Jun 19, 2019 – Canada’s two new pilots for caregiver immigration opened for applications on Tuesday June 18, 2019, the federal government has announced.
The Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots both offer a direct pathway to permanent residence, and allow applicants to bring family members with them to Canada.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says each new pilot has a maximum of 2,750 principal applicants, for a total of 5,500 principal applicants per year, plus their immediate family.
Candidates are only eligible for an initial occupation-specific work permit if they have a Canada job offer in hand and provided they meet standard criteria for economic immigration programs.
Once they have accumulated two years of work experience, the pathway to permanent residence is guaranteed.
Meanwhile, the federal government has also announced a new window of opportunity through the Interim Pathway for Caregivers. It will re-open on July 8, 2019 and accept applications for 3 months.
The short-term pathway is aimed at caregivers who came to Canada as temporary foreign workers since 2014 but were unable to qualify for permanent residence through an existing program.
Read More
Canada To Overhaul Foreign Caregiver System With Two New Pilot Programs
Do I Qualify for Canada’s New Interim Pathway for Caregivers?
Important Features of Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots
- Occupation-specific work permits instead of employer-specific work permits, to allow candidates to change jobs.
- Open work permits and/or study permits for immediate family members.
- Guaranteed permanent residence. Once two years of work experience is accumulated, candidates will be able to become permanent residents quickly.
“Canada is caring for our caregivers,” said Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen.
“We made a commitment to improve the lives of caregivers and their families who come from around the world to care for our loved ones and with these new pilots, we are doing exactly that.”
Initial applications to the new pilots have a target processing time of 12 months. Applications for permanent residence after accumulating two years of experience have a target processing time of six months.
The Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots replace the Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots, as of June 18, 2019.
Caregivers who were working towards applying to expiring pilots can now apply through either of the new pilots.
Those who applied through the old system before June 18 will have their applications processed through to a final decision.
With the move to occupation-specific work permits, employers no longer need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before hiring a caregiver from overseas.
Requirements: Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots
- Job offer
- CLB 5 language level
- 1 year of Canadian post-secondary education or foreign equivalent
- Admissibility
Applying From Outside Canada
Step 1: Get a Work Permit
- Submit applications for permanent residence and work or study permit(s) for yourself and your family.
- Get an occupation-specific work permit to obtain the work experience you need for permanent residence.
- Get work or study permits for your spouse or common-law partner and children to come with you.
Step 2. Permanent Residence Finalized
Once two years of work experience is completed, submit proof to IRCC to get permanent residence.
Applying From In Canada
Candidates who already have work experience as an in-home caregiver in Canada can choose one of two options:
1) Use the 2-step process outlined above, then complete two years of experience to get permanent residence.
2) Keep working in Canada with current work permit and apply for permanent residence once 2 years of work experience are complete, provided general requirements are met.
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.
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