Moving to Canada for 12 months - IEC Working Holiday Visa

ScarySquirrel said:
Glad you had a good time. When were you there and what were you doing during your stay?
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I first went out in 2007 to do a ski instructor course at Big White which is near Kelowna, then I went back the year after to Big White with my visa, did a season there then spent the summer in Vancouver painting houses.

Since then I've been back for a couple of winters. The last one I spent in a place called Cold Lake 300km north of Edmonton. Small Oil/Military town, very weird with a group of 5 Brits just there to teach skiing at a very small hill. We were treated very well lol.

That was with a sponsored visa so I still have the two they announced a year or so ago to use up before I'm 30. :D The first of which I am applying for this year.
 
Judgeneo said:
Just read through this thread, looks like a fantastic opportunity!

I hadn't considered doing anything like this before, but am now very tempted follow in your footsteps. Keep this thread updated!
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Will do :)

There's not much going on now until we go to be honest, but if you're interested we're running a blog at www.ourcanadianadventure.co.uk :)

Zero5 said:
I first went out in 2007 to do a ski instructor course at Big White which is near Kelowna, then I went back the year after to Big White with my visa, did a season there then spent the summer in Vancouver painting houses.

Since then I've been back for a couple of winters. The last one I spent in a place called Cold Lake 300km north of Edmonton. Small Oil/Military town, very weird with a group of 5 Brits just there to teach skiing at a very small hill. We were treated very well lol.

That was with a sponsored visa so I still have the two they announced a year or so ago to use up before I'm 30. :D The first of which I am applying for this year.
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Sounds awesome! Looks like you've made the most of your time there, I certainly hope we can say the same when we've been there for a couple of years. We're planning all kinds of trips and things like that but you know what it's like, we may well get a job and then just end up not doing anything. I hope that's not the case though.
 
Good luck all.

SS if you need any extra info let me know and I'll try and find out for you. We've only been here a couple of months but info is so much easier to obtain once you're actually here.
 
I'm considering going to Canada after I finish my degree here in the UK, and I've found plenty of useful information from various links from here and other sites, but I'm still wondering about costs.

Is anyone able to give me a breakdown of costs, Visa, BUNAC (if needed) etc?

For example, how much money are people taking out with them, enough to cover a month's costs then go from there? Any clues as to the financial side would be fantastic, as I'd like to have a real idea of how much I'm going to need to save.
 
Also, are people booking 1 way flights, or have you already booked a return flight? Is that a requirement of the working visa?
 
I've just sent this to you on Facebook but I'll post it here as well anyway :)

In terms of costs, and I'm doing this from memory, this is what we have/will spent/spend: (all of these are what we paid each)

- Police certificate - £35
- IEC fee - £90
- Flights - £330
- Insurance - will be around £100-150 each
- Accommodation for 2 weeks when we get there - £250 each

This could change, and I may not have remembered them exactly but it's close enough.

You'll also need proof that you have $2,500 (about £1,600 I think) when you get there. Although from the research I've done people are recommending that you take a lot more as it can be expensive when you first arrive, particularly if you're heading to Vancouver like we are, as apparently it's very expensive. Not sure how bad it is, it seems alright to me but time will tell.

We have booked a one-way flight because it worked out cheaper. There is no requirement to book one-way or return, you can get there however you like.
 
When I went, which given is a while ago now, they didn't ask to see any funds at immigration. That was with BUNAC though, so perhaps they aren't so bothered compared to a visa which you have got off your own back.

I personally didn't actually have much money myself, having just finished Uni. Luckily it was enough to last me until I started working when I got a job.
 
Nexus said:
When I went, which given is a while ago now, they didn't ask to see any funds at immigration. That was with BUNAC though, so perhaps they aren't so bothered compared to a visa which you have got off your own back.

I personally didn't actually have much money myself, having just finished Uni. Luckily it was enough to last me until I started working when I got a job.
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I've read a lot of reports from people recently saying that they weren't asked to show anything, but it is a requirement so you need to have it with you just in case.

