Caregiver Program
We are often asked “how can I immigrate to Canada as a caregiver and what skills do I need to qualify for Canadian immigration as a caregiver?”
Bellissimo Immigration Law Group PC receives many inquiries about the caregiver program, from both potential employers and foreign workers alike. It is a well-known fact that it is hard to find qualified workers to care for some of the most precious people in our lives: our children and our elders.
The caregiver program has significantly changed in the last decade, from the Live-in Caregiver program to a few other pilots, including the changes to the legislation in 2014 and ending with the most significant amendments implemented in June 2019. There have been a series of improvements, along the way, including no longer requiring mandatory residence in the employer’s home as was previously the requirement. This was related to the fact that the caregiver must travel alone to Canada without the ability to have their families accompanying them to Canada.
It was not rare that after a separation of at least three years, many families were broken, never to be together again. Or in many cases, after the caregiver went through the program, sacrificed years, the application was refused because one of the family members was inadmissible, medically or criminally. Under the current legislation, there are two programs for caregivers:
- Home Child Care Provider and
- Home Support Worker
The changes to the program are significant for all caregiver applicants and we will mention a few:
- The caregiver applies for permanent residence from the very beginning and their family will be included in their application;
- They will not be restricted to working for a specific employer, thus trying to eliminate abuse and exploitation of the caregivers by their employers;
- The employer will not need to submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application to Service Canada (ESDC), thus making the job offer more “user-friendly” to the employers in dire need of caregivers;
- When the work permit as a caregiver is approved, the whole family (qualifying dependents) can accompany them to Canada with immigration status of their own;
Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) established a cap of 2750 visas per year for each of the two categories for a total of 5500 Canadian immigration caregiver visas annually. This year, the cap for the first category (Home Child Care Provider) was reached by the middle of January 2022. The second category of caregivers (Home Support Workers) is still open. The requirements to apply are similar to the requirements for permanent residence and work permits:
- The application made is for both a work permit and permanent residence, submitted at the same time to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC);
- The applicant must meet the requirements for a work permit in Canada, meaning mainly that they have experience as caregivers in one of the two streams (National Occupational Classification – NOC CODES 4411 or 4412)
- The work permit issued by IRCC to the applicant is an “occupation-restricted” open work permit, meaning the caregiver can work for any employer, but only as a caregiver, no other occupation;
- The applicant must receive a genuine offer of employment from the employer (no LMIA required);
- the employment will have to be full-time (at least 30 hours /week),
- paid work, with regular vacation time and at minimum the hourly rate established by IRCC for the occupation;
- the employment offer must be from a Canadian employer outside of Quebec;
- Language level requirement: the applicant must pass the General International English Language Testing System (IELTS) that is managed by the British Council (cost is approximately USD 250) or Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) language test (English or French) and score a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in each skill: writing, reading, listening and speaking;
- Education requirement: the applicant must have had completed a post-secondary program / credential of at least one year. If the degree or diploma was obtained abroad (outside of Canada), the applicant must obtain first the Educational Credential Assessment report, from an organization recognized by the IRCC. The report will show the equivalency of their credential compared to a Canadian credential;
- Again, the National Occupational Classification (NOC) used for the two streams of caregivers are codes 4411 or 4412;
- Last, but not least, the whole family that submits the application must be admissible to Canada. IRCC will conduct a background check for every family member of 18 years or older. The whole family will have also to pass a medical test. A few reasons for inadmissibility might include:
- Security reasons;
- Human rights violations;
- Criminality including driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, use or sale of drugs;
- Misrepresentation;
- Previous Removal Order from Canada;
- Financial reasons – meaning you and your family are not able to support yourselves;
- Medical reasons;
- If previously been to Canada and not complied with the conditions (example – one overstayed his/her status, studied or worked without a permit, etc.)
IRCC will review the permanent residence and work permit applications and, if the applicant and family meet the eligibility criteria, they will issue an open work permit for one of the two NOC codes, as stated above.
Processing times for Canadian caregiver applications take approximately 12 months or longer, for a successful foreign worker to receive a work permit. Therefore, employers who want to hire caregivers from abroad, must plan ahead, as this might take some time.
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What Our Clients Are Saying
I recently had the pleasure of working with Bellissimo Law Group to resolve a misrepresentation issue on my permanent residency application, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. From the very beginning, their team was incredibly responsive and attentive, making sure I was informed and comfortable with every step of the process.
