Everything You Need to Know About Canada’s Caregiver Programs
Canada’s Live-In Caregiver Pilots Explained
Whether you are an experienced caregiver or looking to break into the industry, Canada’s live-in caregiver programs offer an immigration pathway for newcomers looking to live and work as caregivers in Canada. But what exactly are these programs and how do you know if you are eligible?
Keep reading to learn more.
What Are Canada’s Caregivers Programs?
Canada’s caregiver programs offer work permits and permanent residency to hopeful newcomers seeking employment as live-in caregivers in Canada.
Under the terms of these programs, a live-in caregiver is defined as someone who is living in a private residence where they are providing caregiver services.
There have been several different caregiver programs in place in the past that have been closed and replaced with newer versions, the most recent being:
The Live-In Caregiver Program
The Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) was a popular program that offered permanent residency pathways for temporary foreign workers in Canada. The program enabled Canadians to recruit foreign nationals to work as live-in childcare or home support workers for seniors or people with disabilities.
As of June 2019, this program is no longer open to new applicants, however, you can still apply for permanent residence through the LCP if you have at least 2 years of work experience through the program and:
- You are working in Canada with an LCP work permit;
- You were approved for your first LCP work permit based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment submitted to Employment and Social Development Canada on or before November 30, 2014.
If you have missed the deadline for new applicants for the LCP, you may qualify for permanent residence through a different caregiver option listed below.
Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot
The purpose of the Home Child Care Provider Pilot program is to bring live-in childcare providers to Canada on temporary work permits and allow them the opportunity to apply for permanent residence after obtaining two years of work experience.
Similar to the Home Child Care Provider Pilot, the Home Support Worker Pilot is designed to bring home support workers to Canada on temporary work permits and enable them to apply for permanent residence after obtaining two years of work experience.
With both pilots, the work permits you will obtain:
- Are occupation-restricted, meaning you must work in a specific occupation;
- Do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA);
- Allow you to obtain relevant work experience required for permanent residence.
Unlike the LCP, the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots offer applicants the ability to change employers and have spouses and/or children accompany them to Canada and be eligible to apply for open work permits and/or study permits.
Eligibility Requirements
If you are interested in applying for one of these two pilots, keep in mind that you must meet the following criteria:
- Have a job offer in Canada at the time of application;
- Meet certain language requirements (proficiency in French or English);
- Have one year of Canadian post-secondary education or foreign equivalent.
You also must have a certain amount of qualifying work experience. Qualifying work experience includes being a home childcare provider or home support worker. It does not include being a foster parent or a housekeeper.
How to Apply
For those who are interested in applying for one of the programs mentioned above – either the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or the Home Support Worker Pilot – here is what the process typically looks like:
- Submit your work permit application.
- If you meet the eligibility requirements, a work permit will be granted, allowing you to work on a temporary basis in Canada.
- You will be able to work only as a caregiver for any employer you choose.
- After obtaining 24 months (two years) of work experience, you will be able to apply for and qualify for permanent residence (proof of work experience must be sent with your application).
- After applying for permanent residence, Immigration and Citizenship Canada will make a final decision regarding your application.
The processing time for these two pilot programs is around 12 months for work permit applications. After obtaining the mandatory two years of work experience, the processing time for your permanent residence application is approximately 6 months.
Also keep in mind that both programs accept only limited number of applicants – around 2,750 for each program.
Can I Study While Living and Working as a Caregiver in Canada?
If you only have your temporary work permit, then you will only be able to study in Canada if your course or program lasts 6 months or less.
If you wish to take a program longer than this, you will have to obtain a study permit.
However, if you have obtained permanent residency, you have the right to live, work or study anywhere in Canada, while also benefiting from:
- Most of the social benefits that all Canadian citizens receive such as health care;
- The ability to apply for Canadian citizenship;
- Protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom.
For those who are looking to begin a new life in Canada working as a live-in caregiver and are considering one of the two open pilots, it is highly advisable that you seek guidance from an immigration lawyer.
An immigration lawyer will help you with your application, including gathering and submitting the correct documents, facilitating the approval process, and communicating with immigration officials on your behalf. Having this kind of guidance will help maximize your application’s chances of success, so you can focus on starting your new life and career in Canada.
Top Immigration Application Mistakes That Can Result in Rejection
How to Ensure Your Canadian Immigration Application is Successful
For anybody looking to make Canada their new home, having an immigration application rejected or returned can result in an incredible amount of disappointment and distress for applicants and their families.
And while Canada offers numerous immigration pathways for newcomers, navigating the processes in place can sometimes be challenging if you aren’t aware of the correct way to submit an application.
To help you better understand the immigration process, we’ve broken down the most common mistakes that can lead to the rejection of an application and undue disappointment.
Common Mistakes That Can Impact the Success of Your Immigration Application
Not Signing the Application Form
This is one of the simplest, yet most common, mistakes made on immigration applications that can, fortunately, be very easily prevented.
