IEC approved - visit without activating it

[digits]

Hello all,

My Working Holiday Program ("International Experience Canada") has been approved in february 2013. I intend to start using it in february 2014 (right before it expires). However, this summer I want to travel (not work!) through Canada for about a month (10th of july 2013 untill 15th of august 2013). Is this possible without "activating" my IEC work permit ? Or will they automatically activate it when I arrive in july ?

Thank you,
Digits

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hello all,

My Working Holiday Program ("International Experience Canada") has been approved in february 2013. I intend to start using it in february 2014 (right before it expires). However, this summer I want to travel (not work!) through Canada for about a month (10th of july 2013 untill 15th of august 2013). Is this possible without "activating" my IEC work permit ? Or will they automatically activate it when I arrive in july ?

Thank you,
Digits

Yes, just say you are visiting and intend to activate at a future date.

 

[digits]

Thank you, that puts my mind at ease!

 

[digits]

Hi PMM,

would you mind telling me what your source is ?

The Canadian embassy finally answered my email, and they write this: ???

Your work permit will be issued when you will enter in Canada in July.

Are they wrong ?

Kind regards,
Digits

 

[Johnny31]

Hi PMM,

would you mind telling me what your source is ?

The Canadian embassy finally answered my email, and they write this: ???

Are they wrong ?

Kind regards,
Digits

No. That's why at the Canadian border, tell them you are just visiting right now. To enter Canada, you have to have a valid visitors visa or from a visa-exempt country. If you want to goto Canada without either one of those, you'll going to have to activate your IEC visa to enter.

 

[Spikey92]

But to activate it you would then have to leave and re-enter Canada so why dont you go the cheaper way and enter on your WHV and then you can apply for an extension as visitor.

 

[Johnny31]

But to activate it you would then have to leave and re-enter Canada so why dont you go the cheaper way and enter on your WHV and then you can apply for an extension as visitor.

The point is, he doesn't want to active his IEC visa (which is the working holiday visa) at this moment, he just want to travel in the summer and use his IEC visa for next year. If you enter on your working holiday visa, it is being activated, which is something he doesn't want to do right now.

 

[digits]

But to activate it you would then have to leave and re-enter Canada so why dont you go the cheaper way and enter on your WHV and then you can apply for an extension as visitor.

As far as I know, a Belgian WHV can not be extended.

[quote author=Johnny31]
The point is, he doesn't want to active his IEC visa (which is the working holiday visa) at this moment, he just want to travel in the summer and use his IEC visa for next year. If you enter on your working holiday visa, it is being activated, which is something he doesn't want to do right now.
[/quote]

That is correct

 

[Spikey92]

Youre not gonna extend the WHV. Those cant be extended,that is correct.You are gonna ask for an extension as VISITOR, not temp worker.

 

[Johnny31]

To Digits-

For citizens from Belgian, you can travel visa-free in Canada for up to 6 months! So I think you can enter Canada with just your passport and say you are travelling and I think that should work! Your IEC does not have to be activated when you do that.

On a side note, if you apply for ESTA online (easy process, just fill out an online application and pay the fees), you can also travel throughout the United States for up to 90 days!

 

[digits]

To Digits-

For citizens from Belgian, you can travel visa-free in Canada for up to 6 months! So I think you can enter Canada with just your passport and say you are travelling and I think that should work! Your IEC does not have to be activated when you do that.

You might be right. After all, they say they will refuse your work permit if you can't prove healt care insurance for your year in Canada. Since I won't have that at that point, they shouldn't even be allowed to issue it.


ESTA is indeed easy, but I'm focussing on Canada this year

 

[Spikey92]

This is my personal experience so Im not saying its definitely gonnna be like that in your case as well but when I entered with my WHV they DID NOT ask for my health insurance,they DID NOT wanted to see my bank statement or asked me how much money I had on me ,I DID NOT even have a return ticket at that point. And I still got my work permit and stamp

 

[digits]

A tip for other people with questions. I only looked on the CIC website. They are a bit afraid of letting you call, and try to direct you through emails.

Now, regarding my question above, I thought border patroll might have some say in it as well. So I found this website with the a usefull telephone number: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/bis-sif-eng.html

They told me I can enter without activating it. I just have to explain it that I will return later. Apparently it happens all the time.

Thank you for the correct information ! ;D