- Dec 26, 2016
- 7
- Category........
- Visa Office......
- CPCO
- Job Offer........
- Pre-Assessed..
- AOR Received.
- 12-01-2017
- Med's Done....
- 17-02-2017
- Interview........
- BG: NN->IP 22-02-2017
- Passport Req..
- 24-02-2017
- VISA ISSUED...
- 03-03-2017
- LANDED..........
- 11-03-2017
Hi guys,
This is my story from IEC to PR in 1 yr:
I first found out about IEC towards end of 2015, which at that time for Greece it is only 180 places and they were all taken and there was a wait list of 10 people. So I added my application and hoped for the best, 2 months later I got it.
IEC (Working holiday visa) issued on arrival at Toronto Airport….......Nov/18/2015, expires Nov/17/2016.
Flew to Calgary thinking I will get a job in the oil industry, since I am a Petroleum Engineer, but guess what when I arrived the crisis was at its peak, and people were losing jobs every day, I decided to work in anything, to make some money and also to get my PR in PNP or any other stream, Tim Horton’s, KFC, Superstores, Cargill, you name it, I applied with no luck, as it was a slow time Nov/Dec 2015.
Out of the blue, I got an NOC B job on Jan/11/2016, working for a big Bank.
Applied for BOWP without AOR by mail to win time, and explanation letter on Nov/15/2016.
Stayed working on implied status with IEC visa, knowing it’s a gamble since it’s a grey area, and many were rejected for illegal work, but I had nothing to lose, and no alternative. Since the IEC for Greece is only for 1yr, and the next yr has to be Closed permit “Young Professional”, my employer said that that is considered sponsorship since they have to pay compliance fee and refused.
Got first ITA Dec/2016, however I knew I had to decline because I needed the experience letter from work showing 1 full yr work experience to have enough points for EE. Also many people got rejected their PR application because they applied early, even though it is a known glitch on their system that calculates work experience based on months, therefore you always get ITA early, especially for CEC applicants. Some people applied early and got accepted, some got rejected, I didn’t wanna gamble more than I am already doing.
Got ITA on Jan/4th/2017, and submitted my e-APR on Jan/12th/2017. Even though the 4th of January means I am short of 7 days at time of ITA, but I thought it would be ok, and I accepted.
I was so stressed out that everything can blow at any second/minute; I was even imagining officers coming to my work saying you are working illegally and deported and stuff, some stressful times.
You can see my signature for timelines, I was just praying and hoping that my PR application passes R10 check, by the time my BOWP application starts, and also hoping the officer will accept the application with no AOR, and also that he will not notice the dates I applied at, as I was not eligible at the time of BOWP application, something like waiting for the stars to get aligned.
On Feb/24th I received my PPR and I was flying from happiness, but still worried on how to do landing on implied status, a week later I tried to link my paper application and it worked, since it wasn’t working weeks earlier, the outcome it was saying Application closed and approved, I was ecstatic, but still worried.
On March/8/2017, I received two envelopes, one with BOWP and the other with CoPR. By chance both arrived on same day. For a second I thought “Darn it” I could have saved my BOPW fees, but then again I needed the work permit for status more than anything.
I decided to go for inland office Landing, to reduce the risk of the harshness and many questions the border officers make, however I was told the Edmonton office has a 2 months wait time, and that I will receive a call. By end of day Friday I still didn’t receive any calls to book the interview. I decided to take a deep breath, and since I went through all this, I won’t stop now and will go to the border.
Today I left 4am towards the Alberta-Montana border (Coutts), 750km to reach and another 750km to go back. The Americans was as rude as expected, however they had no choice other than giving the printed paper with refusal written on it, went to the Canada border officers, it was the nicest man ever, he asked for my current work permit and any expired and CoPR and passport. I only gave my BOWP and passport and CoPR. He didn’t ask me any questions. He told me to wait 5 minutes. Then he called me and asked me if I was ever asked to leave Canada, and if I was ever convicted, and asked me for my address, so they can send the PR card. And welcomed me and congratulated me. He asked me if I had any questions, I only asked about the refusal of the US border, and he said this is just for paper work reasons, and that they do the same thing for people landing in USA, and not to worry. Basically I knew it, but I wanted to hear it.
Happiest day of my days in Canada, at last I can sleep at night, good luck to all who are still trying, and there is always hope guys, don’t lose hope and faith. Hope my story inspires some of you out there. I learned a lot from this site, so I thought the least I can do is to share my story.
