On Oct 31st, 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) announced changes to the former Live In Caregiver Program (“LCP”) that include:
End to the live-in requirement
The reformed program will no longer requires caregivers to live with their employees as the requirement traditionally placed caregivers in vulnerable situations such as worker abuse, poor working conditions , uncompensated overtime even until they achieve their permanent residence status
However, a live-in arrangement is still possible , providing that both the caregiver and employer mutually agree to. In this case, the Labor Market Impact Assessment(“LMIA”) must include an assessment of the living arrangement and the employer is prohibited from deducting room and board from the caregiver’s wages.
Two Pathways to Permanent Residency
- Caring for Children Pathway
- two years of full-time work experience in Canada as a home child care provider within the past four years;
- a minimum language requirement of “initial intermediate” by meeting Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in a designated third-party language test; and
- a Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least one year, or an equivalent foreign credential supported by an Educational Credential Assessment.
- Caring for People With High Medical Needs
- two years of full-time work experience in Canada providing in-home care or care in a health facility to the elderly or persons with disabilities or chronic disease as (ie. a registered nurse,a registered psychiatric nurse, a licensed practical nurse, a nurse aide, a patient service associate or a home support worker);
- demonstrating that they are licensed to practice in Canada, if applicable;
- a minimum language requirement of “intermediate” by meeting Canadian Language Benchmark 7 in a designated third-party language test, if applying as a registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse;
- a minimum language requirement of “initial intermediate” by meeting Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in a designated third-party language test, if applying in any other qualifying occupation; and
- a Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least one year, or an equivalent foreign credential supported by an Educational Credential Assessment.
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