EU couple going to Vancouver BC for work!

[Pizzamannen]

Hi guys!
I guess you get this a lot here, so Ill cut to the chase!

Me and my girlfriend are looking to go to Vancouver BC mid 2012 to work.
We have both High school and college degree's, no criminal record, cash needed and so on!

We've been in contact with global visa company's for advice and so on, but they don't want to help us unless we start paying them.

What kind of visa are we looking for? (Holiday & works permit visa?)
When is it best to apply for it? How long does it usually take? How many months from when you get the visa do you get until you have to enter Canada?
If you want to extend the visa, could you do so from Canada, or do you have to return to your EU country? Would it be easier if you had a job waiting in Canada that you can prove, or won't that play a part as its a HOLIDAY & works visa?

Anything else that's good to know would be greatly appreciated if shared!

Thanks in advance!

[PMM]

Hi

Hi guys!
I guess you get this a lot here, so Ill cut to the chase!

Me and my girlfriend are looking to go to Vancouver BC mid 2012 to work.
We have both High school and college degree's, no criminal record, cash needed and so on!

We've been in contact with global visa company's for advice and so on, but they don't want to help us unless we start paying them.

What kind of visa are we looking for? (Holiday & works permit visa?)
When is it best to apply for it? How long does it usually take? How many months from when you get the visa do you get until you have to enter Canada?
If you want to extend the visa, could you do so from Canada, or do you have to return to your EU country? Would it be easier if you had a job waiting in Canada that you can prove, or won't that play a part as its a HOLIDAY & works visa?

Anything else that's good to know would be greatly appreciated if shared!

Thanks in advance!

1.  To get a working holiday visa (IEC) it depends on your age and your country of citizenship.  So google IEC, Canada, your country of citizenship.
2.  Otherwise if you are not eligible, you would need to find an employer who is able to get a Labour Market Opinion, that there are no Canadians/PRs available for the work.  If it is approved, then you could apply for a work permit.  It will not be easy if you don't have relevant experience.
3.  See 1  Most are valid for 6 months to 2 years.  UK citizen can apply for a second one.  The IEC for the UK are full for this year.  So you would have to wait until January to apply.

[Leon]

Add to that, the IEC visas (if you qualify) go by calendar year so the program for 2012 might open later this year.  Contact the Canadian embassy where you live to find out about that.  You want to apply soon after it opens to secure your 2012 visa.  If you get it, you need to arrange health insurance and you need to enter Canada some time in 2012 and your time limit (usually 1 year) will start from there.

[Pizzamannen]

Thank you for the answers!

Im from Sweden and the IEC seems pretty alright for me, don't need a job before I go to Canada and I get a year.

My girlfriend on the other hand is from Austria, we couldn't really find anything about her IEC. Only for young exchange work program. Which isn't what we are after.

We are currently living and working in London, so will try to call the Canadien Ambassy here and see if we can get some answers.

[Leon]

Here: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/austria-autriche/study-etudie/iec-eic.aspx?lang=eng&view=d

It looks like she would have to be residing in Austria to apply but of course she could just "move" back there a week before applying or so.  She will however only get 6 months.