Caregiver Program
Caregiver Program
Have you ever had a babysitter or gone to your grandparents’ house while your parents went to work? In a thriving society where people are always on-the-go, I’m sure we’ve all experienced being looked after by someone who weren’t apart of our immediate family. Looking back, I’m sure we can all agree that we were quite a handful at times. Caring for others is easier said than done. There is a lot of patience, commitment, love, and knowledge involved in being a good caretaker.
Even though we all recognize the hardships of this profession, our society has failed to promote this in a positive way, leaving us with fewer available caregivers than we need. This is why the government of Canada has opened up new immigration opportunities to caregivers. Currently there are three programs available:
- Home Childcare Provider Pilot and Home Support Pilot
- Live-in Caregiver Program
- Temporary work for Caregivers
Caregiver Program
Firstly, the home childcare provider/home support pilot program is a five year program. Through this program, the caregiver and his/her family members can come to Canada and eventually receive their permanent residencies. To be eligible, you must meet English requirements, have a secondary school diploma, as well as work experience either inside or outside of Canada. You can check your work experience situation by going here:
You will also need to have received a job offer to get the open work permit. In addition, because this is an opportunity only for caregivers, your open work permit will be limited to this occupation. Once you gain 2 years of work experience, you are eligible to become a permanent resident of Canada!
Secondly, the live-in caregiver program is just as the name states, the caregiver will live with their employer as they provide their services. This program is beneficial for elderlies who need extra assistance at home. However, this program has been closed to new applicants. You can only use this program if you 1) Have a valid work permit and 2) have an LMIA. Traveling across the world to live and work for a complete stranger can be very scary. If you qualify for the live-in caregiver program, make sure your employer offers you reasonable tasks, good working conditions, vacation days, good accommodation, etc. all written in a contract. If you want more specifics, please go here.
Caregiver Program
Thirdly, temporary work for caregivers. If for some reason, you are not eligible to apply for permanent residence, you can still apply for temporary work. This application is called The Temporary Foreign Worker Program. This application will cost $1,000 CAD because an LMIA will be required. This of course, will be a full-time job and you will need to be proficient in one of Canada’s official languages (English and French). Even though it is a temporary worker program, you will still be limited to two types of occupations as a caregiver. You will have to be either a caregiver for children or for people who need high medical attention.
Now, if have a temporary work permit that is going to expire soon and you wish to stay in Canada longer, you can apply for a work permit extension. This application will cost $155 CAD with a processing time of approximately 89 days. Be aware that if you make any changes such as get a new employer, received a salary raise, or have new job tasks added, you will also need to apply to update your work permit.
Overall, as a caregiver, you have a few more opportunities than other foreign nationals in becoming a permanent residence of Canada. However, always make sure to check the CIC website before you apply because the Government of Canada is always updating or changing program details as well as closing and opening new programs.
If you have any questions or require assistance, get in touch with one of our licensed immigration consultants. We are waiting for your application!
Regards,
International Experience Club Ltd.
