IEC Young Professionals - PLEASE HELP !!! #help

[youngy10]

Hi all,

I'm in Toronto on a WHP which expires 23rd March 2013, and after much hassle, delays and confusion, I submitted for my IEC Young Professionals visa through CIC on 5th Feb 2013. I've only got the acceptance confirmation, NOT the LOI, however have been told that this is NOT implied status, and I'm worried about my work and getting the new IEC visa before 23rd March.

Could someone please tell me if I'm a realistic chance to receive my new IEC visa before 23rd March? If I don't receive it - what do I do? Do I have to leave and come back in as a visitor and not work until I get the new Visa?

Or - can I apply for a Temporary Resident Visa with an Open Work Permit (which is another $150, but is just one form, passport and photo, NO LMO!) and will this give me implied status so that I can continue working and receiving benefits as usual?? Or does a Temporary Resident Visa with an Open Work Permit not give you implied status?

Just to recap; I have a job and my girlfriend is PR, and we are common law.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[Gillvdb]

Hello,

Seems like a lot of us have been in a similar situation where an expiry of a work permit is looming in the near future. It's a scary place, I know.
I can't tell you how likely it is for you to receive your new IEC visa by March 23rd. However, I can tell you what my experience has been like.
I applied for permanent residency in May 2012 and with my IEC visa I was allowed to work in Canada until December 28th. Because my country doesn't have another category in the IEC class, I couldn't apply for another IEC visa. My employer applied for an LMO twice, but both applications came back negative. About 2 weeks before my work permit expired, CIC introduced a new rule that everybody that has applied for permanent residency (and is passed the initial eligibility assessment stage) , and have a work permit that is about to expire within the next 4 months, can apply for an open work permit without an LMO... I received my new work permit in the mail 2 months later.
Seeing how my last work permit was an IEC visa, and that I was under implied status until February. I don't think you have to worry, as long as you can prove that you applied for your new work permit before the end of your current one.

Best of luck to you

 

[iam_toby]

We're in the same boat there. I'm waiting for my young prof visa too. Its freaking me out that I haven't heard back from CIC at all while others were asked for a police cert or have already been issued their new work permit.