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kcastronaro

Member
Apr 28, 2014
16
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Everywhere I've looked says that there's a 90 grace period following most visas. That being said IEC tends to be a little different and more complicated than other temporary work permits because it's a 1 year only scheme. But it's also recognized as being a TRV - so, does anyone know whether you HAVE to leave on the day your IEC ends or if you just have to stop working and leave within 30-60-90/whatever days.

Thanks!
 
If a person stays after their visa expires, including an IEC, they are in Canada illegally. The 90 day "grace period" is the time in which an illegal person can restore their status and essentially make themselves legal again.

Don't mistake that "grace period" as a legal way to stay in Canada, as it's not. If a person wishes to legally remain in Canada after their IEC expires, they need to apply to change conditions and extend their stay as a visitor.
 
Agreed with the above.

And just to add, applying to change conditions and extend your stay as a visitor must be done BEFORE the IEC expires. Otherwise an application to restore your status must be submitted along with the change of conditions application.
 
So even if it's for a week or two just to get everything sorted - because basically at this point we're literally left with 4 weeks to get everything prepared either to do a PR app or move back to the UK (which includes taking a dog, my own passport is up for renewal this year, packing etc)... it's just gonna be really tight.

I just know when my visa expired in England they give you 7 extra days to "prepare your affairs" before you have to actually leave the country.
 
kcastronaro said:
So even if it's for a week or two just to get everything sorted - because basically at this point we're literally left with 4 weeks to get everything prepared either to do a PR app or move back to the UK (which includes taking a dog, my own passport is up for renewal this year, packing etc)... it's just gonna be really tight.

I just know when my visa expired in England they give you 7 extra days to "prepare your affairs" before you have to actually leave the country.

if there's still 4 weeks left on the IEC visa, why not just do what scylla suggests and apply for a change in status and extend the stay as a visitor? I believe he can then stay in Canada until a decision is reached on that application. (scylla correct me if i'm wrong about that!) Keep in mind if it's refused, he will have to voluntarily leave canada so as not to overstay and be subject to deportation.

and technically, he's had an entire year to "prepare his affairs", since he's known exactly when the expiration date of his IEC has been since he got here. it sounds like he has 4 weeks left, so that's plenty of time to prepare everything to go back home. there's no point in risking his status because he can certainly be denied re-entry as a visitor which will cause a lot more issues for your future plans.
 
rhcohen2014 said:
if there's still 4 weeks left on the IEC visa, why not just do what scylla suggests and apply for a change in status and extend the stay as a visitor? I believe he can then stay in Canada until a decision is reached on that application. (scylla correct me if i'm wrong about that!)

100% correct.
 
kcastronaro said:
So even if it's for a week or two just to get everything sorted - because basically at this point we're literally left with 4 weeks to get everything prepared either to do a PR app or move back to the UK (which includes taking a dog, my own passport is up for renewal this year, packing etc)... it's just gonna be really tight.

I just know when my visa expired in England they give you 7 extra days to "prepare your affairs" before you have to actually leave the country.
Hope you've got things sorted out properly for returning to the UK with a dog...
 
zardoz said:
Hope you've got things sorted out properly for returning to the UK with a dog...

Knowing that we'd always be going back to the UK eventually I had her microchipped with ISO when she got spayed last month. I just didn't think it might be this soon... We'd need to update her rabies booster and get her tapeworm test done, have a medical certificate completed by the vet and certified by CFIA within 20 days of travel and book her flight so we'll be good to go. We're on track with the dog it's just a lot of last minute stuff on top of getting out in time for my fiance's expired visa...
 
kcastronaro said:
Knowing that we'd always be going back to the UK eventually I had her microchipped with ISO when she got spayed last month. I just didn't think it might be this soon... We'd need to update her rabies booster and get her tapeworm test done, have a medical certificate completed by the vet and certified by CFIA within 20 days of travel and book her flight so we'll be good to go. We're on track with the dog it's just a lot of last minute stuff on top of getting out in time for my fiance's expired visa...
Excellent... Glad to see you are on the ball.