BUNAC Work Canada

hey guys, great thread - awesome to see so many like minded people!

Quick questions:

> I thinking of going September/Oct but I'm still unsure. when realistically is the last time i can apply?

> Where is this "facebook group" that everyone is talking about? (i searched for IEC Canada but couldn't find anything - apologies if this has been mentioned before, i haven't read the full thread.

thanks

Don't let people pressure you in having a set plan in life!! These people are the sort of people who usually end up moaning about their lives and telling you that 'you're so lucky' when you mention you're going away again to live somewhere else...! I've got a number of friends who keep asking what I'm doing after Canada, and it's like well, after my NEXT Canadian visa I'll be heading back to New Zealand...'and then after that?' Australia maybe, not sure! That's years away.

My parents just booked flights to come over, I'm so excited! They got return flights from Gatwick to Vancouver for 300 pounds (tax included), is that insane or what?!

Alaska sounds awesome, I'd like to get up there after spending a bit of time in Yukon next summer

Don't have much to add, but I'm feeling the exact same way, and it was pretty neat to see someone else put it into words. A lot of people back home are hassling me for plans, and I can totally understand why, but at this stage I really couldn't plan too far ahead even if I wanted to. The only thing I know is that I think I'm going to visit home over the summer and then come back for my second IEC visa. I'm pretty sure I'm going to want to stay here after those two years though, which is what really scares me. But that's for another thread :P

What did people put for their job on the visa application?

Unless I'm doing the wrong one, it's asking for a job title/description and a written job offer. I'm sure most people going out don't have a job offer, and neither did I last year, but it won't validate without it. I've been so busy and left it rather late, so I really don't want this to be rejected! HELP!!!!!!!!!

Wow, that price is amazing! I actually found some good deals for a friend who is visiting in the summer but she was being lame and took to long to book so missed them! Will def visit Canada again after I leave knowing I can get a return for what I'm sure will be cheaper than my return flight! Did they use Canadian Affair? Lovely your parents are coming to visit too. I am getting old so need to go home at some point to pay off debts and sort out some sort of career so I can afford to buy food in the future.
People have stopped asking about my plans as think it is clearer I don't have one! I just wish I had more money as so much I want to do before I head home so potential applications - Save more .

I have flown past the sixth month mark and feeling a lot more settled now. Took a while to feel truly comfortable but now I am, so probably time to leave . We are getting bits of hot weather so I am getting excited for summer activities here. 24 degrees the other day - whoop but chilly today. Used to the random weather here though.

ETA - Do you have your second year visa yet? Hope that has gone through for you!

Old?! Pah....my boyfriend is almost 33 and has been traveling/working abroad for over 10 years now. We're not stopping anytime soon The lifestyle isn't for everyone though - having little 'stuff' of your own and starting again every few years (housing, work, friends), and being away from family.....for me, the benefits outweigh the negatives (despite always working a minimum wage job!), but that's just me. Being in a couple does make it easier too I must say.

Yes, they used Canadian Affair. I get the newsletter and bugged them until they did it! They were going to visit next year, but this worked out a lot better in the end anyway as I'm not currently working. Being unemployed again isn't so great, but I'm so glad it's Spring now! Such a difference from arriving in November....! 24 is pretty nice, we had some really lovely end of season days at the mountain - it got up to 14 degrees one day. Bit of a surreal experience, snowboarding in full warm sunshine! Still had over 5 and a half metres of snow at the end though, crazy. I must say for Canadians, they throw a pretty good party...the end of season mountain staff party was last night. 700 people, free food, two free drinks, then cheap drinks all night, pretty awesome!

Glad you're feeling settled We're moving this week, a little closer into town, but still 5km out. It's a bigger place, and right by the river, so lots of walking trails...pretty excited! We also bought a new car (4x4!) and a canoe. Have to have something to do over the summer with no more snowboarding until December!

Application update - I got my conditional acceptance on Monday. So I've paid, and am waiting for a receipt email and then the final acceptance (or rejection) email! Almost there now. My visa timeline has been a lot quicker than other peoples - some people on the Facebook group are at the same stage as me but applied in January. Don't get it at all, but the same thing happened to me last year too.

hey everyone!

my first post in this, just looking for some advice from anyone already in Canada or those going later this year like me! there's a lot of really helpful stuff here.

my visa application has FINALLY been accepted and i've sorted my flights and everything. flying on 7th October to Toronto just after all my friends go to uni as i'm working in Canada for a year instead. as an 18 year old going alone, it hasn't hit me yet but i'm sure i'm gonna be terrified this summer when i'm preparing to leave! Hoping to find work for the winter months, save up and travel to the west coast in summer and be back home in late August.

Anyone else going to Toronto this October?
What kind of work are people looking for? I'm only hoping for basic waitress jobs or something like that - how is the job market looking over there?

Thanks!!

Congrats Laura! So exciting, I'm sure your friends will all be jealous when they are stuck studying and you are over here. I am on the west coast but the job market seems to be a lot better over here than at home. Everyone I know has found jobs quickly, I think as there is a lot of wealth where I live but also because people will take any kind of job and in the UK my friends are so picky!

thank you yes i am really excited !! ok that is good news too! i'm not fussy at all and quite a hard worker, already have 2 jobs working day and night on the weekend in preparation for leaving! do you mind me asking what sort of work you are doing over there? did you also start living in a hostel then move out when you managed to get a bit of money? thanks for the help

Just got back from a road trip around BC. The drive alone was worth the trip, so gorgeous! Lovely weather here now, I have forgotten all about the months of snow and my bruises from the slips and bumps have all faded!

I am a nanny, it wasn't quite what I intended to do but have really enjoyed it and it helped me feel at home fast here. I lived in a hostel for a little bit when I arrived then moved onto a friend's couch for way too long to save! I am bad with money and had been volunteering abroad/travelling a bit before my flight to Canada so had spend quite a bit of my savings. Most people I met in the hostel had been there for a while and had jobs/were saving to move out. I'm sure you will met lots of people there for potential roommates. I have stayed in hostels a lot and find it hard to met new people but still manage to socialise so am sure you will be fine . Also Craigslist and Kijiji are great for looking for rooms for rent and also jobs and local events.

I really want to stay in Canada after my visa expires, wish I'd made up my mind sooner but such is life I guess! I'd advice you to reapply as soon as possible for yr 2 if you have any interested as it takes a while to apply for Canada, or get things ready if there is a possibility just in case.

So glad I have seen this thread. Hopefully I can work in Canada or the US for a few months next year inbetween my second and third year.

Did anyone order the brochure off their website? It says it's from 2011, so I am not sure if the info is relevant or not?

Look forward to doing this, hopefully.

If you're thinking about going to North America just for the summer then I'd recommend you to go to the US. The BUNAC Work America program is only for students and recent grads for the summer (and it's the only visa of its kind, if you want to work in America this is basically the easiest and only way unless you marry an American or get transferred for work), while the Canadian scheme is for anyone 18-30 and allows you to work for a year. Using a Canadian visa (which you can only have twice) for just a few months seems a bit of a waste if you ask me! I believe there is more seasonal work available in the USA too, so it'll be easier to find a job there too.

By the way, you apply direct to the Canadian High Commission for the Canadian working holiday visa, so you don't have to use BUNAC to do this scheme.

Flying out to Vancouver on July 20th for a year