Discovered my IEC visa has expired! Advice SINCERELY appreciated! (Aus citizen)

[AC1983]

Hi,

I renewed my first IEC visa March 28 2014 and was told it was another 2 years. Due to the excitement of it all being finalized (and what I now realize to be stupidity), I didn't read the visa stapled in my passport which was only 1 year. To my surprise, when checking my visa for another reason 3 days ago I discovered it EXPIRED March 16th of this year! I'm 31 so I can't apply for another one. I think the border officer misread/misunderstood my approval letter which was valid until March 16 2015 and only made my work visa valid until that date.

I'm wondering who was right, was I supposed to get a 2 year visa or only 1 year?

Either way, my girlfriend and I were planning on moving to Australia in March 2016 but now I don't know what to do. The whole sponsored partner thing seems too complicated and expensive for such a short stay, but I need a little time to get my affairs in order before I leave. I was thinking about restoring my status but as a VISITOR (which means I can't work), I believe this gives me up to 3 months to get everything sorted out.

Am I on the right track here? Or should I have been given another year on my working holiday visa? Everywhere I look online has different answers and every time I call the visa call centre I get a different answer as well.

I honestly appreciate any help you guys can give me because I really don't want to jeopardize my status in Canada and any future visits.

Thanks for your help,

Aaron

 

[arowberry]

That is most certainly a lousy situation to find yourself in.

The following link is an archived version of the 2014 Aussie IEC page, indicating that the visa is for two years:
http://web.archive.org/web/20141107023252/http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/australia-australie/experience_canada_experience/index.aspx?lang=eng

Aussie IEC work permits have been for two years for at least the past 3-4 years since I arrived in Canada.

Do you still have the Introduction Letter, with the 2016 expiry date? The CIC call centre is notoriously terrible (as it sounds like you're aware); the best option may be to contact your local MP for help.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseofCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC

 

[Lammawitch]

I highly doubt that an MP will be of any use whatsoever in this situation.

It's a huge shame that you did not notice the expiry date anomaly *before* your permit expired. If you had, you could have requested a correction.

As things stand, that route is closed . However, you could *try* submitting an IM5710 (advice from a CBSA officer on another board on the same question, but to someone who's permit was still valid), but the instructions do state that this should be done before the expiry date.

What you need to do immediately, is stop working now & apply for restoration as a visitor. This will enable you to stay until a decision is made.

(One last thing: what's the expiry date on your passport? If it was <2 years on your arrival, the border officer may not have made a mistake)

 

[AC1983]

Thank you both SO much, I'm on the phone with them now, will update as I can.

My passport is a new one, so it's valid for almost 10 years

I think the border agent misread my acceptance letter and put the expiry date of the letter (Mar 16 2015) as the expiry date of my work visa. I'm hoping I can restore as a worker given I met all the requirements at the time it was processed and had the officer not made this error I'd still be working worry-free.

Getting different answers every time I call has been very frustrating and I honestly appreciate your help. Hopefully this can be rectified reasonably easily and inexpensively.

 

[Lammawitch]

I wish you the best of luck! And yes, please do update.

As the passport expiry isn't in question, then I think you are right about the error.

However, my worry is how strict they are going to be about you not getting it corrected before it expired.

Finally, don't put too much (read any) faith in what customer service tells you on the telephone: it is well documented that one can call 6 times and get 6 different and inaccurate answers !! . They are notoriously bad when it comes to IEC questions.

 

[AC1983]

The person on the phone said the best thing to do was contact the canadian visa office in Australia, so I've emailed them and now I'll see what happens.

Either way I have to restore as a visitor (which can be up to 6 months apparently), so if I can get that for 6 months it'll give me a chance to travel a bit and see friends before I go. It'll still suck to leave early, it'll destroy my savings, but at least I'll have had to summer to see people.

Thanks again for your help, I know I've said it a lot but I really appreciate it

ps. I'll update when I hear back.

 

[Lammawitch]

I hate that bleeding call centre!!

I hate to say this, but the Canadian visa office in Australia has absolutely NOTHING to do with this .

I'd get your restoration application in ASAP, and try your luck with the IM5710.

 

[arowberry]

I hate that bleeding call centre!!

I hate to say this, but the Canadian visa office in Australia has absolutely NOTHING to do with this .

I'd get your restoration application in ASAP, and try your luck with the IM5710.

The call centre is obnoxiously bad.

That said... if I recall correctly, the office in Australia used to process Aussie and Kiwi IEC applications. Therefore they may be able to confirm that Aaron should have received a 2 year work permit (assuming he doesn't have the LOE anymore).

Not sure though; it really wouldn't be a surprise if the call centre had simply pointed him in the wrong direction.

 

[Lammawitch]

The call centre is obnoxiously bad.

That said... if I recall correctly, the office in Australia used to process Aussie and Kiwi IEC applications. Therefore they may be able to confirm that Aaron should have received a 2 year work permit (assuming he doesn't have the LOE anymore).

Not sure though; it really wouldn't be a surprise if the call centre had simply pointed him in the wrong direction.

CIC in CANADA knows perfectly well how long the work permit should have been!!!! Any correction/modification has to be done via CIC IN Canada. A visa office in Australia is a complete waste of time .

(Sorry!! Not frustrated with you, just with yet another example of call centre stupidity )

 

[AC1983]

Hey Guys,

No significant updates yet, I emailed the Canadian Visa office in Australia, they sent me some generic reply saying they cant look into stuff here so I sent one back saying that Immigration Canada TOLD me to contact them. We'll see if that gets through their autopilot "just send them the generic email" mindset.

Doing my application to restore as a visitor now, 2 quick questions:

1) how long am I likely to get? Would 6 months be out of the question? I have a wedding I'd really like to attend in September and I'd like to travel/enjoy summer too.

2) Should I attach a bank statement to prove I have funds to support myself until then? (even if not required, should I do it anyway to help my chances?)

No big deal if you don't know/can't get back to me before I submit it tomorrow.

Thanks again for your help, everybody! Taken a lot of stress off! If you were nearby, I'd shout you a beer! And not an OV or a 50 or something, an actually good one! Hahaha

--Aaron

 

[Lammawitch]

1. Ask for 6 months if that's what you need.

2. I usually say don't send anything they don't ask for , but in your case, proof of funds isn't a bad Idea.

And I still think you should try your luck with an IM 5710 & a letter of explanation.

Keep us posted, & have that beer for me : 8)