IEC 2014 Discussion/Stage 1 - READ FIRST POST BEFORE POSTING

moons657

MOD EDIT: Before posting on this thread, please ensure you have carefully followed the steps listed below. If you still have queries, then please search the thread for keywords to see if it has been answered yet. If you still can't find an answer, then post away.

1. Read the official IEC page all about the visa: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/ireland-irlande/experience_canada_experience/index.aspx?lang=eng
2. Pay specific attention to the Step-by-Step Application Guide: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/ireland-irlande/experience_canada_experience/application_guide-guide_demande.aspx
3. Watch the YouTube videos about applying through Kompass:
- Video # 1: How to - Get Started (Create, activate and login to your Kompass account)
- Video # 2: How to - Fill out and submit your IEC Kompass application form
- Video # 3: How to - Pay your IEC participation fee and upload required documents.
- Video # 4: How to and when to - Submit your work permit application
- Video # 5: What do I need to - Come to Canada

4. Finally, read the FAQ on this forum: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057139067


Alright everyone, I am looking to get a 2 year Visa to work in Canada for 2014. I am a qualified Electrician with nine years experience and am about to finish a Degree in Electronic Engineering in a months time. I understand that the process in not open for 2014 yet but I would appreciate any help you can give me towards what documents to get like if I should get the Police certificate now would that be alright? As in does it need to be a certain date before the Visa application.
And to get my trade recognised do I have to do the Red Seal program? I am just trying to get everything in order and understand the full procedure for applying for the Visa.
Is it better to go through a site like GoforLess or Usit or is it better to apply directly to the Canadian embassy?
Anyway I appreciate any help that you can give.
Keith

Calgary22

will be open between jan and march 2014 can take anything from 4 weeks -12 to get your visa. no point in geting it now as it has to be within to be no longer then 3 months old when submitting your visa application. so get it in december or jan. yea you will have to do the red seal depending on where you go. don't go with anyone just do it yourself.

moons657

I understand. Its just the whole process seems a bit confusing to me. You register with an IEC Kompass account on the International Experience Canada website when they are accepting applications then fill out some details. Is this when you get a conditional letter of acceptance? I have emailed the IEC for more advice on this as well. I just want to be fully prepared for when I do have to apply.

Scruffy19

moons657 wrote: »

I understand. Its just the whole process seems a bit confusing to me. You register with an IEC Kompass account on the International Experience Canada website when they are accepting applications then fill out some details. Is this when you get a conditional letter of acceptance? I have emailed the IEC for more advice on this as well. I just want to be fully prepared for when I do have to apply.

Yea basically something like you said. When you have the conditional letter you can start the CIC part and that can take a few weeks before you hear back. I only had a 14 day wait but others have been waiting over 20 odd days.

Do it yourself, DO NOT GO THROUGH A 3RD PARTY. Its pretty easy process once you get your head around it.

As said above get your gardi cert at start of Jan or late Dec and you should be fine.

For the CIC part the only pain I had was with the Photo, it drove me mad but in the end I finally got it.

Theirs a thread below this one regarding the red seal exam in calgary, it might be worth a read:D:D

moons657

Scruffy19 wrote: »

Yea basically something like you said. When you have the conditional letter you can start the CIC part and that can take a few weeks before you hear back. I only had a 14 day wait but others have been waiting over 20 odd days.

Do it yourself, DO NOT GO THROUGH A 3RD PARTY. Its pretty easy process once you get your head around it.

As said above get your gardi cert at start of Jan or late Dec and you should be fine.

For the CIC part the only pain I had was with the Photo, it drove me mad but in the end I finally got it.

Theirs a thread below this one regarding the red seal exam in calgary, it might be worth a read:D:D

Thanks a million for the help. I will check out that thread now. Thanks a million. By the way what photo you have a problem with? :P

m.j.w

moons657 wrote: »

Thanks a million for the help. I will check out that thread now. Thanks a million. By the way what photo you have a problem with? :P

Because your an electrician you can get a company to sponser you and offer you an lmo, this way you wouldnt have to wait until next year to go. There are a few companys offering this if you have a look you should be able to find some.

moons657

m.j.w wrote: »

Because your an electrician you can get a company to sponser you and offer you an lmo, this way you wouldnt have to wait until next year to go. There are a few companys offering this if you have a look you should be able to find some.

