for all international programs.



Super glad you're enjoying yourself man! Always helpful when the locals make you feel welcome as well. Good luck with the job/hostel hunt - but it sounds like you are doing awesomely! You'd still be stuck on a bus if coming to the West Coast right? Urgh!

Originally Posted by cherryj

Need some advice....my fiance and I want to apply for the International Experience programme, to depart in Jan 2012.

We are getting married in September 2011 and basically need to know:
If we apply for the visa now - our marital status will be single. However, come September our marital status will change.
I'm trying to find out whether this will invalidate the visa.
I can't find any information on the High Commision website, it just says to put your current marital status at time of application. But I'm sure I read somewhere else, that any changes may invalidate your visa.
I have emailed the High Commission, but a month has passed and I've yet to receive a reply.
There doesn't seem to be any telephone contact details...

Would be very grateful if anyone knows anything about this or has been in a similar situation.

Thank you

Originally Posted by David K. Barnes

But I also would need to get this police form thing and the bank to stamp whatnot. I'm not quite sure how much time it'll take to get everything sorted before I can even submit an application, added to which I don't know the total cost of everything. Initial application payment, police form check, I need about £2000 in the account to prove I can live there, and then there's travel/medical insurance and the flight itself... I'm an ex Classics student living off an overdraft and so far unable to find work despite best efforts. Might be able to get family to help out with costs and maybe get a bank loan but otherwise not sure if it's worth my while applying...

I've read that you can secure a visa placement via Bunac (with the heftier £250 fee) giving time to sort out forms. Is this true?

Originally Posted by chanceUK

no one knows how much time you will have before all of the visas run out (it is probably a matter of days or weeks rather than months though). You could always consider applying next year instead.

Originally Posted by ChrisBan

You say that... but when BUNAC had the exclusive rights to the permit in the past, they were still offering them 10 months after opening the scheme. Either way, I wouldn't be willing to risk that being the case this year

Originally Posted by Thrice87

Hi guys,

Just cam across this site after looking for answers to this problem that I now have.

I have the conditional acceptance, and have made the wire transfer and have now uploaded the form. The problem is that I didn't put my DOB on there! and apparently that must be on there....I've sent an email to them via the contact form after attempting to upload again, but will they reject the application if it isn't on there? I'm really worried now

Originally Posted by Galacticos

Why dont u just upload it again with ur DOB on it??

Originally Posted by Galacticos

Why dont u just upload it again with ur DOB on it??

Originally Posted by Galacticos

Did u get the email saying they confirmed that you sent it ??? Hopefully that shouldnt cause a problem, but keep your fingers crossed!!!

Originally Posted by Thrice87

Yea I got the confirmation email. I'm sure that they'll not be too bothered by it. I've also used the contact form that they linked me to to send them my DOB so maybe they'll pick that up...

Originally Posted by superhans

Ok, as one of the stragglers, here's my progress so far:

1st March - Sent application to Paris
7th March - Acknowledgement of receipt
9th March - Conditional acceptance
10th March - Paid fee
10th March - Receipt of proof payment
11th March - Sent to London

So I guess I'm now in for at least a few weeks of nail biting. Good luck to everyone else still waiting!