Moving to Canada for 12 months - IEC Working Holiday Visa

Well my plans couldn't have changed more haha!

After doing a bit of travelling around Europe, met an Aussie girl who's now my girlfriend, and now i'm applying for a Working holiday visa for Oz haha!

Best of luck to all going out, i'll definitely be visiting Whistler sometime in the future, so if anyones based there, i'm sleeping on your sofa :p
 
When does IEC 2013 open? From looking at previous years I thought it would have opened by now, but the site seems to be pretty out of date so unsure.
 
Looks like there's a bit of a delay this year. Good thing I've decided to apply next January and just go as soon as it's through. Gives me longer to save :)
 
kieranv said:
Looks like there's a bit of a delay this year. Good thing I've decided to apply next January and just go as soon as it's through. Gives me longer to save :)
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That's a good idea actually. Myself and my girlfriend were going to apply this year, then going fairly near to the end of the validity period of the LOI. I suppose either works :)
 
Yeah, I was planning on applying this year and going around March 2014, but then I realised there was no point in applying so early when I wasn't going to be leaving until then.

I guess it's good to know you're definitely going while saving and planning etc.
 
kieranv said:
Yeah, I was planning on applying this year and going around March 2014, but then I realised there was no point in applying so early when I wasn't going to be leaving until then.

I guess it's good to know you're definitely going while saving and planning etc.
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That's our thinking, it gives us something to aim towards - we've even planned how much we need to save on a month by month basis. Obviously more time would enable us to save more.

I think I still want to apply this year though, I like a challenge :cool:
 
The recent changes to the Irish IEC means that you can now get a single 2 year visa, rather than two 1 year visas. People that are currently on their first visa can apply this year and get another one with 2 years, meaning they've had a total of 3 years.

I'm hoping the delays to the opening of the UK IEC this year is because similar changes are being made. It means that if my girlfriend and I apply for another one before we leave we'd also end up with a total of 3 years.

Fingers crossed!!
 
Thanks for the continued updates dude :) I'll definitely follow your blog :D

Just waiting for the IEC to open for this years lot now... I thought it'd be Nov/Dec last year but still waiting :p
 
Marky said:
Thanks for the continued updates dude :) I'll definitely follow your blog :D

Just waiting for the IEC to open for this years lot now... I thought it'd be Nov/Dec last year but still waiting :p
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As are we - sending off the Police Certificate application this week hopefully :)

As the Visas may be valid for up to 2 years, does this mean that the Letters of Introduction may be as well?
 
-westy- said:
Is the application window normally open by now then?
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It opened in December last year.

It looks like the delays have been caused because they have completely changed the application process. There's some information here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2013/ob490.asp

Highlights:

- Application is now completed online
- Now a two stage application with verification of eligibility before applying for the visa. Previously you applied once and it went through the 2 stages automatically. Now it's split up into 2 distinct parts it seems. 1st Stage eligibility is done in London.
- Your police check isn't required until the 2nd stage so you'll want to make sure it isn't out of date before that time.
- My understanding of "centralized processing region" (for the 2nd stage application for the visa) is that applications are now processed in Canada (either Sydney Nova Scotia, Mississauga Ontario or Vegreville Alberta) rather than the UK.
- February 1st is mentioned a few times throughout so that might be the magical date. All of the above seems to account for the apparent delay beginning the program this year as these are radical changes from previous years.
- By law, (complete) applications must be processed within 8 weeks
- Mention of the changes to eligibility for Ireland are included but this latest update has nothing new for UK citizens - I'd therefore find it unlikely there will be any changes

Marky said:
Thanks for the continued updates dude :) I'll definitely follow your blog :D

Just waiting for the IEC to open for this years lot now... I thought it'd be Nov/Dec last year but still waiting :p
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Thanks :)

Check above, 1st February is current speculation.

-westy- said:
As are we - sending off the Police Certificate application this week hopefully :)

As the Visas may be valid for up to 2 years, does this mean that the Letters of Introduction may be as well?
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It's looking unlikely now the UK will change to 2 years, but I could be wrong. If it does change to 2 year, now or in the future, I'd be very surprised if the LOI would change to being valid for 2 years as well.
 
Ah, so basically:

  • Apply for eligibility testing
  • Once through, you can apply for (or have ready) your police certificate and other documentation (online I understand)
  • Application should be completed within 8 weeks submission.
  • Letter of Introduction can be issued any time from that date

Do I understand that correctly?

Thanks for all the updates on that Nick :)
 
-westy- said:
Ah, so basically:

  • Apply for eligibility testing
  • Once through, you can apply for (or have ready) your police certificate and other documentation (online I understand)
  • Application should be completed within 8 weeks submission.
  • Letter of Introduction can be issued any time from that date

Do I understand that correctly?

Thanks for all the updates on that Nick :)
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-westy- said:
Where have you got that information from? All the pages I've seen state that it hasn't opened yet. Unless I'm confusing 2 separate things; the "window" and the application process?

This page states that applications aren't being accepted yet?
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Sorry, by last year I actually meant December 2011, the one that my girlfriend and I applied for.
 
ScarySquirrel said:
I know I keep bumping this every now and again but I thought I'd post a couple of links to help out anyone else thinking of doing the same thing.

Well, one link really, the site was only launched recently I believe and it's awesome in terms of the information it provided:

http://www.moving2canada.com/

Also, my girlfriend and I have started a blog :)

www.ourcanadianadventure.co.uk
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Amazing, thanks for all your help and advice on this! Myself and the OH are planning on applying as soon as the visa's for this year are open again and hoping to be out by July 2013 :) All of your links and tips are going to be so beneficial to us! Thanks a lot dude :)
 
Jebs said:
Amazing, thanks for all your help and advice on this! Myself and the OH are planning on applying as soon as the visa's for this year are open again and hoping to be out by July 2013 :) All of your links and tips are going to be so beneficial to us! Thanks a lot dude :)
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No problem at all, I'm glad to help :)

Where are you and your OH thinking of moving to in Canada?
 
IEC website has been updated finally.

Says "Please note that the 2013 IEC initiative has not yet opened for applications. It will open before February 1, 2013, and more information on the online process will be made available on this website. Stay tuned!"
 
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