Visa Information - Updated May 18, 2010
Travelling to the United States
Basically, an Irish passport-holder travelling to the US ill need the following:
1) In order to enter the US by air, you should first complete the online ESTA visa waiver application:
2) https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html?_flowExecutionKey=_c7E58056E-1E29-4783-F37B-6C2CD016F092_kA0E2FE79-A5A8-BD37-8591-933020BB0535 .
If you are entering by road, this isn't strictly necessary, but it's still no harm to complete it before travelling. You definitely need to bring your passport, and you should also have with you details of where you will be staying, and evidence that you have funds to support yourself while in the US.
2) In order to return to Canada, you will need to have your work visa (I assume it's a Working Holiday visa?) and you should also bring documents showing details about where you are staying and where you are working in Canada (rental agreement, letter from employer).
It's a good idea to verify these re-entry requirements with the Canada Border Services Agency before travelling, as they are the ones enforcing the regulations and will have the latest information about any changes to the requirements:
http://cbsa.gc.ca/contact/menu-eng.html
Work / Holiday Visa Extensions
The processing of applications is entirely a matter for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, so there isn't really anything the Embassy of Ireland can do to intervene for example in cases where people are pressed for time.
If your Working Holiday Authorisation is expiring shortly but you would like to continue living and working in Canada, there are a number of options:
1. Temporary Work Permit: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/index.asp
To obtain a temporary work permit, you must first have a job offer, and your prospective employer must have a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) showing that they have been unable to find a Canadian applicant to take the job. Temporary Work Permits normally take at least 6 weeks to process from the time the application is received. If you can submit your application complete with LMO and job offer before your current visa expires, you can apply directly to Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Otherwise, you will have to return to Ireland and make your application through the Canadian High Commission in London. Temporary Work Permits are normally for a fixed duration and restrict you to working for a single named employer.
2. Canadian Experience Class: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/cec/index.asp
If you have at least 2 years of work experience in Canada, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class scheme. The two years do not have to be consecutive, but must have been within the 3 years prior to submitting your application. You may also be eligible if you graduated from college in Canada and also have one year of Canadian work experience. Applications under this scheme are normally processed quite quickly, within just a few months.
3. Skilled Worker Programme: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/index.asp
Applications under the Skilled Worker programme take the longest time to process, over two years in many cases, and you must leave Canada if your current visa expires before your Skilled Worker permit is granted. However, if successful you will become a permanent resident. In order to qualify for this programme you must meet certain educational requirements and have adequate work experience.
4. Working Holiday Authorisation: http://canada.usit.ie/nonstudent_programme_2009/
If you are in Canada on the Student Working Holiday programme, you may apply for the non-student Working Holiday programme which will allow you to spend another year living and working in Canada. However, you must return to Ireland for at least 12 months between your two Working Holiday visits.
