THE CIC PART OF APPLICATION

So now the CIC.  Your actual visa application is done through Citizenship and Immigration Canada.  You can do it through Sign In Partner or GCKey.  I would suggest using the GCKey as the sign in partner is so hard.

After you log in, you have to do a questionnaire that will tell you if you are eligible for any type of visa or not.  Mines suggested the IEC, just as well.  It gives you a checklist of documents that you will need to upload for your application.  You need your cv/resume, police certificate, passport (include all pages of stamps), a passport photo and your CAL.

You do not need to print your documents and sign them.  You sign them electronically after you press the submit button.

I will keep you all up to date on my application process.

Remember you can email if you have any questions.  paulagerrard87@gmail.com

The IEC process

So for the people who dont know me and haven't been bored to tears with me talking about this for so long, i am planning on going to Canada but first i have to apply for the IEC programme.  I though the IEC (or International Experience Canada) would be a simple process, how wrong was i.

Applications were supposed to open December/January but they didnt and there was no information on the website when they were going to be open (very helpful).  They surprised everyone by opening on 14th February with no warning whatsoever so i missed the first round.  This set me into panic mode as they only have 5350 places available for a visa to the UK.  They had decided that this year they were going to do it all online in three separate dates, 1000 applications on 14th February, 2000 on 25th February and 2350 on 7th March.  Since i missed the first one i went online filled everything out ready for the second round so all i had to do was press submit, or so i thought.

Come the 25th I made sure i had the day off and i sat at the computer ready to press the submit button.  The had not put what time they were opening all they had put was opens in the afternoon.  So i sit and wait for it to open getting really impatient, they come 3pm it opens.  I checked through all my sections one last and go to press submit and the site crashes.  Everytime i try to press submit the site crashes and send me to the home screen.  When the round closes i panicked even more.

Gutted i have to work on the day the 3rd and final round opens i accept that i may miss out on this opportunity.  On way to work i log onto my Kompass account and realise it is open so i quickly press submit and i got the sought after WTN (World Tracking Number).  I DID IT!!! ON MY IPHONE OF ALL THINGS WOOP WOOP!  After work i go onto my Kompass account to see if i had received my confirmation, i realised that where all my lovely green ticks that were once there had now been replaced by a big red cross next to the visa section.  I totally freak out thinking WHAT THE HELL!!.  Thank god for British Expats on the IEC forum.  

There still is the CIC process to go through but i will cover that in another post.  This has been so stressful so far, i hope the CIC process is not as stressful.

A few days after submitting my application i get a payment request which is a great sign.  I send the payment the next day.  A day later i get a payment verified.  After 9 long days i finally get my CAL (Conditional Acceptance Letter).  

Now for the CIC part of the application

If you want to know anything then dont hesitate to drop me an email on paulagerrard87@gmail.com

This is the year i have been waiting for

As the title says - this is the year i have been waiting for.  I wanted to go to Canada last year on my working visa but sadly i had missed the applications.  Since i have the funds now i had decided on my travel plans and very itchy feet. I decided that i have got to do it now before i turn 30 or i cant do a whv.  The world is big to sit around and not get out there and enjoy my life.

My plan so far is

First stop is Canada .  Im heading to Vancouver in September with a few weeks accommodation booked up then im heading to Whistler for the winter season until April.  Im thinking about heading to Vegas or New York for a few days at Xmas or New Year.

I dont have any long term plans as of yet.  You can get two IEC (international Experience Canada) visas, so if i love it i may get a second year.  In june 2014 i plan on heading to Brazil for the world cup as i have always wanted to go somewhere for the world cup.  I plan on travelling more of the states, New Zealand, Australia and Asia.  I really want to travel around Europe on the way home.

Elvis land

In november 2012 i took my mum to Graceland for her 50th birthday.  We arrived just after midnight so it was straight to bed for us.  We were staying at the Days Inn Graceland which was of course Elvis themed with a guitar shaped pool.

We went shopping in the morning and went my fave american shop - Rue 21.  Also took my mum to Walmart to show just how amazing it actually is.  We had a look around to see what was around our hotel aside from Graceland and discovered that all the attractions that are part of the tour are around us.  

At night we went to Beale Street for dinner at the Hard Rock and some pubs.  Beale street is the place to go to as they offer a mix of delta blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, R&B and gospel.  

The next night we went to Marlowes for dinner.  We had the best food i have ever tasted in my life.  They offer a pink limo to pick you up from your hotel and take you to the restaurant and also drops you back off which is so amazing.

On out final day the day of my mums birthday we did the vip tour of Graceland.  It is so amazing to be at the King's house and seeing just how much land he actually had.  The decor is not to my taste but it was very big back in the day.  As it was coming up to christmas they had it all decked out with the christmas decorations and it was so amazing.  There is a room that is designed like a jungle that he used as a recording studio in 1976.  We got to see all his cars, old costumes, his planes and his gold records. I never realised just how many gold records he actually had.  

We went to the Rock n Roll cafe for a meal and a guy called Tim Rowland was performing as an Elvis impersonator, he is by far the best i have seen wish we had can to this place before our last night as the atmosphere was so good as was the service.