Ah I heard about that as well. What would be the best sites to look for these jobs? Is there a specifically good one to check out in Canada?

adamski8

Surely this year they will open it in nov/dec like previous years? I think this year was odd in thaf the process changed completely!

Scruffy19

moons657 wrote: »

Thanks a million for the help. I will check out that thread now. Thanks a million. By the way what photo you have a problem with? :P

Awh the photo had to be 30cm x 23cm and no less than say 600DPI. Was a pain the ass, but gary of the site found a website and posted it in the megathread for this years visa that had all the correct sizes and DPI you needed :D

Also on the above post, you try going to the working expos in dublin? Might get a good chance with a LMO their.

moons657

Scruffy19 wrote: »

Awh the photo had to be 30cm x 23cm and no less than say 600DPI. Was a pain the ass, but gary of the site found a website and posted it in the megathread for this years visa that had all the correct sizes and DPI you needed :D

Also on the above post, you try going to the working expos in dublin? Might get a good chance with a LMO their.

I havent got to one yet. Hopefully theres another one coming up. I will keep the photo thing in mind when the time comes. Thanks for the advice man:)

meelyb

m.j.w wrote: »

Because your an electrician you can get a company to sponser you and offer you an lmo, this way you wouldnt have to wait until next year to go. There are a few companys offering this if you have a look you should be able to find some.

This certainely seems do-able for trades. It's not like the lottery or you might get lucky. Myself and my boyfriend were at the Working Abroad Expo in the RDS. He is a plumber. The Canadian employers were mostly saying why are you here- you could just go to Canada and get any job you want now that your on the IEC visa route. They all said how great it was he had a right to work there already as most of the employers there were there with the view that they would be providing LMO's to great candidates. Most were not even taking CV'S, saying why would they want piles of paper, all companies are online now.Anyway, he gave out a maybe two or three CV's anyway. He's 30 but he's only just qualified so doesn't even have years of experience at it. 2weeks later he got offered a job in Alberta- flights,accomodation, nearly 10k a month (10hr days, 20days on and 8days off- plus they said it would take 8weeks if he wanted them to organise a visa/LMO for him. I'd try get to one of the Expo's- or better yet check out the jobs list of companies from the last one and try apply to them now.

COYVB

adamski8 wrote: »

Surely this year they will open it in nov/dec like previous years? I think this year was odd in thaf the process changed completely!

It always opened in Jan didn't it?

Calgary22

yea it opens between jan-feb every year.

moons657

meelyb wrote: »

This certainely seems do-able for trades. It's not like the lottery or you might get lucky. Myself and my boyfriend were at the Working Abroad Expo in the RDS. He is a plumber. The Canadian employers were mostly saying why are you here- you could just go to Canada and get any job you want now that your on the IEC visa route. They all said how great it was he had a right to work there already as most of the employers there were there with the view that they would be providing LMO's to great candidates. Most were not even taking CV'S, saying why would they want piles of paper, all companies are online now.Anyway, he gave out a maybe two or three CV's anyway. He's 30 but he's only just qualified so doesn't even have years of experience at it. 2weeks later he got offered a job in Alberta- flights,accomodation, nearly 10k a month (10hr days, 20days on and 8days off- plus they said it would take 8weeks if he wanted them to organise a visa/LMO for him. I'd try get to one of the Expo's- or better yet check out the jobs list of companies from the last one and try apply to them now.

Well thats promising:) Thanks for all the information. Half thinking of just going now after I finish my Degree in a month. haha.
And thanks to everyone else, I am getting great information:)

splanagan22

@meelyb

I was just wondering who the plumbing company is that your boyfriend got the job with,,sounds great and it's exactly what I'm looking for but. Was not at the jobs expo

Thanks

ck24

Hi, I'm also hoping to go to Canada in early 2014. Unfortunatley myself and my OH wouldn't be looking for work in the contruction trade so I don't know what our prospects would be like.

I've 5 years experience as a scientist/quality engineer in medical device and pharmeteitcal companies and my OH is working in IT, are there many jobs in these areas? Can anyone direct me towards recruitment agenceis?

COYVB

ck24 wrote: »

I've 5 years experience as a scientist/quality engineer in medical device and pharmeteitcal companies and my OH is working in IT, are there many jobs in these areas? Can anyone direct me towards recruitment agenceis?

