Live-in caregivers are quickly becoming a very in-demand position as the Canadian population continues to age without a large enough labour market to meet their care needs. Live-in caregivers are professionals who are intended to reside with a Canadian employer and are able to care for individuals without supervision.

The Live-in Caregiver Program facilitates the entry of qualified caregivers into Canada when employers have not been able to find Canadians to fill these positions. Caregivers can apply for permanent residence in Canada after working for two years during their first four years after entry into Canada. As a result, a record number of live-in caregivers will be admitted as permanent residents of Canada in 2014.

The steps to becoming a live-in caregiver are as follows:

• Obtain a positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO) from an employer in Canada
• Obtain a written contract with your future employer, signed by you and the employer
• Have successfully completed the equivalent of a Canadian secondary school education
• Have at least six months’ training or at least one year of full-time paid work experience as a caregiver or in a related field or occupation (including six months with one employer) in the past three years
• Have good knowledge of English or French
• Obtain a work permit before you enter Canada

Despite the growing need for live-in care givers in Canada, there is currently an extremely large processing backlog facing weary applicants. Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Chris Alexander, however, announced aggressive new action to address the growing backlog and increasing processing times in the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP).

Wait times in the Live-in Caregiver Program have grown to levels that are unacceptable to caregivers,” said Alexander. “Our government has already slashed application backlogs for skilled workers and parents and grandparents. Now, we turn our attention to the LCP.”

Canada will admit 17,500 permanent residents through the Live-in Caregiver Program in 2014, almost double the number this year. This represents the highest number of LCP admissions in a single year since the program began in 1993.

Application backlogs and processing times have grown steadily in recent years. The number of caregivers completing their work obligations and becoming eligible for permanent residency has routinely outpaced the planned levels of admissions from the program.

Our highly knowledgeable team of immigration practitioners has been helping care givers from across the globe not only work in Canada but obtain their permanent status here.

When you contact us, we will discuss the merits of your unique case and go over any and all options for you. Once you have determined the best option that suits your needs, we will be determined to achieve the outcome you desire.

Akrami & Associates – helping you move forward.