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to see if i had received my confirmation, i realised that where all my lovely green ticks that were once there had now been replaced by a big red cross next to the visa section.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