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NEW CAREGIVER PROGRAM IS ONLY OPEN FROM MARCH 4, 2019, TO JUNE 4, 2019

Immigration Newsweek

By Atty. Henry Moyal

Canada Immigration has just announced two new caregiver programs that will provide a pathway to permanent residence and will replace the current Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs programs.

The first program is called the Interim Pathway for Caregivers, which is only open from March 4, 2019, until June 4, 2019.

This program is also a dedicated pathway to permanent residence for qualifying in-home caregivers.

To qualify you must:

• have a valid work permit, or
• have applied to extend your work permit and be waiting on a decision, or
• have applied to restore your status as a worker

Your must have work experience in Canada for at least one year AFTER November 30, 2014 must as a:

• home child care provider
• home support worker, or
• combination of the two

You need to take an English language test and score at least CLB 5.

You must have a Canadian high school diploma or a non-Canadian educational diploma, certificate or credential that’s equal to a Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma.

You are NOT eligible if:

• your application to extend your work permit is refused
• your application to restore your status as a worker is refused
• your current work permit is in the Live-in Caregiver Program, or
• you’re applying to extend your work permit or restore your status and your most recent work permit was under the Live-in Caregiver Program

The second program is a welcome change to the long standing history of live in caregiver programs that will now allow:

1. Workers to change jobs freely and caregivers will now receive occupation-specific work permits ( not employer specific work permits).
2. Allow spouses and children to come to Canada together as the same time as the worker

Under the new program, applicants will be assessed for permanent residence criteria before they begin working in Canada. Once the caregiver has their work permit and 2 years of work experience, they will have access to a direct pathway to become a permanent resident. The specific criteria and implementation date have not yet been published.

Attorney Henry Moyal is a certified and licensed immigration lawyer in Toronto, Ontario.
The above article is general advice only and is not intended to act as a legal document.
Send questions to Attorney Moyal by email canada@moyal.com or call 416 733 3193