Canadian citizen, unused WHV

[romar]

I got a WHV for France valid from April 2024 till April 2025. My trip was postponed and I never used it, never once crossed the border into France. My legal residence is in Montreal, Canada and the visa was issued in the French Consulate of Montreal.

Is there a way to renovate it without losing the 2 years I am eligible for as a Canadian citizen?
Is there a way to renovate it without going going back to Montreal ? (currently traveling)

Is there anyone who has been in this situation?
I am not sure what to do next to avoid applying for it all over again and losing 1 year of the visa!

Any advice, help is very much appreciated!
Thanks!

[Jackson]

Hello Romar. Unfortunately the one year of WHV cannot be recuperated, even if you never entered France. For your new WHV application, you must apply from your country of residence (which I assume is Canada). You cannot apply from a country where you are simply a visitor or a tourist. Here are the application instructions Applying for a Working Holiday Visa to France (for Canadians)

At the end of your year on a WHV, it is possible (but not guaranteed) that you can still get a second year by applying for the APS, since the WHV and APS are issued by independent authorities How to extend your Working Holiday in France (Canadians only)

[romar]

Hello Romar. Unfortunately the one year of WHV cannot be recuperated, even if you never entered France. For your new WHV application, you must apply from your country of residence (which I assume is Canada). You cannot apply from a country where you are simply a visitor or a tourist. Here are the application instructions Applying for a Working Holiday Visa to France (for Canadians)

At the end of your year on a WHV, it is possible (but not guaranteed) that you can still get a second year by applying for the APS, since the WHV and APS are issued by independent authorities How to extend your Working Holiday in France (Canadians only)

Hi Jackson,
Thanks for replying!

Do you think I can use the same exact motivation letter for the second application? I feel like they wouldn't notice because it would most likely be a different person processing the application... but i'm not sure. Also, my motivation for getting the visa is the same as last time.

[Jackson]

Hi Jackson,
Thanks for replying!

Do you think I can use the same exact motivation letter for the second application? I feel like they wouldn't notice because it would most likely be a different person processing the application... but i'm not sure. Also, my motivation for getting the visa is the same as last time.

You may want to add a sentence or two just to explain why you have a unused WHV. but otherwise, as long as everything in your letter remains valid and truthful, there's no reason you have to change things just for the sake of changing things.

[romar]

Hi Jackson, Thank you
That makes sense and does seem like the best thing to do.

If you don't mind! I have 2 other questions...

I seem to have a criminal check done back in Jan 24, I can't remember if I actually used it for the first app. Did this requirement change since then?

Also I don't seem to have my attestation de RAMQ anymore... and I've been wondering if the consulate actually kept the original letter during my first application.. I called RAMQ and they will send me the old attestation again but they are insisiting I also need a new letter from them with the new travel dates, What does the French Consulate actually need for my second application? Just the same old letter with the dates of my first application? or a new letter with new dates as well? I am confused ! n don't want to do more procedures than actually necessary!

[Jackson]

Hi Jackson, Thank you
That makes sense and does seem like the best thing to do.

If you don't mind! I have 2 other questions...

I seem to have a criminal check done back in Jan 24, I can't remember if I actually used it for the first app. Did this requirement change since then?

Also I don't seem to have my attestation de RAMQ anymore... and I've been wondering if the consulate actually kept the original letter during my first application.. I called RAMQ and they will send me the old attestation again but they are insisiting I also need a new letter from them with the new travel dates, What does the French Consulate actually need for my second application? Just the same old letter with the dates of my first application? or a new letter with new dates as well? I am confused ! n don't want to do more procedures than actually necessary!

Canadians are exempt from the police check and medical check requirements, as outlined in the official franco-canadian accord.

As for RAMQ, I don't know exactly what the consulate requires, but it would be logical that they need to travel dates to be accurate. And RAMQ is telling you the same thing.

[romar]

Thanks,

sure it makes sense for the RAMQ letter but the reason I'm asking is that one your threads (How to extend your Working Holiday in France (Canadians only))

states:


¨If you are a resident of Quebec and have already exhausted your allowed absence within the last 7 years, then you can just provide your previous RAMQ attestation as proof.¨


Its under Option 1 applying with VFS in Canada (which is what i'm doing!)



I also saw the same in this thread https://pvtistes.net/obtenir-attestation-de-la-ramq/

[Jackson]

Thanks,

sure it makes sense for the RAMQ letter but the reason I'm asking is that one your threads (How to extend your Working Holiday in France (Canadians only))

states:


¨If you are a resident of Quebec and have already exhausted your allowed absence within the last 7 years, then you can just provide your previous RAMQ attestation as proof.¨


Its under Option 1 applying with VFS in Canada (which is what i'm doing!)



I also saw the same in this thread https://pvtistes.net/obtenir-attestation-de-la-ramq/

Right, but the guidance in that article is intended for people who actually were truly absent from Quebec for their year septennal. It sounds like you got the attestation but never actually left Quebec for France, so I'm not sure if you've technically exhausted your RAMQ allowance or not.