The reason this mistake often occurs is that many immigration forms require a signature in multiple places, making it easy to miss one. Failing to sign your form in all of the correct places means your file will be returned, so it’s important to triple-check all your application forms to make sure you have signed it in all the required places.
Paying the Incorrect Fee
Every Canadian immigration stream requires a different fee and method of payment, and when you are paying in a foreign currency, you have to take into consideration the Canadian exchange rate. As a result, this often leads to confusion and subsequently paying the incorrect amount. So, always be sure to double-check the required method of payment and the exchange rate.
Only Providing Documents Listed on the IRCC Checklist
It’s a common belief that the only documents you need to submit with your immigration forms are the ones listed on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) checklist, however, oftentimes more information is required for your application to be accepted.
For example, if you are in a common-law couple applying for partner sponsorship, you are required to provide affidavits or letters of support from friends and family verifying that you meet the relevant requirements, including living with your partner for at least 12 consecutive months in a marriage-like relationship.
Even married couples applying for spousal partnership will need to prove that they are in a genuine relationship by providing evidence such as:
- Photos
- Marriage certificate
- Correspondence
- Wedding invitations
Not Providing Supplemental Forms (If Coming from Certain Countries)
Residents or citizens of some countries are often be required to fill out additional forms or provide supplemental information.
Be sure to consult with an immigration lawyer to determine if there are supplemental forms required for your immigration application to prevent having your application sent back to you and delaying the immigration process.
Misrepresentation
When evaluating your application, IRCC relies on the information you have provided to them, so it is critical that all the information in your application is 100 percent truthful.
Because if you are not truthful in your application or if you withhold relevant information that is material to the decision being made, not only will your application be rejected, but you will also face possible exclusion from Canada for 5 years or more.
Even innocent errors can be considered a misrepresentation, so it’s important to thoroughly review all information you have provided to make sure there are no mistakes.
Missing Information
If you fail to provide any information that’s asked from you when filling out an application, this can be detrimental to your application. If you are unable to provide certain information, it is crucial that you explain why the information is missing and when it will be provided. Otherwise, your application will be sent back to you.
Not Using Registered Mail or Courier System to Send Application
Quite often, mail gets lost without any notice or explanation, which means you’ll have no way of knowing if your application fails to arrive at its destination, leaving you uncertain regarding the status of your application.
To ensure your application reaches the appropriate destination, it is best to use registered mail or a courier service. This will allow you to track the status of the delivery of your application and receive a notification when it arrives.
Using an Unauthorized Representative
In order to give yourself the best chance of success, you may choose to hire an immigration lawyer to help with your immigration application. And if you do choose to pay someone to help you with your immigration case, the representative must be authorized by the Canadian federal government.
However, it’s important to know that there are many fraudulent companies unqualified to offer legal advice that market themselves as authorized representatives. Not only will these companies overcharge you and make false promises of a “guaranteed” visa, but they also take advantage of vulnerable, hopeful applicants, and often carry out identity theft, fraud, and theft of bank account funds or credit card information.
For this reason, we highly recommend that you only seek assistance from an experienced and reputable immigration lawyer that you can trust has your best interests in mind and will provide you with the proper information and guidance regarding your application.
How an Immigration Lawyer Can Prevent Such Mistakes
Hiring an experienced immigration lawyer to help you on your quest for permanent residency is highly recommended in any immigration case. An immigration lawyer will guide you through the immigration process, letting you know what materials you need to provide, facilitating the application approval process, and even communicating directly with immigration officials on your behalf.
Simply put, having an immigration lawyer by your side will help to maximize your chances of success at starting your new life in Canada in a timely manner.
Study Finds High Rates of Depression Among Older Refugees
Refugees More Likely to Experience Mental Illness Even Years After Arriving in Canada
While it’s well known the hardships that refugees face as they try to navigate their new lives in a foreign country, a recent study has revealed the full extent of the mental anguish older refugees continue to experience even years after settling in Canada.
According to the study carried out by the University of Toronto, refugees were found to be 70 per cent more likely to experience depression than natural-born Canadian citizens.
The study examined 29,670 Canadian refugees, non-refugee immigrants, and natural-born citizens aged between 45 and 85.
Among the refugees that were studied, half had been settled in Canada for more than four decades.
"The greater prevalence of depression among refugees -- half of whom arrived more than four decades ago -- underlines the importance of providing mental health resources for our refugee community both immediately after arrival, but also in the ensuing decades,” said the study.
The study also took into account age, sex, marital status, income, education, and health, and found that the disparity remained.
As for why refugees were found to have such a high instance of mental illness, the data was unable to pinpoint a specific cause. However, the study cites a lack of social support as one of the potential key factors, along with past traumas such as:
- Genocide
- Forced displacement
- Human trafficking
- Sexual assault
- Famine
- Family separation
"Our findings indicate that the refugee experience casts a long shadow across an individual's lifespan," said one of the study’s authors, Shen (Lamson) Lin.
