Moving to Canada for 12 months - IEC Working Holiday Visa

Soldato
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** Update ** - We moved here in March 2013, this is our blog - www.ourcanadianadventure.co.uk

Hi all, I know there's a few threads from the past few years with lots of information and stories in, but I thought I'd post my plans, just because I can really :p

I know a lot of people go through BUNAC for this, however my girlfriend and I have been doing a lot of research, and it looks relatively easy to do this without the need for BUNAC, and in fact I have read that by 2013 the Canadian government will not reserve any spaces for third parties, BUNAC are the only third party that currently get spaces allocated to them, but not for long.

We're hopefully submitting our ACRO Police Certificate application (£35 each) at the end of this month, when we get this, we'll submit our application for an IEC working visa (around £90 each I think). Apparently this can take 8 weeks to be processed, and there are only around 5,500 spaces available to British passport holders (still loads left as it's only just January).

When you get accepted, you get a Letter of Introduction, which is valid for 12 months from date of issue. You present this to immigration when you arrive in Canada, and your 12 month visa starts from them.

We're planning on moving January 2013, as we both have commitments until then. I have a house lease until August, and wedding photography bookings up until 6th December 2012.

Excited is an understatement!!! I know this will happen, I'm determined to make it happen, I've lived around the same town my whole life. My girlfriend has lived all over, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife, Aberdeen, and London, she seems really organised, has moved around lots in the past, and has done a load of research into it all. We can't wait :)

Vancouver is currently top of the list of where to move to.

No point of this thread really, other than to see who else is looking to do it this year/next year, and what your plans are, how you're finding planning for things, and any useful info you've found out that you'd like to share.
 
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You lucky sod :).

A long way to go yet unfortunately. Lots of forms to fill in, but assuming we do it all properly there is no reason why it won't happen :)

No doubt if it does happen I'll want to cry when the 12 months are up. If I have fun I'll definitely do it again (you can get two in your lifetime).
 
why are people saying lucky and jealous etc? go do it?:confused:

I looked into this last year. It's not worth going via bunac anymore - just go via canadian embassy. I think bunac is good for a first timer though as they provide help whilst you're out there, work/places to stay etc but it's not really worth the £250 fee.

Yeah that's the conclusion we came to as well. I'd rather put that £250 towards the £500+ medical insurance we'll need when we move!!

You're right, nothing to be jealous about, just do it :D
 
Congrats, my sister in law and her boyfriend have just come back from a year in Canada. Something to remember that they made apparent, if you want to extend it for a second year keep an eye on when applications for that open and get in fast, it's different to applying to enter for the first time and if you miss it you have to apply from outside Canada.

Yeah I was looking into that as well. I did read someone on OcUK in another thread, either they or a friend of theirs had gone to the USA for a few months traveling (not working), applied whilst there, and then reentered Canada once they'd been accepted.

To be honest, after a year there, a few months back in England would probably be quite nice whilst I applied again, that is of course if I like it there :)
 
We'll have to meet up ScarySquirrel! Me and my wife are applying for out IEC visa in the next couple of weeks (Sending off for the police certificates tomorrow) and most likely will be landing in Canada at the start of 2013. Vancouver is also our favourite, although we may end up further out towards Banff.

We are setting off on our adventure to walk the length of America this April, and will end up in Canada by October. We could start the IEC visas then, but will probably want to go home and visit people for a while.

Don't worry about the forms, they can't be any worse than the Canadian Permanent Residency Visa ones. With the IEC visa, do you know if you have to send your passport off to the embassy?

Awesome! :) Yeah definitely that would be great.

I've had a look through all the forms and they're pretty standard stuff, not very long at all and it's mostly the usual personal information, family information, etc.
 
Brilliant post Owen, thank you, sounds like you had a fantastic time. It's definitely our intention to save up as much money as possible, even though we are seeing it as a working holiday, we'd like to see as much of the country as possible :D
 
Thanks for the continued input everyone. We're quite keen on the idea of doing some time in Vancouver and then maybe going to Whistler for the ski season. I don't know how achievable that is, but we have plenty of time to plan stuff like that.

