IEC Canadian Working Visa Application Timescales

Posted in International Experience Canada by

The International Experience Canada (IEC) visa application this year was the first year to be completed fully online (usually it’s done part online, part post). So, as expected there was some hmm let’s say ‘teething problems’. First the applications didn’t come online until February, they were meant to be available in December. They opened in three stages with the 5,000 ish visas split into each stage. I was lucky enough to get mine registered in the first phase, when over a 1,000 places were taken in about 4 hours.

There were lots of other technical issues and problems with the whole system, but I was pretty lucky throughout… apart from not been told my application had been accepted a month ago! For anyone interested here are my timescales for the IEC process:

1st round of UK applications opened – 14th February
Application applied for – 14th feb
Payment request – 14th Feb
Payment sent – 14th Feb
Payment verified – 15th Feb
Conditional acceptance letter – 18th Feb
CIC application submitted – 3rd March
Application accepted (but was never told, due to technical issues) – 17th March
Verbally told accepted – 12th April
POE (Port of entry) letter received – 19th April

So I now have my POE firmly in my grip, it’s official we are going to Canada! Let’s hope they make the process a little less stressful next year.

Related articles

Leave a comment