There are two ways for caregivers who want to immigrate to Canada. There are two immigration schemes in place right now that are intended exclusively for caregivers.
A simple search of “caregivers near me” will show you the number of homes looking for who will work for them.
Caregiving is one of the fastest-growing industries in North America. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for caregivers will increase at an average rate of 6% from 2016 to 2026 and that the number of workers needed to meet this demand will rise even faster, reaching 2 million new hires by 2022.
With the aging population, the Canadian government has recognized the importance of providing financial support to seniors who require assistance with personal care. In order to qualify for such benefits, applicants must pass a rigorous application process that includes medical and non-medical criteria.
Canada has always been a country where immigrants from around the globe flock. The Canadian government welcomes immigrants who want to contribute to their economy and society. In fact, Canada is ranked number one in the world for its welcoming attitude towards immigrants.
There are many reasons why people choose to move to Canada. Some include better quality of life, low crime rate, high standard of living, sound healthcare system, and well-developed infrastructure.
Educational Requirements for Foreign Home Care Workers
There are a few different educational requirements that you should have in order to work as a home care worker in Canada. Firstly, you will need a high school diploma or equivalent.
Secondly, you will need to complete an accredited home health aide training program. And lastly, you will need to pass a criminal background check and have any required immunizations. If you have all of these things, then you should be eligible to apply for a home care job in the United States.
Canada’s Two Pilot Immigration Programs for Caregivers
Applications are being accepted for Canada’s two caregiver pilot programs. The Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilot programs will make it easier for foreign careers to get permanent residence in Canada and will eliminate the need for them to move their immediate families.
The Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilot programs, which have since expired and have been criticized for keeping some workers in abusive workplaces and separated from their families abroad, were replaced by the pilot programs when applications for them opened in 2019.
When those trial programs were launched in 2014, the Liberal government, which is now in power, deemed them to be “ineffective.”
The two new caregiver pathways’ processing timelines have been slow, to begin with. But in 2021, the government unveiled a fresh plan to deal with at least 6,000 caregiver applications before the year’s end.
The government claims that the prior adjustments made in 2014 were not fully appreciated because it received direct feedback from caregivers and interested parties.
Numerous caregivers started out helping families in Canada only to learn later that they wouldn’t be eligible for permanent residence under an established program.
In order to qualify for economic immigration programs, caregivers must have a job offer in Canada and meet other requirements. Only then will they be granted a work permit. Once employed, carers can start accumulating the two years of Canadian work experience necessary to submit an application for permanent residence.
Caregivers will gain from the following through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot:
1. Work permits that are occupation-specific rather than employer-specific to enable an immediate change of employment when necessary;
2. To cater to the caregiver’s home health, open work and/or study visas for the caregivers’ immediate relatives will be provided to facilitate family immigration to Canada,
3. A clear transition from temporary to permanent status, ensuring that caregivers can swiftly become permanent residents after completing the necessary work experience.
Caregivers in Canada: More details on changes
1. As of June 18, 2019, the Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs programs are no longer open for new applicants. Applications submitted by caregivers prior to this date will continue to be processed until a decision is made.
2. Caregivers who have been preparing to apply to the soon-to-expire pilot programs can now do so via either the Home Support Worker Pilot or the Home Child Care Provider Pilot.
3. On October 8, 2019, the Interim Pathway for Caregivers closed to new candidates. For caregivers who entered Canada as temporary foreign workers after 2014 but were unable to be approved for permanent residency under an existing program, this was a temporary pathway.
4. The two new pilot programs, Home Support Worker and Home Child Care Provider, will each accept no more than 2,750 principle candidates, for a combined 5,500 principal applicants and their immediate families per year.
5. The processing time for initial applications to the new pilots will be 12 months. After the caregiver provides evidence that they have met the work experience criterion, there will be a six-month processing standard that will be in effect for the application’s finalization.
6. Employers will no longer require a Labour Market Impact Assessment before hiring a caregiver from abroad thanks to the shift to occupation-specific work permits under the Home Child Care and Home Support Worker pilot programs.
Conclusion
When someone isn’t able to take care of themselves, family members or friends often step in to fill the gap. Caregiving can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be challenging. There are many things that caregivers should know to be successful, such as how to handle situations.
Becoming a great caregiver requires knowledge. You must have empathy and understanding. Additionally, caregivers should be willing to give their time and energy. Apply for caregiver job in Canada here.
3 comments
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