As the title states, I am on a IEC visa, until October. I am planning to apply for a Visitor Record and was wondering if the processing time kept my legal status in Canada until I have gotten a response from the IRCC.
Say I apply one week before my current status expires, will that maintain my status until I get my visitor's record approved?
Here's a bit of a timeline:
2025-04-30 - Entered Canada with Letter of Introduction and received Work Permit valid to 2027-03-26 (expiry date on passport)
2026-07-01 - Returned to the UK
2026-08-03 - New passport issued
I plan to return to Canada on 2026-09-12. From what I understand, I need to bring my old passport with me as that is what is associated with the work permit. I also know that I can apply to extend my work permit as it was cut short a little.
The thing that I'm not sure about is whether I need a new eTA. The eTA website steers me away from proceeding when I say that I am coming to the country for work.
Has anyone submitted for this visa recently and can share their timeframe towards work permit approval please?
I’m currently in college in Canada but my school doesn’t offer a post graduate work permit when I graduate in 2027 (it’s a one year program). I saw online that you can see the chances you have at getting an IEC based on the country and how many participants there are vs the quota. However I didn’t see this for US citizens, probably because we have to go through an RO. Is there anywhere where I can see the numbers for US citizens?
Also I’m still new to learning about this process. If anyone has any suggestions for resources regarding ROs I would appreciate it! Thank you :)
Hi Guys, I'm 1 year into my first IEC working holiday visa and Im wanting to apply for an RO. Is there any limitations to which Organisations I can apply to because Im Irish? What are the usual ones? Thanks
My girlfriend and I (from the UK) would like to move to Vancouver. I had my IEC approved last week, but she didn't get through the ballot stage.
We would like to go in February, with her potentially applying for an IEC whilst in country on a holiday visa.
What is the general consensus on doing this? Have many people done this before successfully? Is it worth not taking the risk and just waiting for her IEC to be approved from the UK?
Hi everyone. I’m landing in Edmonton on the 17th. Would like some advice and tips for the following. I’m staying at an AirBnb for 1 month.
- Reputable bank to open an account
- Purchasing a preowned car (under $4,000) and Car insurance. I have an international license, no Alberta license at the moment.
- reputable SIM card company for phone
- entry level jobs (willing to work in any field). I have experience in retail, fifo work bartending (serving cans and bottles) housekeeping kitchen, warehousing work (no forklift experience).
Any other tips about Edmonton Canada would be greatly appreciated! I AM INCREDIBLY NERVOUS.
Spouses of IEC participants cannot simply accompany them to Canada. They must have their own work permit.
Here's the good news:
If you’re coming to Canada on an IEC and your partner also wants to work in Canada, a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) may be an option. (This is a different work permit than the open work permit through the common law sponsorship PR pathway)
Other types of temporary workers may also qualify for a Spousal Open Work Permit. However, this post focuses specifically on IEC participants.
Here are some common examples:
A SOWP is a separate immigration program and does not count as an IEC participation.
A SOWP is an open work permit.
You do not need an LMIA. The LMIA exemption code is C41.
For your partner to qualify for a SOWP:
You must be married or common-law.
Your work permit must be valid for at least 16 months when your partner applies.
You must be working in an eligible occupation:
More info and the list of jobs here:
For immigration purposes, common-law partners need to have lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least 12 consecutive months.
Evidence can include:
The SOWP is issued for the same period as the supporting partner's work permit.
For example, if your IEC work permit is valid for 2 years, your partner will get a SOWP for 2 years (if their passport is also valid for 2 years).
There are two main options:
1. Apply online
You can apply from inside or outside Canada.
2. Apply at a Canadian airport
If you are travelling to Canada from abroad together, your partner may be able to apply for the SOWP when entering Canada.
If applying at the airport, bring all the supporting documents you would normally provide for an online application. Border officers may also ask for additional proof that you are currently employed, such as recent pay slips.
⚠️ Flagpoling is no longer an option. Canada ended flagpoling in December 2024.
If you are already in Canada and apply for the SOWP before your current work permit expires, you will have maintained status.
You can continue working under the conditions of your current work permit while IRCC processes the application.
A copy of your partner's valid work permit.
The work permit must be valid for at least 16 months when the SOWP application is submitted.
Proof of your relationship
If you are married:
If you are common-law:
Proof of employment
Documents can include:
I see posts about people getting into Canada on a IEC visa twice because they have 2 passports? Is that actually a thing? Has anyone ever done it?
I've just obtained my POE letter and am eligible to enter the country, but am a bit phased by the prospects of having no guarantees at a job on arrival.
As someone in their early 30s, what are the prospects of finding work at the moment? I have years of experience in the video game industry, and am hoping that being based in Canada would increase my chances of continuing that career. That said, I'd be willing to take a simpler job to pay the bills in the interim... if such jobs are actually available.
