Canada: IEC 2012 Processing Time Nightmare

Ash_Mag

DaveDaRave1 wrote: »

Because you'ld be going in as a tourist you'll have to have a return flight leaving within 6 months.

The only thing I can think of is you put the reference number in wrong.

Did you pay in the bank or did you do it online? did you leave the dashes of the WTN in the reference or did you take them out?

Thanks for the advice. I paid at a bank kiosk and AIB messed up my WTN in the reference part after I put it in correctly. But that was 10 weeks ago and I've been trying to correct it since I figured it out. Hoping it will get sorted eventually. If only the IEC would respond to emails.

Eutow

Ash_Mag wrote: »

I had the same. After weeks of hearing nothing I contacted the bank and that's when I found out that AIB took the last few digits off the reference number. I got AIB to give me a letter stating what went wrong and what the reference number now appears as in the Embassy account. Now it's been 10 weeks and still no contact so I rang AIB today to make sure and it turns out they made a mistake with the reference in the letter as well! I'd say it would be worthwhile to double check with your bank too.

This is AIB's fault but still there's no excuse for the IEC to ignore weeks worth of emails. It would all have been sorted out weeks ago with a simple "We don't have a payment with that reference on it." I wish this would just go smoothly Good luck! let me know how you get on.

It doesn't surprise me that the most incompetent bunch of fools you have to deal with to get a working visa would choose the worst bank in Ireland (besides Anglo Irish Bank) to have their account with.

skreepers

skreepers wrote: »

OMG this is actually doing my head in. For anyone who doesn't know my story so far:

I sent away full application 27/04/2012 but filled in form IMM1925 by hand instead of validating it online. Realised this the day after i sent it so sent it out with a letter saying how grateful i'd be if they could link it up with my original application.

Few days after, I receive my email of receipt with my WTN on it. I then decide it might be a good idea to send the validated form again, including my reference number in order to make it more easier to connect it to my application.

Anyway, on Friday I receive back the first validated one I sent, with an extra letter saying can you please submit the full application, we have sent your first part back. Well that was on Friday and they haven't sent my first part back. They still have the second one I sent with the WTN on it.

It's been nearly 2 weeks since I got my email of receipt and they said they would let me know by email within 2 weeks if i was successful or not...do they normally get back within 2 weeks or is it usually longer?

I mean do you think my original application has been sent back to me and has been lost in the post or something (which means the whole thing is ruined)?

Best case scenario they've still got my original application, attached my validated form with it using my WTN number and I get an email this week requesting payment.

So disheartened by this whole damn thing it is such a nuisance, it should all be online like the australian one to make things a hell of a lot easier for everyone.

Any ideas or advice on what the next stage might be for me? really appreciate responses!

also, it's called a World Tracking Number..so is there somewhere where I can enter in my WTN and find out what the status is on my application? THANKS

Hi Guys!

UPDATE! I got an email today, 22nd may requesting payment, saying I've been conditionally accepted!!!!! SOSOSOSO happy!

Can someone please read my situation in the post I've quoted and tell me if I could still get rejected at the next stage for this reason??

They obviously accepted the second letter i sent them with my WTN number on it!!

Let me know please!! so happy to be through to this stage!

Wardie23

Quick question. After you payment was made the only email I recieved was an email to say it was sent on to CIC. Is this confirmation of payment, or is there another email to confirm that payment has been recieved?

laura1990

Wardie23 wrote: »

Quick question. After you payment was made the only email I recieved was an email to say it was sent on to CIC. Is this confirmation of payment, or is there another email to confirm that payment has been recieved?

Same as myself, and yes it means they got your money
Now we just wait

Wardie23

Hopefully hear back soon so. Fly out in 2 weeks exactly, and one of the lads who has been in the same time frame as me (we got Conditional offer, Payment Requested, Passed on to CIC exactly the same das) and both of us paid through AIB on the same day, got his LOI on Saturday morning. Bit strange.

jimmybeige

Ash_Mag wrote: »

Here's my (nightmarish) timeline:

Application sent: 11th January
Notice of Receipt: 15th Feb
Conditional Acceptance: 6th March
Fee Paid/IMM1295 sent: 12th March

And that's it! No contact from them at all since then. They haven't confirmed they got my payment even though I've checked with the bank that they got it and emailed them a letter from the bank with all the details.

