IEC Visa application whilst in Canada on tourist visa

[Tom678]

Hi,

I'm planning on travelling around South America for a few months and then coming up to Canada to work using the IEC. I am planning to go to Canada in June 2020.

I will apply for the IEC when the next pool opens. However, if i do not get chosen before June, could I apply for the tourist visa, then once I'm in Canada on the tourist visa (and if I get selected for the IEC), could I then get put on to the IEC?

I don't want to ruin my chances of working in Canada by being on the tourist visa.

Hopefully that makes sense but please shout if not! Any help hugely appreciated

 

[Bs65]

Which country is your home country passport given for some countries there is a requirement you must apply from home country.

By apply for tourist visa are you not then from a visa exempt country,

if you apply for an IEC one condition will be you need to provide police certificate (s) and if IEC is granted whilst you are in Canada you will need to flagpole at the US/ Canada border. There you will need to show access to 2500 cdn minimum and travel insurance for the duration of any IEC permit.

 

[Tom678]

Sorry! My passport is UK British

 

[Bs65]

Sorry! My passport is UK British

Ok so you are visa exempt and do not require a visa to enter Canada but will need to apply for an ETA from the official site to fly to Canada.

On arrival as a visitor you usually can get a stay up to 6 months but that will be decided on arrival so no guarantee.

Suggest if you have not already read up the documentation requirements for IEC in particular police certificate and travel insurance from a UK company.

You need insurance valid for the 2 years of an IEC so any insurance you have for your South America trip and initial visit status in Canada will not be any good given you need 2 years at the time you start your IEC. Any less and your IEC permit only gets issued for that time line so you will need a company that will issue a policy to someone already travelling.

just be aware that there are no guarantees how long anyone is in the pool before being selected and then once selected there are time critical dates to meet. So if you plan for June then based on history pool has opened Dec/Jan before and advisable to apply then so you might get invited way before planned visit arrival in June.

if you do get accepted you usually have 12 months to arrive to activate and the 2 years starts from arrival date.

 

[scylla]

Sorry! My passport is UK British

All of this is possible. The one limiting factor is that there are far more people applying for the UK IEC program than spaces available. So unfortunately no guarantee you'll be selected (you'll want to have a plan b in case you aren't picked at all). Definitely enter the pool as soon as it opens. Good luck.