IEC Work Permit Question - Received POE, am currently in Canada

[Cherrybat]

Hi,

It has been suggested to me to apply for a work permit through the IEC program (long story short, i have been in Canada for about 6 years on a Temporary Resident visa, due to some family issues i do not qualify for any sponsorships, but my whole life is in Canada now and this was the only way i could figure out to get a work permit and get the ball rolling). I applied on the CIC website, received invitation, applied for the Work Permit and have been approved.

Today i received my POE form by e-mail and got very confused. The address on the top of the form is clearly a Canadian address and i have specified in all of the application forms that I am applying from within Canada, but the POE states that in order to get my Work Permit i have to go through a Canada Border Officer at an airport.

My question is simple, what can I do to get my Work Permit without having to leave Canada and come back?

Thank you for any help!

 

[scylla]

You have to exit Canada and re-enter. You can either do this by driving to a US/Canada land border - or by flying out and then back in on an international flight.

 

[Cherrybat]

Thanks Scylla, that's quite the bummer..

I do live pretty close to the US border but I'm wondering how fishy/suspicious would it look if i just crossed the border and immediately turned around lol? My citizenship is Lithuanian and i have never been to the US while flying to Canada to avoid any unnecessary hassle so I have no idea what going though a US/Canada border entails.

Flying to Lithuania would also suck as it would cost me about 2 grand in tickets just to go and come back.

Really wish it said somewhere during the application process that I can't actually just apply and receive the papers from within Canada even though that was clearly an option when going through the CIC questionnaires..

 

[Cherrybat]

Sorry for the double post but I have a different question.

I don't really understand the amount of time the Work Permit will be valid for.. let me explain:

Let's say I am only able to come to Canada in September 2017, currently POE says "You must seek entry to Canada to obtain your work permit by 2018/05/03", does that mean that I would lose May, June, July and August and my Work Permit would be valid from September 2017 to May 2018?

OR

Would the Work Permit be valid for a year FROM the date of my entry (so September 2017 to September 2018)?

It's very unclear to me, it says Validity: 2018/05/03 Must enter Canada by: 2018/05/03.

Any help would be appreciated on this!

 

[Bs65]

Sorry for the double post but I have a different question.

I don't really understand the amount of time the Work Permit will be valid for.. let me explain:

Let's say I am only able to come to Canada in September 2017, currently POE says "You must seek entry to Canada to obtain your work permit by 2018/05/03", does that mean that I would lose May, June, July and August and my Work Permit would be valid from September 2017 to May 2018?

OR

Would the Work Permit be valid for a year FROM the date of my entry (so September 2017 to September 2018)?

It's very unclear to me, it says Validity: 2018/05/03 Must enter Canada by: 2018/05/03.

Any help would be appreciated on this!

The actual IEC permit is issued when you land in the country. The POE has a date when you must complete the landing process to obtain the permit so in your case you have until 20180503 to do this.

The permit is then valid from the date you land so for example if you land Sept 1 2017 then given you are Lithuanian and on a WHV the validity would be through August 31 2018.

Plenty of people follow a process referred to as 'flagpoling' so google it. This involves going to the US border and informing US CBP that you want to flagpole, they then give you a piece of paper indicating an admin refusal of entry to the US.

With this paper in hand you return to the Canada side and present same to CBSA along with your POE, 12 months travel insurance, proof of access to 2500 CDN and of course your passport. CBSA would then process your application and issue you your IEC permit valid from the day that you execute this process.

Unfortunately not sure there is any other process to activate an IEC permit as its generally assumed the participant starts from outside Canada, so either flying in or via the land border with the US. Maybe be prepared to explain how you have been in the country for 6 years on a TRV so you might well get questioned on that so be prepared but do not over think things.

 

[Cherrybat]

The actual IEC permit is issued when you land in the country. The POE has a date when you must complete the landing process to obtain the permit so in your case you have until 20180503 to do this.

The permit is then valid from the date you land so for example if you land Sept 1 2017 then given you are Lithuanian and on a WHV the validity would be through August 31 2018.

Plenty of people follow a process referred to as 'flagpoling' so google it. This involves going to the US border and informing US CBP that you want to flagpole, they then give you a piece of paper indicating an admin refusal of entry to the US.

With this paper in hand you return to the Canada side and present same to CBSA along with your POE, 12 months travel insurance, proof of access to 2500 CDN and of course your passport. CBSA would then process your application and issue you your IEC permit valid from the day that you execute this process.

Unfortunately not sure there is any other process to activate an IEC permit as its generally assumed the participant starts from outside Canada, so either flying in or via the land border with the US. Maybe be prepared to explain how you have been in the country for 6 years on a TRV so you might well get questioned on that so be prepared but do not over think things.

Thank you so much for all the information!

Good to know that I wouldn't "waste" any months if i got the WP a few months from now. I was planning on visiting Lithuania in fall so I might just do that and get the WP sorted on the way back.

Had no idea "flagpoling" was a thing, great to know that I can do that! I did read some people get denied for some bizarre reasons, because presumably the Officers "get annoyed" at people flagpoling? Seems pretty rare though.

Again, thank you both for the help, really appreciate it!