Their expertise and dedication were evident throughout my case. They meticulously reviewed all the details, provided clear and professional advice, and guided me through the complex legal landscape with ease. Their support was unwavering, and they always made themselves available to answer any questions or concerns I had.
Thanks to Bellissimo Law Group, my permanent residency application was successfully resolved, and I am now a proud resident of Canada. If you are looking for a law firm that truly cares about their clients and delivers outstanding results, look no further than Bellissimo Law Group.
I highly recommended Bellissimo Law Group for both legal and the process of application for immigration. The team handled my 2 cases brilliantly. They are very knowledgeable and the work and service are outstanding and very professionally done. Viola Gniadek, Christopher Colette and Punya Bagga handled my first case for my nephews and Michelle Boeriu on the second case for my brother. These two cases have been approved. Thank you with all my heart for the job well done. I really appreciate your valuable work and services. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the team and Belllissimo Law Group.
I scheduled a consultation with Bellissimo Immigration Law Group and was incredibly pleased with how helpful they were. Not one, but two lawyers were on the call to advise me, and they took the time to look into all possible immigration options for me and my family. I had done a lot of research prior to speaking with them, but that consultation made me realize how difficult the process would be without a law firm that keeps up with the frequent policy changes. They offered invaluable advice and I will definitely hire them to create my profile when I have everything together.
Lijing was very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions in great detail. I highly recommend Bellissimo for immigration issues!
Thank you Belissimo Law Group for helping my husband and I navigate through his PR application. It’s difficult to know who to trust, especially with matters as sensitive and complex as immigration but I am so happy that I made the choice and chose BLG. They not only have an incredible comprehension of immigration law but also a great deal of compassion and consideration for their clients. I truly enjoyed working with them and I feel grateful that there are people out there working hard to make a positive impact on someone else’s life like they did with mine. Thank you again BLG, I would recommend your services to anyone in the same or similar situations!
On a side note, for people out there who are thinking about hiring an immigration consultant, please talk to a law firm first. Some consultants charge the same or more for their services without needing to have a good comprehension of immigration laws.
I highly recommend Bellissimo Law Group for their exceptional expertise and dedication to immigration law. Their team demonstrates a deep understanding of complex legal matters and provides thorough, personalized guidance throughout the entire process. They are professional, responsive, and committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for their clients. Especially, thanks to Lijing and Shuai for assisting us on our case to achieve great outcome.
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Exceptional Legal Support from Bellissimo Law Group – Highly Recommended!
It has been a pleasure working with Bellissimo Law Group. During the challenging times of COVID, I was searching for a trusted lawyer to handle my case but had difficulty finding the right support. That changed when I reached out to Bellissimo Law Group.
From the very beginning, they understood my case and provided expert guidance. My first application involved LMIA, work permits, and extensions, all of which they handled with professionalism and efficiency. With their support, I was able to navigate multiple legal processes successfully, ultimately obtaining my permanent residency in Canada.
Despite delays caused by longer processing times during COVID, the team remained supportive throughout. A special mention to Ms. Lijing Cao and her associates, who managed my applications from start to finish and played a crucial role in securing my permanent status.
I highly recommend Bellissimo Law Group to anyone seeking reliable, professional, and dedicated legal assistance!
I cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible support and expertise provided by Mr Mario and Keely for my dad’s medical inadmissibility case. I retained their law firm after receiving the PFL . From the very beginning, they guided us through the complexities of the immigration process with professionalism, care, and honesty. They not only helped us navigate legal challenges but also provided advice that quite literally saved my dad’s life. They prepared a strong mitigation plan for my dad’s case that worked in our favour. I was particularly impressed by their quick response time and willingness to address any concerns promptly. What sets them apart is their genuine compassion and dedication—they truly care about their clients and go above and beyond to make a difference. I would definitely recommend them to anyone with their immigration issues especially for medical inadmissibility.
We would like to thank all the people at Bellissimo Law group for their hardwork and help with our PR file. Mario is professional and the best in providing legal advise.
Special mention to Keely who was working on our file since day 1 and went out of the way to ensure we get our permanent residency. She was empathetic and never missed a single thing in our case.
We would recommend this firm to all people who want legal professional advise.