You should have very little problem finding work. Start looking now in the Guelph area

ck24

Thanks for that advice coyvb. I'll look into the Guelph area, seems to be a few med device companies there.

Do you know how the salaries in the IT ans science sectors in Canada would compare to Ireland? Wondering if I can expect to make much money over there. We'd both be giving up permanent jobs to go but neither of us are particularly happy in our jobs.

COYVB

ck24 wrote: »

Thanks for that advice coyvb. I'll look into the Guelph area, seems to be a few med device companies there.

Do you know how the salaries in the IT ans science sectors in Canada would compare to Ireland? Wondering if I can expect to make much money over there. We'd both be giving up permanent jobs to go but neither of us are particularly happy in our jobs.

Science pays very well if you have the qualifications. Tax can be over 50% if you are on a higher paying gig though

zweton

And I.T?

COYVB

Not sure about IT unfortunately, only know the science stuff as the father in law works with a lot of large pharmaceutical companies

artvanderlay

Hi,

Does anyone know (approximately) when they'll open the program for 2014 or if they'll release any more places for the 2013 one?

Thanks.

Calgary22

No more this year. no1 noes when 'approximately' it will open but it will be sometime between dec-feb.

artvanderlay

Cheers!

Calgary22

No probs good luck:)

Panthro

Mod Note:
Thread merged with similar previous thread.

gccrowley1

Where is the merged thread??????

L5

How quickly did the places for this years one go?
Thanks

danotroy

I will effectively have no fixed abode for the duration of jan – march in 2014, as I will be travelling, will this affect my ability to apply for IEC? I will have internet access and I will be able to get correspondence sent to my last address.

Shlippery

L5 wrote: »

How quickly did the places for this years one go?
Thanks

About 1 week roughly, which was apparently a hell of a lot faster than the previous year where there were still spots left in may? Ya gotta be quick, probably moreso next year!

NewsMeQuick

The 2013 visas went in 2 days, :eek:. Last year, it took 5 months, in the year before it took 8 months. All the news is there if you follow these threads and google a bit.

I wonder will there be any more changes this year, besides the visa quota. There will be at least two different influences as I understand:

1) 2013 IEC gave previous applicants a fresh two year visa if they applied, which is why some say the quota filled so rapidly. In theory, they should be dealt with and the 2014 IEC will have more spaces for us because of it.

2) Canada is now more high profile to Ireland and some may have noted the gently rising unemployment rate in Australia and recent immigration laws which don't favour WHV applicants. This in theory would suggest a higher applicant rate. :mad:

I notice many people on the 2013 visa didn't get it until the second or third week of April. People on here said there was a 'mixup' in the embassy and some people were actually approved weeks beforehand. To be honest, I want to get out of here as fast as possible. In previous years, many people seemed to get their visas in mid-February. Some people did this year but not as many.

I'll be applying as a single person and the only different element will be getting a police certificate from a foreign country proving 'clean citizenship', though I don't know if I need to get that translated yet! Otherwise I hope to God to get out fast. :cool:

Raj.singh

Hi all,

I am fresh graduate with hons degree in mechanical engineering and looking to go on the IEC 2014 programme. I wanted to know if anyone has any knowledge about job availability for mechanical engineers ? I am planning to go to toronto.

Thanks.

Raj.singh

can someone reply? ^^^

pls

adamski8

Raj.singh wrote: »

can someone reply? ^^^

pls

How the hell would any of us know? Why would someone who is already in canada be looking at this thread and your post?

JenL

Raj.singh wrote: »

Hi all,

I am fresh graduate with hons degree in mechanical engineering and looking to go on the IEC 2014 programme. I wanted to know if anyone has any knowledge about job availability for mechanical engineers ? I am planning to go to toronto.

Thanks.

Hi Raj Singh,
Not sure on mechanical engineers in Toronto but maybe join the 'Irish in Toronto' page on Facebook and do some job searches in Canada and see what's out there for recent graduates with limited experience. Good luck!

p_fzg

Just wondering whether as an Irish citizen you can apply for the IEC from abroad, planning on going traveling in February 2014 and may end up having to apply from Asia, is this possible?

bopper

p_fzg wrote: »

Just wondering whether as an Irish citizen you can apply for the IEC from abroad, planning on going traveling in February 2014 and may end up having to apply from Asia, is this possible?

More than likely the applications will have opened before February, but either way you can apply from overseas.

