Stay in Canada After IEC.
It is important to understand whether you can extend your IEC work permit.
Participants in the IEC program are permitted to extend their work permits only under exceptional circumstances. Unfortunately, the desire to enjoy another ski season in Whistler does not qualify as an exceptional circumstance. Therefore, you will need to explore the options outlined below to determine the most suitable path for you.
A fundamental principle: Plan in advance!
Having already navigated the IEC process, you possess some familiarity with the Canadian immigration system. Would you characterize it as the quickest, simplest, or most efficient system available? We would not either.
Keep this in mind if you intend to remain in Canada following your IEC experience. This is not a decision to be made hastily, so it is advisable to plan ahead. Many of the alternatives mentioned below necessitate the preparation, submission, and processing of immigration applications, which can take several months.
What are your optimal options for remaining in Canada after your IEC participation?
How many times can one engage in the International Experience Canada (IEC) program?
If your initial experience with IEC was positive, why not consider participating again?
The number of times you can engage in IEC is contingent upon your country of citizenship. Many individuals may be eligible to participate up to three times, thanks to their country’s Youth Mobility Agreement with Canada. Even if your nation permits only a single participation through the Youth Mobility Agreement, you may have the opportunity to apply for two additional participations via an IEC Recognized Organization. This could serve as a significant opportunity for you.
However, there are limitations for citizens from certain countries. In particular occurrences, people may as it were apply for a moment IEC work allow after a assigned period has passed since the close of their to begin with IEC work permit. This stipulation applies solely to applicants from Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Spain. For citizens of these nations, this means that while they cannot remain in Canada after their first IEC permit expires, they may apply to return at a later date.
How can your boss offer assistance you in growing your stay?
Suppose you possess specialized skills or training that make you appealing to a Canadian employer. In that case, they may be able to extend a job offer that would allow you to apply for a work allow through either the Transitory Outside Specialist Program or the Worldwide Versatility Program. While obtaining a work permit through these channels can be complex, it remains a viable option if you fulfill the necessary criteria.
Acquiring a work permit for Canada outside the IEC framework may necessitate your employer’s assistance in securing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). If this assessment is required, your employer will typically need to advertise the position and demonstrate that there is a genuine need to hire a foreign worker, indicating that no Canadian was available, willing, and capable of fulfilling the role.
Consider extending your visit:
This option is advisable if you seek additional flexibility at the conclusion of your working holiday. You may apply to extend your stay as a visitor, which typically allows for a duration of six months. It is fundamental to yield your application for a guest record at slightest 30 days earlier to the close of your work permit. While visitor status is generally granted, approval is not guaranteed.
It is important to understand that once you assume visitor status, you forfeit the right to work in Canada. Engaging in employment without the appropriate status can lead to significant legal consequences.
Pursue permanent resident status directly:
Your IEC work allow speaks to a brief status in Canada; be that as it may, you may have the opportunity to apply for changeless residency, which would empower you to work for any manager in any area. The status that grants you to dwell, live, and work uncertainly in Canada is known as lasting inhabitant status.
Canada offers several pathways to achieve permanent residency:
- Immigration for workers: If you possess substantial work experience, post-secondary education, and proficiency in English or French, you may qualify for an ‘economic immigration’ pathway for workers, such as Express Section or a Common Chosen one Program (PNP).
- Express Entry is a notably swift route to permanent residency, with processing times typically within six months, while the PNP may require a longer duration.
It is important to note that not all candidates for Express Entry receive invitations to apply for permanent residency. However, acquiring at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada while on your IEC work permit can enhance your points and significantly improve your chances of receiving an invitation through Express Entry.
If you have been employed in Montreal or any other location within the province of Quebec, it is important to be aware that there exists a distinct immigration system for workers in Quebec, which may require you to enhance your proficiency in the French language.