It's 10 weeks today since I paid. All I can do is keep emailing them but they never respond. Surely if it was rejected (and I'm fairly certain I did everything right, USIT approved etc) or there was a problem they would have notified me by now? I am beyond panicked.

I'm thinking I should just travel to Canada and wait for some info there. If I have a return flight and proof of funds it should be ok to go in as a visitor right? I was just wondering if any of you have done this, what kind of questions are you asked at immigration? Should I tell them I'm waiting on confirmation for a WHV or just say I'm going for a holiday? I'd rather be straight with them but I don't know on what grounds they'd reject me.

And advice would be greatly appreciated!

I applied in January too, and payed on March 10th. My friend did similar, maybe a few days earlier and neither of us have heard a thing from the IEC yet. However, we are both already in Canada and contacted our local MP here, and his emigration person managed to get a hold of someone at the visa office. Supposedly our visas had been approved long ago, but we never received an email about it. I know of another person also from the same period who has had the same problem, so I think there must have been some issue around this time.

I think there is a chance that you visa has been approved already, but you never received the email. I still have not, but supposedly it is approved. I woould do whatever I can to somehow get through to the visa office if you can. Perhaps contact your local TD? They rarely answer emails, so it is near impossible to get through to them yourself.

Ash_Mag

jimmybeige wrote: »

I applied in January too, and payed on March 10th. My friend did similar, maybe a few days earlier and neither of us have heard a thing from the IEC yet. However, we are both already in Canada and contacted our local MP here, and his emigration person managed to get a hold of someone at the visa office. Supposedly our visas had been approved long ago, but we never received an email about it. I know of another person also from the same period who has had the same problem, so I think there must have been some issue around this time.

I think there is a chance that you visa has been approved already, but you never received the email. I still have not, but supposedly it is approved. I woould do whatever I can to somehow get through to the visa office if you can. Perhaps contact your local TD? They rarely answer emails, so it is near impossible to get through to them yourself.

That's interesting. So once you found out they didn't email it to you again? Have you activated your permit yet?

Thanks for the advice.

number11

Hey all, this IEC processing time thing is beginning to drive me mad i think. here's my situation if anyone has any advice or could shed some light i would be really greatful.
I am currently in Canada on my first IEC which expires 11th of June 2012. I have applied for my second year and did receive an email saying that I have been provisionally accepted and that it has been passed onto Visa and Immigration. I received that email on the 15th of May. they said I would hear back within six weekd.
My main problem is that I am currently working in Canada. If, and hopefully not, that I do not receive my new LOI before my current one expires, should I try to change my status to visitor and wait til it arrives and tell my company that I cannot work until it arrives or should i change my status to visitor and continue working or is that way too risky?? i don't think my boss would be too impressed if i have to take time off seen as i told him that i am currently okay to work in Canada when he hired me.

Getting away too stressful at this stage!

nms

Ash_Mag wrote: »

I had the same. After weeks of hearing nothing I contacted the bank and that's when I found out that AIB took the last few digits off the reference number. I got AIB to give me a letter stating what went wrong and what the reference number now appears as in the Embassy account. Now it's been 10 weeks and still no contact so I rang AIB today to make sure and it turns out they made a mistake with the reference in the letter as well! I'd say it would be worthwhile to double check with your bank too.

This is AIB's fault but still there's no excuse for the IEC to ignore weeks worth of emails. It would all have been sorted out weeks ago with a simple "We don't have a payment with that reference on it." I wish this would just go smoothly Good luck! let me know how you get on.

Cant believe it just got e.mail from CIC that im onto next phase..Thank god...!!! U should get it now soon since our dates are similar..Keep me posted... This is my first e.mail since payment was requested 14thMarch!!!