I'm hoping to have around £5-6k with me when I go, although knowing my spending habits it will be more like £3k!
 
Good luck man, can't offer anything constructive in terms of costs as was about 10 years since I did a a year study abroad at UBC in Vancouver and loved it. Very easy to get 'aboot' and across downtown, friendly and loads of cool bars, etc. Always seemed much cheaper eating out than actually buying food then for some reason but the exchange rate was great in 2002. Looking forward to hearing the updates!
 
McB said:
Good luck man, can't offer anything constructive in terms of costs as was about 10 years since I did a a year study abroad at UBC in Vancouver and loved it. Very easy to get 'aboot' and across downtown, friendly and loads of cool bars, etc. Always seemed much cheaper eating out than actually buying food then for some reason but the exchange rate was great in 2002. Looking forward to hearing the updates!
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Thanks dude :)
 
No message on Facebook :( Appreciate the reply on here too though. Have you found that yourself and Natalie have managed to save money on things like accommodation because you're a couple?

We plan on taking as much money as possible, both selling cars/getting rid of outstanding debts like loan payments before we go, so hopefully we'll have a good couple of grand each, if not more.
 
Hoping to get all mine applied for when it opens for 2013 soon and head off once saved up enough. Hard part is actually making a commitment to do it and having the nerves to go alone into a new country. As said though chances of gaining permanent residency are slim if you don't have a trade and getting a company sponsorship is really pot luck.
 
We got here mid October on a 3 year TWP. Have spoken to HR and they are already happy to sponsor for permanent residence. Must be doing something right. :D
 
-westy- said:
No message on Facebook :( Appreciate the reply on here too though. Have you found that yourself and Natalie have managed to save money on things like accommodation because you're a couple?

We plan on taking as much money as possible, both selling cars/getting rid of outstanding debts like loan payments before we go, so hopefully we'll have a good couple of grand each, if not more.
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We're probably saved a bit of money because we're a couple, with the place we've booked at least. If it was just me it would cost me double.

On the other hand, if you're on your own it would probably be easier to find spare rooms with people, which would likely be a lot cheaper.

I'm hoping it will be easier to find an apartment as a couple as we can get a 1 bedroom place and share the cost. Whereas if I was on my own it would either be very expensive or I'd need to look into sharing.

DAvE18 said:
Hoping to get all mine applied for when it opens for 2013 soon and head off once saved up enough. Hard part is actually making a commitment to do it and having the nerves to go alone into a new country. As said though chances of gaining permanent residency are slim if you don't have a trade and getting a company sponsorship is really pot luck.
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Come to Vancouver :)
 
I keep trying to tempt my gf with the idea, but she says she will only consider moving to another country that has better weather than the UK, doh!
 
krooton said:
I keep trying to tempt my gf with the idea, but she says she will only consider moving to another country that has better weather than the UK, doh!
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I visited Canada - Calgary to be exact - twice while my parents lived out there for two years (they came back 6 months ago). I loved it out there but both times I visited during/towards the end of Summer; my parents hated the long winters and they were quite glad to come back to the UK where the weather doesn't get so extreme.

I'd love to move out there myself at some point, but it's not something I can even really entertain until I've got the money and work experience to be able to do it properly and make it succeed.
 
krooton said:
I keep trying to tempt my gf with the idea, but she says she will only consider moving to another country that has better weather than the UK, doh!
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I visited Canada for two weeks last month (flew into Calgary and then up to Fort St John) to spend Christmas with my girlfriend and her Canadian family. My girlfriend's brother (who lives on Vancouver Island) said that Kamloops is an awesome place to live. Kamloops gets four distinct seasons (as opposed to FSJ which just has Winter and Summer). Have a look: http://www.tourismkamloops.com/weather-and-climate-in-kamloops-british-columbia

I have been thinking about maybe marrying my girlfriend and then moving to Canada in a couple of years. Certainly seemed like a very nice country when I visited. :)
 
Anxiously waiting for the 2013 program to open, have my flights booked for USA April 3rd for 3months then planning to go Canada after.

IEC Y U NO OPEN!
 
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