Tag Archives: cic canada

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.

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Dear Visa…. Where Are You?!

Posted in International Experience Canada by

So, it’s been 37 days since I submitted my CIC application for the IEC work visa. Haven’t heard a peep out of them, not a single reply to any of my messages. I wouldn’t mind, as they do have up to 6 weeks to process the CIC part of the application, but so many people who submitted way after me (and a lot of others) have already got their LOI/POE. At least Kyle is one of the ones who has is and I couldn’t have been happier to see his sitting in his account. I had almost given up hope on a working ski season in Canada, as he had driving offences I really thought it would be declined… but I was wrong. Never been so happy to be wrong haha.

We won’t be heading until October/November, so we’re not in a rush to get my visa but the uncertainty of not knowing what’s going on is killing me! Yes, I might not have family or partner in Canada that I need to get my work visa to be able to go over, like a lot of people I’ve been speaking to are. But, there is a lot riding on this for us and a hell of a lot of things for us to do:

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