IEC Working Holiday Visa due to expire but Citizenship is in process... options?

[haidub]

Hi everyone,

I applied and sent off my application for my proof of citizenship on November 21st, 2014. My International Experience Canada (IEC) Working Holiday Visa is due to expire in two weeks, April 7th, 2015 and i have not heard anything back from the government. I realize that the processing time is 5 months, which i should know by April 21st but as my visa is running out, I want to know if i have any options to stay in Canada till i am notified?

Normally someone on the IEC Visa would have to leave the country before they can re-enter Canada. Would i have to leave or can i stay? I also spoke to the government on the phone on Thursday March 19th, 2015 and the assistant told me that i can apply for a work visa extension. To my knowledge you cannot apply for work visa extensions on the IEC program and also the processing time is 59 days, which means my visa will be done.

If anyone knows of my options or if I have to leave the country, that would be great if you could let me know/help?

Thank you.

 

[thecoolguysam]

Are you citizen of canada or some other country? I suppose your parents might be Canadian?
If you are citizen of canada then why are you on holiday work visa?
I suppose Permanent residents can only apply citizenship in Canada.

What did you exactly apply with CIC?
Please elaborate.

 

[haidub]

Are you citizen of canada or some other country? I suppose your parents might be Canadian?
If you are citizen of canada then why are you on holiday work visa?
I suppose Permanent residents can only apply citizenship in Canada.

What did you exactly apply with CIC?
Please elaborate.

Sorry i forgot to mention that i am a British citizen, so i am currently on my second working holiday visa. My mother is a Canadian and British citizen and father a British citizen.

I have applied for proof of citizenship as my mother is a Canadian citizen and i am able to apply for citizenship.

 

[thecoolguysam]

Sorry i forgot to mention that i am a British citizen, so i am currently on my second working holiday visa. My mother is a Canadian and British citizen and father a British citizen.

I have applied for proof of citizenship as my mother is a Canadian citizen and i am able to apply for citizenship.

I would suggest you to contact cic call centre at 1-888-242-2100 to get complete details about how to get your citizenship while in canada or how to get it if you leave Canada and return to UK. You can also ask them about how to extend your stay.

Please check this link for additional information:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/proof-eligibility.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=365&t=5

Here is another link for UK embassy:

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/united_kingdom-royaume_uni/consular_services_consulaires/index.aspx?lang=eng&menu_id=22

good luck!

 

[alphazip]

Sorry i forgot to mention that i am a British citizen, so i am currently on my second working holiday visa. My mother is a Canadian and British citizen and father a British citizen.

I have applied for proof of citizenship as my mother is a Canadian citizen and i am able to apply for citizenship.

If your mother was born in Canada, then you are a Canadian, even if you don't have proof yet. You could have asked for expedited processing of your application based on your visa expiring.

Since you are Canadian, you don't have to leave the country. Here's a link to a story about U.S. actor Randy Quaid, who fled to Canada with his wife several years ago. It turned out that his wife's father was born in Canada, so she was declared a Canadian and they were allowed to stay...even though she had no citizenship certificate.

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2010/10/27/randy_quaid_and_his_wife_released_from_canadian_immigration_custody.html

Hopefully, you have a copy of your birth certificate and your mother's birth certificate with you.