Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced that certain Working Holiday Visa holders will be given one last chance to travel to Canada. These will be the visa holders whose travel was interrupted due to the pandemic. The Working Holiday Visa is only issued once. However, since the travel and border restrictions prevented these visa holders from traveling to Canada, the IRCC is making an exception.
Who Will be Eligible for a Working Holiday Visa Extension?
According to the IRCC’s website, Working Holiday Visa holders with letters of introduction (LOI) that are about to expire and those who are unable to travel due to the current pandemic will be eligible for an extension. They must meet the following requirements:
- Have an initial LOI issued between January 1, 2019, and April 30, 2020
- Have an expiry date before December 21, 2021, on your current LOI or
- Have an expired LOI
This policy will be valid till July 30. Applicants must apply for an extension on the IRCC’s website before December 31, 2021. The new policy will not apply to the applicants to the International Experience Canada (IEC).
Will the Applicants Require Medical Examination Results?
Only nationals of certain designated countries are required to provide a medical examination result. However, the IRCC will contact the applicants who need to retake medical examinations. You must confirm that you have agreed to retake the examination so that your file may be reopened to submit a new request for another medical exam. Once it is done, you will get an extension on your LOI.