IEC - timing of entry

[vana-hb]

Halo,
I seek a little help with understanding of IEC process and I am sorry to bother you if the same question was asked before but I searched.

I am from the Czech Republic and for my country the quota hasn’t been opened jet. By what I read the process takes up to two mounts. So in best case if they open the quota son enough and the process takes super shot time I might be able to get to Canada in the middle June. It seems to be just a bit of late to me as there are like five mounts or so to the winter.

I understand that first I get Conditional Acceptance Letter, than I have 15 days to apply for work permit by MyCIC and if all right I receive POE Introduction Letter and that is it.

My question is whether the year I am allowed to spend in Canada counts from POE letter issuing or from the accrual entry to the country.
And the other the same important one is if there is any validity of the POE letter. By that I mean if I got the POEL this year would there be any trouble to enter the country and work there next year }2016]? The reason I ask is that I would prefer to arrive earlier in April as I believe more time better.

Really appreciate help of any kind. Pavel

 

[OddSituation]

Hello.

My question is whether the year I am allowed to spend in Canada counts from POE letter issuing or from the accrual entry to the country.
And the other the same important one is if there is any validity of the POE letter. By that I mean if I got the POEL this year would there be any trouble to enter the country and work there next year }2016]? The reason I ask is that I would prefer to arrive earlier in April as I believe more time better.

Short answer: Permit starts at the border crossing.

Longer answer:
When you get your POE (sometimes called Letter of Introduction - LOI) letter. The letter will be valid for either:

• 12 months
• Until the expiry date of your medical exam, if you underwent a medical exam (not always required)

whichever is less, starting from date received. This applies to all IEC countries, if I'm not mistaken. [CIC Source]

When you cross the border and present said letter, providing it is valid (not expired) and you meet the additional requirements (funds, insurance valid for duration of stay, "intent" to leave), you will be granted an Open Work-Permit (OWP). The OWP will be valid for either:

• The time agreed upon between the countries (at writing, 12 months for Czech Republic)
• The expiration date of your passport

whichever is less, starting from the date of entry.

To give an example:
If a Czech citizen received their POE/LOI letter on 2015-05-21, they have until 2016-05-20 to enter Canada. If they then entered Canada 2016-05-05 with their POE/LOI, they would be issued an OWP valid until 2017-05-04 (assuming they meet criteria stated above).

Alternatively, they could enter Canada on 2015-05-23 and receive an OWP valid until 2016-05-22.