What is the IEC program?
IEC is a program that is designed to enable young people from participating countries to work in Canada for a certain time period. It provides an excellent opportunity for the young to travel to Canada to live and work there temporarily. For people who are interested in being a resident of Canada, this can be a first step towards attaining a PR in Canada. One of the best features of the IEC program is that a favored candidate does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment in order to secure a Canadian work permit.Selection of Candidates:
Candidates are chosen through three separate IEC programs:- Working Holiday
- Young Professionals
- International Co-op
Working Holiday:
Under this program, an open work permit is issued to the successful candidates. The advantage of an open work permit is that individuals get a flexible working environment. They are awarded the freedom to change employers and locations while they are living in Canada for some valid duration. Working Holiday work permit is a good option for those who:- Do not possess a job offer from a Canadian employer;
- want to work for multiple employers;
- want the flexibility to work in more than one location;
- wish to earn money while traveling.
Young Professionals:
Participants in this program can receive an employer-specific work permit if their application is approved. By participating in this program, successful candidates can gain work experience by working with a Canadian employer. Through the employer-specific work permit, a candidate is permitted to work for only one employer. Also, his freedom to choose different work locations is restricted. He cannot work in the location that is not listed on his permit. This means that there is no flexibility to change the employer and work location during their entire stay in Canada.Who can opt for the Young Professionals program?
- Those who accept a job offer from a Canadian employer which can help them in their personal development;
- Those who intend to work for the same employer and in the same location while they are earning in Canada.
International Co-op Internship:
International Co-op Internship program is specifically designed for those candidates who are citizens of participating countries and are listed with a post-secondary institution of their country. Through this program, the selected candidates are provided with a brilliant opportunity to complete their internship in Canada by working for Canadian employers. Applicants who are selected through this program receive an employer-specific work permit. According to this work permit, they must work for the same employer and in the same location as specified on the permit. This program is suitable for those who: – are enrolled at a post-secondary academy; – have a job or internship offer in Canada; – need an internship as a quintessential requirement in their study program; – are willing to work for the same employer for their complete stay period in Canada. The applicants are supposed to apply for the internship or work placement that is compatible with their specialized field of study. Additionally, it is important to note that Labour codes will specify if the internship is eligible for being paid or not.Opportunity after IEC:
As mentioned above in the post that IEC may be the first step towards attaining a permanent residency in Canada. It can be achieved through famous Canada’s Express Entry system. Express Entry System: It is a program that is designed for people who want to immigrate to Canada and fulfill their wish of becoming a Permanent Resident. These are the following three immigration programs which fall under the ambit of the Express Entry system:- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