Ash_Mag

nms wrote: »

Cant believe it just got e.mail from CIC that im onto next phase..Thank god...!!! U should get it now soon since our dates are similar..Keep me posted... This is my first e.mail since payment was requested 14thMarch!!!

Congrats! I'm feeling hopeful now

karlcox2

jimmybeige wrote: »

I applied in January too, and payed on March 10th. My friend did similar, maybe a few days earlier and neither of us have heard a thing from the IEC yet. However, we are both already in Canada and contacted our local MP here, and his emigration person managed to get a hold of someone at the visa office. Supposedly our visas had been approved long ago, but we never received an email about it. I know of another person also from the same period who has had the same problem, so I think there must have been some issue around this time.

I think there is a chance that you visa has been approved already, but you never received the email. I still have not, but supposedly it is approved. I woould do whatever I can to somehow get through to the visa office if you can. Perhaps contact your local TD? They rarely answer emails, so it is near impossible to get through to them yourself.

I've heard of so many people with the same problem with me being in the same situation. i paid april 10th and still no word. Beginning to loose hope. was it easy to get in touch with the local mp. Im in vancouver and pulling my hair out waiting on the visa

Wiggles~

number11 wrote: »

Hey all, this IEC processing time thing is beginning to drive me mad i think. here's my situation if anyone has any advice or could shed some light i would be really greatful.
I am currently in Canada on my first IEC which expires 11th of June 2012. I have applied for my second year and did receive an email saying that I have been provisionally accepted and that it has been passed onto Visa and Immigration. I received that email on the 15th of May. they said I would hear back within six weekd.
My main problem is that I am currently working in Canada. If, and hopefully not, that I do not receive my new LOI before my current one expires, should I try to change my status to visitor and wait til it arrives and tell my company that I cannot work until it arrives or should i change my status to visitor and continue working or is that way too risky?? i don't think my boss would be too impressed if i have to take time off seen as i told him that i am currently okay to work in Canada when he hired me.

Getting away too stressful at this stage!

If you're already here and your visa is processing you can continue what you're already doing on implied status until a decision is made on your visa. I'm not sure what the process is for your employer but it shouldn't be a problem. My housemate has been on implied status since early April while waiting on his second year IEC, he didn't have to fill out any forms or anything just automatically changed status.

Ash_Mag

nms wrote: »

Cant believe it just got e.mail from CIC that im onto next phase..Thank god...!!! U should get it now soon since our dates are similar..Keep me posted... This is my first e.mail since payment was requested 14thMarch!!!

Just got the email now! Almost at the end of this!

SciencesPo

number11 wrote: »

Hey all, this IEC processing time thing is beginning to drive me mad i think. here's my situation if anyone has any advice or could shed some light i would be really greatful.
I am currently in Canada on my first IEC which expires 11th of June 2012. I have applied for my second year and did receive an email saying that I have been provisionally accepted and that it has been passed onto Visa and Immigration. I received that email on the 15th of May. they said I would hear back within six weekd.
My main problem is that I am currently working in Canada. If, and hopefully not, that I do not receive my new LOI before my current one expires, should I try to change my status to visitor and wait til it arrives and tell my company that I cannot work until it arrives or should i change my status to visitor and continue working or is that way too risky?? i don't think my boss would be too impressed if i have to take time off seen as i told him that i am currently okay to work in Canada when he hired me.

Getting away too stressful at this stage!

Keep your head down and keep working. If worst comes to worst, tell him that you have implicit status. I stopped working voluntarily and it was the silliest thing I ever did. There's no need to. The expiry date on your SIN doesn't mean a thing, given that there are any number of visas out there that you could conceivably apply for and be granted implicit status. Anyway the SIN is used for tax purposes and who's ever heard of the tax man refusing dollars.

If your second visa is coming through anyway, wait till you get the confirmation, validate it at the US border, and off you go. My mate overworked his first WHV for 6 months due to delays last year on him getting a second one, he claimed back every cent of tax he was 'entitled' to this year without a problem.

