IEC After a PGWP

[Telitos]

Hi,

I was working in Canada with a PGWP until it expired early this month. I am waiting for an ITA from EE but haven't gotten one yet so I could not obtain a BOWP. I changed my status to visitor (granted by CIC) and am currently in Canada.

I realized I could apply for a Working Holiday permit in the interim since I've never gotten one and it works with my home country. But I do have a few questions, if anyone can share their knowledge on this.

I mentioned on the IEC pool that I was currently residing in Canada, which I am. But is this a problem? Should I go back to my home country instead and wait for an ITA from there? If I go back to my home country, should I re-create an ICE profile to mention that I no longer reside in Canada, or will that no be a problem at all?

I am applying for the Working holiday permit so that I get a chance to work while I wait to obtain a PR. Does the Working Holiday visa have any restriction on the type of job I can get and the number of hours I can work in a week?

I cannot see why I wouldn't be allowed to obtain a Working Holiday visa, yet I feel like there might be something I overlooked.

Thank you for your help!

 

[scylla]

You'll need to tell us where you're from (country).

 

[Telitos]

You'll need to tell us where you're from (country).

France.

 

[Telitos]

I found the answer to at least one of my questions: There are no specific job restrictions on the Working Holiday visa. As for a maximum of hours, I haven't find anything to that effect.

But can someone obtain a Working Holiday visa after having had a PGWP is what I wonder really, granted I'm eligible for the former otherwise (which it seems I am). I also recall something to the effect that one can only be granted 4 years worth of work permit per 7-year period. Is that still going on? Or was it ever the case?

 

[Bs65]

I found the answer to at least one of my questions: There are no specific job restrictions on the Working Holiday visa. As for a maximum of hours, I haven't find anything to that effect.

But can someone obtain a Working Holiday visa after having had a PGWP is what I wonder really, granted I'm eligible for the former otherwise (which it seems I am). I also recall something to the effect that one can only be granted 4 years worth of work permit per 7-year period. Is that still going on? Or was it ever the case?

the 4 year rule is that you can work for 4 years in total culmulatively but then cannot work again until another 4 years has passed http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-eligible/four-year-maximum.asp?s=1

Your chances now of getting an IEC for France look very slim as it is completely oversubscribed now for 2016 as of July 4th http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/selections.asp?country=fr&cat=wh You will of course need to declare your previous student visa and the PGWP and the visitor extension so all those may raise a few flags with any IEc application in any case questioning your intentions to maybe not leave regardless of any future PR application.

Quota: 6,400
First round of invitations: December 16, 2015
Final round of invitations: To be announced
Invitations issued to date: 10,204
Candidates in the pool: 10,479
Spots available: 5

The 4 year work rule has always been a bit vague although for sure the PGWP does count towards the 4 years so you will need to total up the time working under PGWP.

If you look into the link http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-eligible/four-year-maximum.asp?s=1
there is ofetn a debate whether IEC is one of the exceptions to the rule and whether is classed under international agreements if not then PGWP plus IEC the max would be 4 years but others can comment

These categories or occupations are the exceptions for which a work permit can exceed the four-year limit:

NOC O and A (including spouses/dependants of these skilled temporary foreign workers)
LMIA-exempt jobs under
International agreements
Canadian interests
Self-support
Humanitarian reasons
Jobs that do not need a work permit
Permanent resident applicants who have received a positive selection decision or approval in principle
Provincial nominees applying for an employer-specific work permit

 

[scylla]

Unfortunately you're too late for this year - as explained above, the cap has effectively been reached. You can wait and apply in 2017. Alternatively - if you want to remain in Canada and work this year, your employer needs to go through the LMIA process so that you can obtain a closed work permit.

 

[timothysham]

Hi Telitos, finally I found someone who is in the same boat as me. I am also waiting for ITA from Ontario PNP (with score 418). My PGWP is expiring in Oct and I am planning to study in order to stay in Canada legally while being able to work 20 hours a week. Hopefully things will turn out okay for us after Nov when they re-open. Visitor permit is my last resort as I haven't been able to find a school yet.

Keep in touch if you like.
647-861-1223

 

[Telitos]

Thank for all the replies.

I indeed saw that there were very few spots left, but I didn't know that the situation was that dire as I didn't know that it was for the remainder of 2016. Seems this avenue might be closed then.

The four years thing is confusing and will hopefully be discarded sooner rather than later, but, theoretically, I should be able to obtain at least one extra year even if the IEC counts toward the four years. Unless CIC will not grant 12-month IEC at all and refuse to issue 24-month because it would exceed the four years. Then I'd have to definitely give up on that.

All I really need is a work permit until my EE profile goes through (which I hope it does obviously).

To Scylla and timothysham: I believe there is at least two alternative routes:

1) Could I still apply for IEC but, granted I have a job offer, this time under the Young Professionals program? There is lots of space available under that program and it does not seem to require an LMIA either, only a job offer for a skilled work. I feel like this is my best bet aside from getting an LMIA (which, as I understand, is a pain to obtain).

2) Under the re-established (since June 1, 2016) Mobilité Francophone Program, if I am given an offer of employment outside of Québec, I may be eligible for a work permit that is LMIA exempt. What I'm a bit confused about is that it seems the job must be obtained through some kind of government sponsored event such as Destination Canada. But these fairs seem rare and must be, for the most part, attended overseas (back in France). And I just find that ... odd and out of touch with the times. If anyone has any further info on that, that would also be great.

Otherwise, as you, scylla, put it, I would have to get an LMIA. I'm a bit worried as to my prospects if I got to follow this route, as I'm not even sure at which point I'm suppose to break it to the prospective employer that I will need an LMIA (before or during the interview?).

Timothysham, I will PM you. I'm sorry to hear that you are also in that delicate position, although I admit I do find comfort in knowing that there are others out there in this situation!

 

[scylla]

1) Yes - it sounds like you should be able to apply under young professionals provided your job is NOC skill level A, B or 0.

2) I don't know - sorry.

 

[Telitos]

1) Yes - it sounds like you should be able to apply under young professionals provided your job is NOC skill level A, B or 0.

2) I don't know - sorry.

Nothing to be sorry about! Thanks a bunch.