Since other posts are noting that even locals are struggling right now, would there be too much competition for someone with no prior Canadian work experience? Also, would appreciate any advice on which cities to target if this is my plan!
sorry if this question is asked a lot but I’m Irish so we only get one IEC or a second through a RO which seems near impossible. I already got one IEC years ago, long story short entered Canada and and I believe I must have activated it although I did have plans to fly back home and i remember going through immigration. anyway I left and flew back to Ireland 2 weeks later and never returned. I‘m pretty sure if working permit was activated at immigration it means I can’t get another IEC regardless of how long I stayed. (so annoyed I shot myself in the foot it seems!)
edit: wondering if reaching out to immigration and explain this or if they check entry/exit and maybe would make an allowance if I applied a second time
Hello,
I am kinda looking for an option to do one more IEC through RO but it looks like it is quite competitive but is it nearly impossible to get it?
I could not find any statistic on RO and I want to see if it is feasible otherwise I will plan something else.
Hi,
Looking for straight forward advice on navigating the Canadian job market in general on IEC and if anyone has gotten into Financial services roles, even better
NEED ADVICE ON THE FOLLOWING:
○ Applying for jobs without having SIN/Work permit yet - Only have POE Letter approval
○ Best way to apply - E.g Should I get an candian esim (mobile number)
○ If anyone works in Financial services on here - How did you find getting work or additional qualifications needed
**Please reply with straight-forward advice only**
Hello everyone, I’ll be heading to Canada on the 25th of this month and I’m in the process of getting my travel insurance sorted,
I was recommended to use true traveler and the quote they have given me is £1327 for 24 months including winter sports.
I’m just curious to know from British people who have gone Canada on the IEC is this around the normal price or can you find cheaper ? If it is then so be it.
But if there are other companies to cover for UK citizens on IEC please feel free to share,
There was another company I called but they said they only do travel insurance for leisure and don’t cover for work.
Thank you
Good evening everyone!
I need help with understanding the following:
○ How long on average do people usually rent an Air B'N'B for when first arriving? .......
○ Once in the temp Air BN'B, how long have people found it took to get a lease on a condo or appt in Toronto......
○ I have bad credit in the UK, I know Credit sharing from the UK does not transfer to Canada, so how have people navigated this hurdle? ......
○ A landlord I spoke with in TO via email, said he would be hesitant to rent to a newcomer with no current employment, even with 3-6 months upfront. Has anyone faced this challenge, and if so what was your outcome?
** Any help preferably from those who have done an IEC or currently on one, or with qualified knowledge of this is appreciated**
Hey guys, I’m an Aussie heading to Canada on a two-year working holiday visa. What’s the cheapest insurance people have found that still meets the IEC requirements?
Should I buy one 24-month policy, or can I buy two 12-month policies before I leave? I’ll also be snowboarding around Banff, so I’m interested in whether people included snow cover or bought it separately.
What company did you use and roughly how much did you pay? Cheers!
Hi All,
I'm waiting for my second Work Holiday VISA to arrive in the post (already approved) but my SIN expires on 16th August and I am currently employed. Can I extend my SIN with the information letter stating my permit has been approved and the document code for my new work permit? I've looked online and it states I need a physical document to update my SIN.
Thank you in advance!
This is probably a common issue but I came from Ireland last Friday to receive my work permit from the border control agent. I went with VHI for insurance and they gave me a “24 month policy for Canada IEC”. Sounds great so far but I could only pay for the first year initially, and it was to auto renew for the second year. Unfortunately this meant that I only had one year of coverage and that’s all I got at the airport on my work permit. I think I know the answer but is there anyway of amending this? I’m honestly devastated. Has anyone encountered this issue with VHI insurance?
Anybody who over in the Toronto area struggling to find work? I have over 11 years experince in my field which also qualifys me to work in call centers etc but ive only had 1 interview so far, any tips?
I'm planning on undertaking a working holiday with my girlfriend in Vancouver in about a month. We've already booked our flights but I'm still waiting on my POE letter (she has hers) which is a little stressful, and I'm also concerned about finances.
Is C$4500 enough for me (she has her own money)? We will be splitting expenses 50/50 and I'm no stranger to living frugally. I plan to start working within the first two weeks as a dishwasher/kitchen hand while looking for additional work. I'm also a junior software engineer, so while I've heard the market is terrible right now, especially for juniors with temporary visas and no Canadian experience, I thought I might try my luck (I'm not counting on anything).
I submitted my application in early July and gave biometrics in mid July. The estimate for the country I applied from is 3 weeks (i.e. any day now), but the estimate for the country of my passport is 7 weeks (i.e. around the date of our flight). Am I correct in assuming the former estimate is the one I should be looking at? That's what the wording seems to suggest but I can't find any official source that puts my doubts completely to rest. And yes, I know I'm stupid for getting myself into this situation.
My backup plan if I don't get my POE letter in time is to arrive in Canada visa-free (no problem with my passport with eTA), and flagpole via a return flight to Mexico City (we'd both go and stay a couple of nights; it's on the bucket list anyway). Is this viable after the recent ban on flagpoling? I'm more worried about finances in this case, but that's a separate issue.
My backup backup plan if my application is rejected for some reason is to return to my own country after my funds run out and give a LDR a go until my girlfriend can join me.
Thanks in advance for any replies. Not trusting an LLM with this shit.