SciencesPo

Wiggles~ wrote: »

If you're already here and your visa is processing you can continue what you're already doing on implied status until a decision is made on your visa. I'm not sure what the process is for your employer but it shouldn't be a problem. My housemate has been on implied status since early April while waiting on his second year IEC, he didn't have to fill out any forms or anything just automatically changed status.

That's wrong, I'm afraid (and an all too common misconception). There is no 'implied' status for Working Holiday Visas as they are separate visa programmes, processed at Canadian embassies abroad. They are not comparable to any other Canadian working visa. There is no legal connection between two different years and thus no implied status available, they are very clear about this in the rules online, and when you consult with Canadian immigration officers in person. Your housemate is here illegally if he has not exited and reentered Canada after the expiry of his first WHV. Now, he won't get caught unless he's very silly, of course, but he's living (and I presume working?) here illegally nonetheless.

red menace

SciencesPo wrote: »

Keep your head down and keep working. If worst comes to worst, tell him that you have implicit status. I stopped working voluntarily and it was the silliest thing I ever did. There's no need to. The expiry date on your SIN doesn't mean a thing, given that there are any number of visas out there that you could conceivably apply for and be granted implicit status. Anyway the SIN is used for tax purposes and who's ever heard of the tax man refusing dollars.

If your second visa is coming through anyway, wait till you get the confirmation, validate it at the US border, and off you go. My mate overworked his first WHV for 6 months due to delays last year on him getting a second one, he claimed back every cent of tax he was 'entitled' to this year without a problem.

SciencesPo wrote: »

That's wrong, I'm afraid (and an all too common misconception). There is no 'implied' status for Working Holiday Visas as they are separate visa programmes, processed at Canadian embassies abroad. They are not comparable to any other Canadian working visa. There is no legal connection between two different years and thus no implied status available, they are very clear about this in the rules online, and when you consult with Canadian immigration officers in person. Your housemate is here illegally if he has not exited and reentered Canada after the expiry of his first WHV. Now, he won't get caught unless he's very silly, of course, but he's living (and I presume working?) here illegally nonetheless.

Kind of conflicting advice no?

emigrate2012

Down to twelve visas left!anyone received loi recently?

SciencesPo

red menace wrote: »

Kind of conflicting advice no?

Not at all. Keep your head down and there'll be no problem. That doesn't change the fact, though, that there is no legal "implied" status available for Working Holiday Visas. Of course, you'd have to be very silly, or very, very, very unlucky, to get caught.

gracielou

I received my LOI, last weekend. I was thrilled. I would just like to say a big thanks to everyone on boards for all the information and advice posted. I couldn't of gotten through it without ye.

Here is my timeline.

Sent application: 3rd April
Email saying it was received: 22nd April
Payment Email: 29th April
Second Phase: 11th May
LOI: 26th May

Just waiting on the boyfs LOI and planning to head over in August to Vancouver.

Might see some of you there

IsThisIt???

I'm waiting on my LOI but just seen the website and it says there are 0 places left. Does this mean im out of luck?? Have flights booked for wednesday week!

NoelAPM

IsThisIt??? wrote: »

I'm waiting on my LOI but just seen the website and it says there are 0 places left. Does this mean im out of luck?? Have flights booked for wednesday week!

No it does not. It's been discussed about 12 times. You contributed to the Deminishing quota once they sent you your WTN number.

IsThisIt???

NoelAPM wrote: »

No it does not. It's been discussed about 12 times. You contributed to the Deminishing quota once they sent you your WTN number.

Oh right, my bad

laura1990

gracielou wrote: »

I received my LOI, last weekend. I was thrilled. I would just like to say a big thanks to everyone on boards for all the information and advice posted. I couldn't of gotten through it without ye.

Here is my timeline.

Sent application: 3rd April
Email saying it was received: 22nd April
Payment Email: 29th April
Second Phase: 11th May
LOI: 26th May

Just waiting on the boyfs LOI and planning to head over in August to Vancouver.

Might see some of you there

Congrats Im still waiting, fingers crossed it'll come soon!