Vegas baby - strippers being very pleased to see you

Me and my friends went to Vegas in feb 2012 to celebrate my 25th in style.  We staying at the Excalibur again as we all loved the fact that it is a castle.  On checking in they were saying that there was only one room booked and after looking properly the found the other booking, way to give us a heart attack.  Despite being completely shattered from our long flight and the fact that we hadn't slept the night before, we got changed and ditched our stuff and headed out on the strip to explore.

We went in all the hotels to see all the lobbies to see if anything had changed since the last time i was here. Nothing had really changed and even though i had seen them all before they are still so amazing to look at. The other girls were so amazed with the size of the strip and the hotels.

When people think of Vegas they automatically think of casinos and the nightlife but there is so much more to it than that.   Each hotel has different attractions that attract tourists in the thousands.  Of course the most famous is the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Bellagio Fountains at the Bellagio.

If in Vegas the limo tour of the strip is a must.  It is the only way to see Vegas as the strip is 4.5 miles long.  You also have to see the Freemont Street Experience.  There is a Madame Tussauds in the Venetian Hotel which is another typical tourist must.


We did the helicopter ride over Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon, it was so amazing.  The views were simply breathtaking.  On the way home we flew over the strip and got some great pics.

                

                                       

We went to the Stratosphere but only me and Heather did the rides the X stream was by far the scariest as it shoots you straight up and leaves you hanging off the edge.  Near the Stratosphere there is the the worlds largest gift shop, we all spent so much money.

We went out to the Coyote Ugly bar in the New York New York hotel and the place is so crazy and the drinks are lethal.  We took out our mascot out and attracted so much attention.  I got up to dance on the bar since it was my birthday and got so much free drink loving it.  Also got to add my bra to their huge collection.

Back at our hotel me and Heather manages to convince the barman to strip on the bar for us and we got free drink for being a good laugh.


We went to the premium outlets on our last day to get some bargains and ended up spending so much more money and i had to end up getting another case just to put my stuff in it.  We all got tattoos done to remind us of our time in Vegas.

My birthday night out was to see the amazingly hot Thunder from Downunder all i can say is yum yum yum.  Me and Heather got our pics with them on sat on their knees to get our pics and lets just say they seemed quite pleased to see us haha.

Rodeo, vegas, ball game and near death experiences

Day 30

Woke up still drunk, still wearing last nights clothes and somehow Tommy's tutu.  We went to macy d's for breakie and saw Tommy's group aswell.  We were on the way to Bryce Canyon today.  We did a small 3 mile hike was well good and it sobered me up.  Abby told us we were going to a rodeo tonight which i cant wait for it is going to be so much fun.  We had dinner then went to the rodeo which was amazing.  We went to Tommy's group for a camp fire and some smores.

                                     

                                     

Day 31

Got up early as we were going to Zion today.  The drive wasn't that bad and was quite a short one.  When we got to Zion we were told we were'nt able to do the Angel's landing hike today as it had been raining and they were expecting more.  So we just did the Upper Emerald pool after we dropped of the trailer.  Had a few drinks while doing some laundry.  We watched the hangover but the car battery and laptop died so we went to bed as a few of us were going to do the angel's Landing at 5.45am tomorrow then it is VEGAS BABY!!!

 Day 32

A few of us got up early to do the Angel's Landing.  We went with Tommy's group which was good, so glad i got up early to do it.  The views were so worth it.  We went back to the camp and had pancakes and bacon for breakfast yum yum.

We were all so excited on the drive to Vegas we had been looking forward to this for so long.  We were staying at the Excalibur hotel which was like a huge castle and the views were amazing.  We had a limo tour of the strip and we saw the Bellagio fountains and the Fremont Street Experience which was so amazing.

                                      

Had a look around the strip today and had a look in the lobbies of all the hotels.

Day 34

Got up early to find our trailer had been stolen.  So we had to try and pack all our stuff into Tommy's trailer. We were going to San Diego today and going to watch a baseball game tonight.  The game was so amazing.

Day 35

We had a free day today so some went to the zoo while others went to the beach.  We went out for dinner in a local restaurant and chilled out at camp as some were leaving tomorrow when we got to LA.

Day 36

We got up early to leave for La and to finish the tour. We were all so sad as we this would be the last time we would be together.  

We did a tour around La trying to spot celebs but sadly we didn't.  We went along the walk of fame which is so long and then chilled out at Santa Monica beach loved it.  We had a last meal and drink together with the people that were still here.

Day 37

Left early this morning to head to Yosemite National Park.  On the way there we visited the famous bubble gum alley downtown San Luis Obispo, California.

The campsite is so amazing a bit like the first campsite i stayed in.  Had an early night as tomorrow gotta get up early for the Half Dome hike.

Day 38

Up at 4.30am this morning to get a early start on the Half Dome as it is a big hike.  It took 12.5 hours to get to the top it was so hard.  When i got to the cables it was the hardest and most dangerous part as the the rock surface was slippery.  I ended up losing my grip and fell backwards never been so scared in my life.  Once back at camp i had a few beers think i deserved them.

Day 40

Trip to San Francisco before i go home. Sadly i couldn't go to the Alcatraz gutted about it as i really wanted to go.

Well America it has been an experience