Even in the turbulent 2020, thousands of applicants have already started preparing their applications for the continuously popular IEC Work Holiday Visa Program in Canada.
Probably, you are familiar with this program or have read many articles about it. In that case, you may know that it is one of the most competitive and popular visa programs that Canada has to offer, in addition to the express delivery system.
Why is it so popular? Every year travellers, students, and volunteers from more than 30 countries worldwide apply for this incredible program for travel and work in Canada.
Why Canada? Think about Northern Lights, the majestic Canadian Rocks, exploring the emerald green waters of Lake Luzy, snowboarding the slopes of Whistler Resort, hiking in one of 48 national parks – all while working in Canada, and financing your vacation! Here are some pieces of news and tips to make this trip possible.
IEC Working Holiday Visa In Canada Program
This program provides temporary work permits for younger people from more than 30 countries to legally live and work in Canada. Permits are valid for 12 or 24 months, depending on your country of citizenship.
Applicants must first create a profile that notifies Canadian authorities if they wish to apply for a work visa in Canada. Successful applicants will be asked to complete their work permit application formally.
How To Get A Working Holiday Visa For Canada
Check If You Qualify
Before creating your profile on the site, it is essential to make sure that, first, you are eligible to travel to Canada and, second, to find out if you are eligible to participate in any of the three IEC programs.
You are required to be a citizen of one of the participating countries and be between 18 and 30/35 (depending on your country of citizenship). An IEC has an online tool that allows you to check if you are eligible for any categories.
Gather Your Supporting Documents
The IEC Work Holiday Program is extremely popular, and as the season opens, you can be sure that there will be other applicants who are ready and waiting to apply.
However, do not stop at scrambling to get your documents in order. You may need a little preparation and extra work now, but it will make the application process much easier and faster when the time comes to apply. It would help if you considered consulting a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant to ensure that the process is stress-free and smooth.
Create An Online Profile
This profile will contain your personal information, and you will be asked to answer several questions online, including your full name, date of birth, place of birth, and contact information.
Please note that you will need a passport to complete the profile.
Submit Your Profile
After you have submitted your profile, you will be notified of which programs you are applying for, and then you will be able to submit your profile to the lottery pools of your choice. If successful, you will be invited to apply for a work permit.
Enter The Draw Pool
At this point, your application will be added to the drawing pools. You may be eligible to participate in more than one pool, and you will need to determine your preference order since you will be invited to apply for only one program.
This process takes about 4 to 8 weeks, and the IRCC will check to see if you are eligible for a work permit, all the necessary supporting documents, and your employer.
It is strongly recommended that you do not do any of the following before your application is approved:
- Buy a plane ticket for any trip to Canada
- Buy health insurance for the duration of your stay in Canada
- Commitments to your potential employer in Canada
- Commit to providing any accommodation in Canada
- Cancel your stay
- Leave your job or study in your home country.
Accept Your Invitation
If your application for a Working Holiday visa in Canada is approved, you will receive your invitation from the IEC and must inform the ICRC that you have decided to accept your invitation within ten days.
Apply For Your Permit
What kind of work permit you want to get depends on the IEC program through which you received your ITA:
- Working Holiday – Work permit
- Young specialists – Employer-specific work permit
- Cooperative (internship) – Employer-specific work permit
Pay Your Fees
After that, you will have 20 days to apply for a work permit and pay the application fee.
The cost relies on which program you choose to apply for.
Once all your fees have been paid, you can apply. The time to process your permit application is usually about four weeks. If you can pay your biometric fees online, do so. It will save you valuable time.
Submit Your Biometrics
You have three options to pay for biometric services:
- Online
- By mail
- At a Visa Application Centre (VAC)
Paying the biometric fee online when submitting your application should save you time. You will have no more than 30 days to submit your biometric data, which you will have to do in person, so the sooner you receive an email with biometric instructions, the better. You should receive it within 24 hours from the moment you pay.
You will pay for the biometrics after submitting your application, whether online or by mail, which means that you may wait a few days to receive the letter, which will delay the entire application process.
You will be required to make an appointment to provide your biometrics. Find out where the nearest collection point is.
Receive Your Port of Entry Letter (POE)
If all goes well and your application for a permit is approved, you will receive a letter about the port of arrival (POE). It is important to note that a POE does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter Canada or receive a permit.
Therefore, it is imperative to ensure that you have met all the requirements for admission to Canada and any other requirements under the IEC program.
It is important to note that you will be considered a participant in the program once you receive a POE, which means that even if you do not use this letter and it expires, you may not be able to reapply for this program. It is something most works leave visa applicants do not know about.
To Sum Up
Applying for a visa for a working vacation in Canada can be time-consuming and difficult. With strict deadlines, procedures, and requirements, it can be easy to make a mistake, which may cost you a chance to go and work in Canada.
However, with the help of an RCIC and the tips and news that have been discussed, the process should be stress-free and straightforward.