I've been filling out the application forms today. I wondered if someone could help as I'm a bit stuck on some of the questions.

Application for work permit made outside of Canada
Form - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM1295E.PDF
Guide to completing form - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5487E4.asp

Details of intended work in Canada section
2 - Details of my prospective employer

I assume I leave this blank as I don't have any work lined up

Details of intended work in Canada section
3 - Intended location of employment in Canada

Leave this blank as well?

Details of intended work in Canada section
4 - My occupation in Canada will be?

Leave blank, or put 'unknown'?

Education section
1 - Have you had any post secondary education?

I did a 2 year BTEC National Diploma, followed by a 2 year BTEC Higher National Diploma in Graphic Design. Shall I put the 2 year HND here?


Family Information Form
Form - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5645E.PDF

My Dad is deceased, so what do I put his marital status as? Technically he is married, and my Mum is widowed. or do I write deceased in here?

Two of my half siblings I haven't been in contact with for about 4 years. I THINK my Mum will be able to help me with contact details, but if for any reason she doesn't, what would I put here? I'll certainly have some last known addresses, so could just put what I have, but it may be wrong now. Any thoughts?
 
Just answered my own question:

http://www.canadainternational.gc.c...e/application_guide-guide_demande.aspx?view=d
Under "Details of Intended Work in Canada", select "International Experience Canada Program". You do not need to enter any details of your prospective employer, unless you already have this information.

If you do not know yet what your occupation will be, enter "unknown" under "Details of my perspective employer" of the work permit application form (IMM1295). You may also enter "unknown" under the heading "Brief description of duties". Both of these fields are mandatory and you will not be able to validate your form unless you complete them.
 
I also have a lot of debt, fortunately though I have opportunity this year to earn a lot more money with work, so just need to put the effort in. I also have my wedding photography money which I will aim to save, rather than spend this year. So will hopefully be ok.

I'm more worried about my girlfriend, she has debts, and works as cabin crew for BA, unfortunately the salary isn't great.

I am 33 now and will be 35 in May 2013. I really need to get out there before I lose the opportunity to do it on a WHV. Still £2000 in debt, I must pay that off asap and then I can consider it.

When do the applications for 2013 open, or is it purely a first come first serve until the 5,500 run out ??

I've done WHV in Oz and NZ so this is the last place I can realisitically do one from the UK and have some fun and hard work on another continent.

I'll re-read this thread again tonight, but if anyone has any more information on moving to Canada would be sweet !!

Unfortunately you have to be under 30 for Canada I believe.
 
Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but finding a job shouldn't be too bad should it? Personally I am just looking for something in retail, restaurant, or bar work (I have plenty of experience in all), so would likely take a walk one day and hand my CV in to a load of places.
 
I had three job offers within a week, as long as you aren't fussy (which some of the people I lived with were and wondered why they didn't have a job when they turned down jobs) you will be fine. Like I said before I know my friends struggled a bit in Vancouver purely because of the size of the place and the workers are not as seasonal (compared to resort towns), I'm sure you will be fine though.

Yeah I will definitely not be fussy in the first instance. I've worked the past 5 years in a relatively stressful sales role, where no matter if you're at work or not, you're pretty much thinking about stuff. I actually look forward to the idea of working in a restaurant, or an ice cream shop, or anything that is going really! I am not at all fussed, at least in the beginning.
 
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Great post Nexus, completely changed my view on things!

The 7 grand that course would have cost me might go into snowboarding holidays now, then just try and bang out level 1 and 2 as soon as I get there :)

You said something about the Job fair, and they might take you on and pay for Level 1 and 2, when does this take place and where?

They appear to have an annual one in November each year, I assume in Whistler.

There's some info here, but it seems a bit dated - http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/employment/jobs/index.htm
 
Quick question guys, on one of the IEC forms, where you're asked about family details, I've put information in for all of my family, but one of my half-sisters and my half-brother, I have no idea where they live or what their job titles are. Shall I just put 'Unknown'?
 
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