Immigration Tips

Ms. Veena C Karthik, Senior Associate of VAK Associates, the Canadian and U.S Immigration firm in Canada, deals with FAQ on live in care givers under the finalized Regulations of Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

What is the Live-in Caregiver Category?
Under the Regulations of Immigration & Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the Live-in Caregiver Category is a category of foreign workers in Canada who may become eligible for applying for permanent residency provided they meet with the requirements prescribed under this category.

Can an Application for Permanent Residence be made directly under Live-in Caregiver Category from a country abroad?
No. As the first step, a foreign national who seeks to enter Canada as a Live-in Caregiver must make an application for a work permit in accordance with the rules and regulations for work permits, enter Canada and work for a specific period of time before being eligible to apply for permanent residence.

What are the main requirements for a work permit to be issued for the Live-in Caregivers?
The main requirements are as follows: 1)he/she should have successfully completed a course of study that is equivalent to the successful completion of secondary school in Canada and have the training or experience in a field or occupation related to the employment for which the work permit is sought, namely: a) Successful completion of six months of full time training in a classroom setting, b) Successful completion of one year of full-time paid employment, including at least six months of continuous employment with one employer, in a related occupation within the three years immediately preceding the day on which the application for a work permit is submitted, 3)he/she must have the ability of speak, read and listen to English or French at a level sufficient to communicate effectively in an unsupervised setting and 4)he/she must have an employment contract with their future employer.

When is a foreign national working as Live-in Caregiver on a Work Permit eligible to apply for permanent residence?

The foreign national who has been working as a Live-in Caregiver becomes eligible when he/she has been working in Canada for a cumulative period of two years within the three years following their entry. The foreign national must complete at least two years of employment as a live-in caregiver to apply for permanent residence in Canada. He/She must have completed these two years of employment within three years of their arrival in Canada. The two-year requirement does not include any extended time away from Canada for example travel outside Canada on vacation etc.