Gap between IEC work visa and YP visa

[StephanievdS]

Hi guys!

First of all a shoutout to how amazing this forum is: so helpful in the jungle of confusing visa situations!

I am currently working in Canada on an IEC work visa, having an awesome job as a youth social worker. My visa will run out soon: October 16. I am from the Netherlands, which allows me to extend for another year on a YP visa. However, the pools for the YP are currently closed and I am unable to enter. The only information disclosed is to ''check back in the fall''. I found last years pools for YP opened the end of November. So, assuming similar timing this year, I will have about a five week gap between my current visa running out (Oct 16) and the opening of the YP pools (End of Nov). Evidently I'd rather not leave the country for five weeks as I want to continue working. Would anyone have advice for what to do? Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[Bs65]

You will need to stop working October 16 and in the meantime apply to extend your stay as a visitor to keep your legal status. There is no such thing as implied status for the IEC program that will allow you to keep working beyond October 16 whilst waiting for your YP application to be processed which could possibly even take you into 2019.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio.../services/visit-canada/extend-stay/apply.html

The only possible downside to your plan might be that believe that you may need to be resident in the Netherlands when you apply for the YP so suggest you check that requirement out.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/eligibility.asp?country=nl&cat=yp&#country_category_name

 

[StephanievdS]

Thanks for your help! Would you happen to know if it's possible to apply for an employee specific or open work permit to prevent this gap from happening and continue working with implied status?

 

[scylla]

Thanks for your help! Would you happen to know if it's possible to apply for an employee specific or open work permit to prevent this gap from happening and continue working with implied status?

Short answer is no. You'll need to stop working as soon as your IEC expires.

You don't qualify for an open work permit.

To qualify for an employee specific work permit (closed work permit), your employer must first obtain an approved LMIA. The LMIA process takes at least a few months to complete. So unfortunately not feasible to do this either.