WoollyRedHat

Just wondering .. Is there a summer programme ala a J1 and if not, what are the implications of going on a 2- year visa but only using it for 3-4 months?

bopper

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

Just wondering .. Is there a summer programme ala a J1 and if not, what are the implications of going on a 2- year visa but only using it for 3-4 months?

It just means that you'll waste 20 months of a 24 month visa. You can't apply a second time though. As far as I know there's no J1 programme.

WoollyRedHat

So if I wanted to return to Canada at a future date to work, I wouldn't be able to? Is there not a time limit?

Well, in theory, within the two year period of the visa, you could enter & exit Canada as you pleased, so if you wanted to spend all your time off college working in Canada, no one'd say boo to you.

Augmerson

I heard, though not from any official or authorised source, that Ireland alone will get 10,000 visa allocations on the IEC program for 2014. Is that just a load of baloney or what?

bopper

Augmerson wrote: »

I heard, though not from any official or authorised source, that Ireland alone will get 10,000 visa allocations on the IEC program for 2014. Is that just a load of baloney or what?

That's supposed to be the case although it hasn't been confirmed yet. They'll still go in about two weeks though.

JenL

Augmerson wrote: »

I heard, though not from any official or authorised source, that Ireland alone will get 10,000 visa allocations on the IEC program for 2014. Is that just a load of baloney or what?

It has been confirmed by the CIC that there are 10,000 IEC visas available to Irish applicants in 2014. I reckon they'll go fast like this year too though.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2012/2012-10-05.asp

danotroy

there is definitely a latent demand for 10,000 visas but i reckon it will take slightly longer for 10,000 people to figure out the process and get their act together. I know many people here in australia who want to apply but have not yet looked into how its done and are oblivious to the process. I reckon 1000's will go in the first few days but 10,000 to me seems like a large number of visas. However upon reading that article I now retract everything i said above as in 2013 we were given 6,350 visas, i was under the impression we were only given 2,500 or so visas.

nologo

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the great info so far. A friend and I are planning to head over to Vancouver next year.

What's the best preparation you can do for the IEC application process opening? Set on going now and I don't want to miss out. I know there's no point in doing anything now as it's too far off but what can you have ready at the time?

Maybe this isn't the best thread for this question but if any of you folk are already over there you might be reading this.

Cheers lads and hopefully we'll see some of you out there for a pint/match/bag of milk/pancake covered in maple syrup.

bopper

nologo wrote: »

What's the best preparation you can do for the IEC application process opening? Set on going now and I don't want to miss out. I know there's no point in doing anything now as it's too far off but what can you have ready at the time?

Irish police check and one for any country you lived in for more than six months. Although they can't be any more than 3 months old at the time of you applying. Make sure your passport is valid for the entire duration of your visa. I think that's all you can really have ready before applications open.

cloudatlas

I'm just taking a gander at this for a future option. Reports said that last year the quota was filled in 2 days. What does that mean? Do you have to hover around on your pc until the acceptance date and then press submit to be in with a chance to win? My Oz WHV came through almost immediately obviously this is very different. Pleased to hear that they are increasing the number of people they're letting in.

zweton

Does anyone know if you can apply for the 2014 visas if you have been rejected for this years process?
The canadian IEC visa process is a joke!

bopper

cloudatlas wrote: »

I'm just taking a gander at this for a future option. Reports said that last year the quota was filled in 2 days. What does that mean? Do you have to hover around on your pc until the acceptance date and then press submit to be in with a chance to win? My Oz WHV came through almost immediately obviously this is very different. Pleased to hear that they are increasing the number of people they're letting in.

They went in 4 days. You get "conditionally accepted" first, which only takes a couple of hours, that's why the quota was filled so quick. They'll still let a few hundred more apply after the quota is filled to make up for those conditionally accepted getting refused a visa during the second stage of the application.

So yes, you'll pretty much just have to be checking the IEC website constantly from the end of December so you don't miss out when the applications open.

nologo

bopper wrote: »

They went in 4 days. You get "conditionally accepted" first, which only takes a couple of hours, that's why the quota was filled so quick. They'll still let a few hundred more apply after the quota is filled to make up for those conditionally accepted getting refused a visa during the second stage of the application.

So yes, you'll pretty much just have to be checking the IEC website constantly from the end of December so you don't miss out when the applications open.

So it's just a feeding frenzy. Do they announce the date before hand at all?