The researchers also studied the prevalence of depression among immigrants who did not arrive as refugees, which was found to be 16.6 per cent. In comparison, 22 per cent of the refugees studied indicated that they experienced depression.
Meanwhile, for Canadian-born citizens, the prevalence of depression was measured at just 15.2 per cent.
The main conclusion the study drew from this was that post-migration challenges such as discrimination, language barriers, and unemployment are less likely to lead to depression than pre-migration trauma.
The study also referenced the support that privately sponsored refugees received compared to government-sponsored, stating that more social support for all refugees is a key component of minimizing levels of depression.
“This highlights the importance of investigating ways to promote powerful positive social relations among refugees and asylum seekers in their families, neighbourhoods and communities,” said study co-author Karen Kobayashi.
Quebec Aims to Solve Teacher Shortage by Recruiting Foreign Workers
Quebec Appeals to Immigrants to Help Fill Teaching Positions
In an effort to curb a teacher shortage and attract more educators to live and work in the province of Quebec, the province has launched a campaign aimed at recruiting foreign workers in the education field.
According to the Canadian Press, Quebec’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education officially launched a new online campaign aimed at attracting teachers from other Canadian provinces, along with other countries.
The campaign titled ‘1,216,791 Good Reasons to Become A Teacher,’ spoke directly to both Canadians and overseas candidates, and encouraged immigrants, students, teachers, and even adults who are not actively working as teachers to apply to work in Quebec by promoting Quebec’s “excellent” job market.
“I am pleased to launch this initiative to promote and provide information about teaching practices in Quebec. I am convinced that ‘Devenir enseignant‘ (Becoming a Teacher) will benefit a large number of people interested in the teaching profession, whether they are from Quebec or abroad,” said Quebec’s Minister of Education and Higher Education, Jean-François Roberge, in a press release.
“With all the opportunities that today’s employment environment offers, we must, therefore, do more to publicize all the advantages of the profession and attract new teachers. I am confident that this website, entirely devoted to teaching, will help us achieve that goal.”
The news of this campaign comes on the heels of reports of a serious teachers shortage in the province of Quebec. The reason for the shortage is not yet known, however, just weeks before the campaign’s launch, Roberge told the Canadian Press that tackling the shortage of teachers would be the Ministry’s most significant challenge in 2020, and that it would take a few years to resolve.
On its website, the Ministry encouraged individuals living outside of Canada that meet the following criteria to consider applying to immigrate to Quebec for the purpose of becoming a teacher in the province:
- You are contemplating your career path
- You are thinking about a career change
- You are a teacher living and working outside Canada willing to relocate to Quebec
According to information provided on the Ministry’s site, there are several internationally recognized programs in the following countries that will allow you to teach in Québec:
- Algeria
- Belgium
- Cameroon
- Colombia
- Egypt
- France
- Moldova
- Morocco
- Romania
- Tunisia
- United States
Candidates that have graduated from a university program in a subject taught in the Quebec school system will also be eligible to teach that subject in Quebec if they obtain a master’s degree.
Furthermore, graduates of vocational studies will also be eligible to teach Quebec vocational programs if they meet certain criteria.
Canada’s Federal Government Suspends Immigration Sponsorship Program
Changes to Be Made to Popular Immigration Program Following Suspension
For the foreseeable future, Canadians will no longer be able to sponsor parents and grandparents so they can immigrate to Canada, as the federal government has suspended a popular immigration sponsorship program.
According to the Canadian Press, the parents and grandparents sponsorship program which accepts applications once a year – typically in January – was recently postponed following a notice from new Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino.
Until its suspension, the program would admit around 20,000 people every year under the parent and grandparent category, and the processing time for an application was around two years.
Mendicino indicated that the decision to suspend the program was made to allow the government to revise its application intake process.
“These instructions will allow the department sufficient time to complete the development of a new application intake management process for the parents and grandparents sponsorship program, to be implemented in 2020,” Mendicino said in a written set of instructions from December that were just recently made public.
This isn’t the first time this has happened, as the application process had already been reworked several times over the past few years after the government had received criticism over alleged problems with the system.
For example, the original process of accepting applications on a first-come, first-serve basis was abandoned years back after people had been found to be hiring couriers to ensure their applications went to the top of the pile.
Instead, the government replaced this with a lottery system, which was again scrapped due to criticism, and replaced with an online program in 2019. The latest system would also experience issues, as all the spots were taken within just a few minutes.
After the most recent wave of criticism over the sponsorship program, the Liberal government vowed to review the system yet again, but were delayed due to the October 2019 federal election.
However, the recent suspension of the program would indicate the government is taking action in an effort to have the program re-opened at some point in 2020.
It’s unknown how long it will take to re-open the program. However, according to the Canadian Press, Mendicino will issue further instructions relating to the program’s intake management process by April 1, 2020, at the latest.