God bless all, and good luck with your journey to Canada and in Life in general.
P.S. by no means I am saying this is possible for everyone, we all know that with CIC all cases are different. However I am saying sky is the limit.
This is my story from IEC to PR in 1 yr:
I first found out about IEC towards end of 2015, which at that time for Greece it is only 180 places and they were all taken and there was a wait list of 10 people. So I added my application and hoped for the best, 2 months later I got it.
IEC (Working holiday visa) issued on arrival at Toronto Airport….......Nov/18/2015, expires Nov/17/2016.
Flew to Calgary thinking I will get a job in the oil industry, since I am a Petroleum Engineer, but guess what when I arrived the crisis was at its peak, and people were losing jobs every day, I decided to work in anything, to make some money and also to get my PR in PNP or any other stream, Tim Horton’s, KFC, Superstores, Cargill, you name it, I applied with no luck, as it was a slow time Nov/Dec 2015.
Out of the blue, I got an NOC B job on Jan/11/2016, working for a big Bank.
Applied for BOWP without AOR by mail to win time, and explanation letter on Nov/15/2016.
Stayed working on implied status with IEC visa, knowing it’s a gamble since it’s a grey area, and many were rejected for illegal work, but I had nothing to lose, and no alternative. Since the IEC for Greece is only for 1yr, and the next yr has to be Closed permit “Young Professional”, my employer said that that is considered sponsorship since they have to pay compliance fee and refused.
Got first ITA Dec/2016, however I knew I had to decline because I needed the experience letter from work showing 1 full yr work experience to have enough points for EE. Also many people got rejected their PR application because they applied early, even though it is a known glitch on their system that calculates work experience based on months, therefore you always get ITA early, especially for CEC applicants. Some people applied early and got accepted, some got rejected, I didn’t wanna gamble more than I am already doing.
Got ITA on Jan/4th/2017, and submitted my e-APR on Jan/12th/2017. Even though the 4th of January means I am short of 7 days at time of ITA, but I thought it would be ok, and I accepted.
I was so stressed out that everything can blow at any second/minute; I was even imagining officers coming to my work saying you are working illegally and deported and stuff, some stressful times.
You can see my signature for timelines, I was just praying and hoping that my PR application passes R10 check, by the time my BOWP application starts, and also hoping the officer will accept the application with no AOR, and also that he will not notice the dates I applied at, as I was not eligible at the time of BOWP application, something like waiting for the stars to get aligned.
On Feb/24th I received my PPR and I was flying from happiness, but still worried on how to do landing on implied status, a week later I tried to link my paper application and it worked, since it wasn’t working weeks earlier, the outcome it was saying Application closed and approved, I was ecstatic, but still worried.
On March/8/2017, I received two envelopes, one with BOWP and the other with CoPR. By chance both arrived on same day. For a second I thought “Darn it” I could have saved my BOPW fees, but then again I needed the work permit for status more than anything.
I decided to go for inland office Landing, to reduce the risk of the harshness and many questions the border officers make, however I was told the Edmonton office has a 2 months wait time, and that I will receive a call. By end of day Friday I still didn’t receive any calls to book the interview. I decided to take a deep breath, and since I went through all this, I won’t stop now and will go to the border.
Today I left 4am towards the Alberta-Montana border (Coutts), 750km to reach and another 750km to go back. The Americans was as rude as expected, however they had no choice other than giving the printed paper with refusal written on it, went to the Canada border officers, it was the nicest man ever, he asked for my current work permit and any expired and CoPR and passport. I only gave my BOWP and passport and CoPR. He didn’t ask me any questions. He told me to wait 5 minutes. Then he called me and asked me if I was ever asked to leave Canada, and if I was ever convicted, and asked me for my address, so they can send the PR card. And welcomed me and congratulated me. He asked me if I had any questions, I only asked about the refusal of the US border, and he said this is just for paper work reasons, and that they do the same thing for people landing in USA, and not to worry. Basically I knew it, but I wanted to hear it.
Happiest day of my days in Canada, at last I can sleep at night, good luck to all who are still trying, and there is always hope guys, don’t lose hope and faith. Hope my story inspires some of you out there. I learned a lot from this site, so I thought the least I can do is to share my story.
God bless all, and good luck with your journey to Canada and in Life in general.
P.S. by no means I am saying this is possible for everyone, we all know that with CIC all cases are different. However I am saying sky is the limit.