Tia Ni Chlerigh

If anyone else feels the treatment they have received from IEC over Visa applications this year is disgraceful please comment on this article from today's Irish Times and there might be a chance that they will get back to those of us still waiting: http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gene...-visas-filled/

red menace

Tia Ni Chlerigh wrote: »

If anyone else feels the treatment they have received from IEC over Visa applications this year is disgraceful please comment on this article from today's Irish Times and there might be a chance that they will get back to those of us still waiting: http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gene...-visas-filled/

Comments got closed pretty sharpish on that story.
By the way things get a lot more nightmarish when applying for a proper visa to Canada

Most of the figure I read come up with a figure of 250,000 people a year try to immigrate to Canada, that's a lot of paperwork and a sloooow process for all involved
You should see the form we had to fill in for an LMO last year and same again this year and it can only be applied for within 3 months of the expiry of the current permit and has a processing time of 4 months

Fedupwaiting

Hi there,
I sent all my forms off January 23rd through go4less and I'm STILL WAITING!!! I got the email saying it was sent to CIC on march 25th. so the 6 weeks will be up on Wednesday I've sent emails, I rang the embassy in London and left messages and nothing!!! I'm just so stressed at this stage. Was supposed to go n April, had to postpone (costing €150) then was supposed to go in may, had to pospone again (costing another €150). Now we have flights booked for the end of June. If I have to pospone again I'm just cancelling the flight this is ridiculous. Has it taken longer than the 6 weeks for anyone to get the LOI? And has anyone any advise on who to call or what I should do? I'm constantly ringing go4less but they just say to sit tight :mad:

pesi2003

Fedupwaiting wrote: »

Hi there,
I sent all my forms off January 23rd through go4less and I'm STILL WAITING!!! I got the email saying it was sent to CIC on march 25th. so the 6 weeks will be up on Wednesday I've sent emails, I rang the embassy in London and left messages and nothing!!! I'm just so stressed at this stage. Was supposed to go n April, had to postpone (costing €150) then was supposed to go in may, had to pospone again (costing another €150). Now we have flights booked for the end of June. If I have to pospone again I'm just cancelling the flight this is ridiculous. Has it taken longer than the 6 weeks for anyone to get the LOI? And has anyone any advise on who to call or what I should do? I'm constantly ringing go4less but they just say to sit tight :mad:

In a simliar boat refered to CIC April 18th.....still waiting, no replies to emails no idea whats going on.....2 friends applied at the same tine got their LOI in april and are now in Canada because waiting for me was riduculas.

Fedupwaiting

It's crazy, I'm too afraid to do anything now I case I'm rejected but as soon as I get the LOI (if I get it at this stage ) I'm writing a very narky letter of complaint to them. They don't realise that we have our lives put on hold waiting for this. I lost 2 potential lodgers for my house because they couldn't wait any longer to move in. I'm just fit to scream waiting.

laura1990

Got my letter of introduction today

My timeline ( i did this on my own not with usit or go4less etc)

-Application sent start of april
-confirmation of receipt mid april
-request of payment end of april
-sent to CIC 11th of may
-LOI 31st of may

so 8 weeks in total as promised

Fedupwaiting

Oh congrats. 8 weeks? Lucky you, I'm so jealous. I'm at week 15 at the moment and still nothing I just don't get it!!!

laura1990

Fedupwaiting wrote: »

Oh congrats. 8 weeks? Lucky you, I'm so jealous. I'm at week 15 at the moment and still nothing I just don't get it!!!

really?? feck sake, what stage are you at, payment or 2nd phase?

Fedupwaiting

I got the email to say it was sent to CIC on April 25th and nothing since. It'll be 6 weeks on Wednesday. I'm really starting to panic

sunnymilo

i applied for 2012 visa for the family and got accepted @ first .sent the fee and then got refused.they dont explain why there refusing but i read after on their website that they made mistakes refusing some people.we havent recieved fee back yet and ive emailed them asking them to look at it again.still no reply ....not sure whether to bother trying 2013