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Canadian Coalition
For In-Home Care
For more information on legislation & regulations governing in home care in Canada please visit the CCIHC.




OVERSEAS APPLICANTS

A: Government Criteria for the program

    Criteria for the Live-In Caregiver (LCP) Program are legislated by the federal government. Applicants are assessed by the Immigration department of the Canadian foreign mission overseas which will be processing their paperwork.

    • Age - minimum 18 yrs;
    • Education - minimum Canadian grade twelve equivalency;
    • Language Skills -Ability to read, speak and understand either English and/or French;
    • Training - minimum six months full time in classroom training in the field of child or community care in an institution of education recognized by the government, OR one year full time paid employment related to the caregiving job, completed within three years immediately prior to the day on which the caregiver applies for their work visa;
    • Ability to Function – Must be able to function independently in a home setting.

B. Heath Insurance

    Employers of foreign live-in caregivers are now responsible for paying for their caregiver's health insurance at no cost to the caregiver until he/she becomes eligible for provincial health coverage. Employers are not permitted to recoup these costs from live-in caregivers.

C: Facts/Conditions

    • Travel Costs : Employers of foreign live-in caregivers are required to pay the transportation costs for bringing their caregivers to Canada. In the instance where foreign caregivers are already in Canada, employers are responsible for paying to relocate them to the location of work (where caregiving will take place) at no cost to the caregiver.
    • Workplace Safety : Employers of foreign live-in caregivers are now required to enrol their caregivers in provincial workplace safety insurance (also known as worker’s compensation) or comparable insurance if the former is not available. This must be done at no cost to the caregiver. Employers are not permitted to recoup these costs from live-in caregivers.
    • Paid Vacations - two weeks per year at employer convenience after one year, or 4% of gross salary;
    • Statutory Holidays - nine paid stat holidays per year;
    • Employment Standards , including wages , room & board allowances, overtime pay, time off , paid vacation , stat holidays etc. are all provincially legislated.
    • Federal HRSDC offices processing an employers application to hire an LCP caregiver, have the ability to set the wage guidelines they deem to be fair and reasonable. In Ontario, a central HRSDC in Downsview, Ontario, and has set a minimum rate in the province of Ontario of $9.25 / hour, with time and a half ($13.88 / hr.) to be paid for all hours required over 44 hours / week.


D: After Validation is received:

    Work Visa - Your Canadian employer will complete the required forms to obtain validation / approval of their offer of employment to you. The caregiver is responsible to download their own application kit from the CIC (Canadian Immigration web-site at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/visitor.html.

    You will require the following documentation : passport photos , education certificates / diploma / degree / transcripts , training certificate(s) if applicable , a detailed C.V. , references , employment agreement & Employer / Employee Contract signed by both employer & employee , the current Canadian Visa fee (presently CDN $150.00) , and national police clearance(s) ( fingerprinting is usually required) for every country you have lived in for 6 months or longer in the past 10 years . Once you receive a copy of the Employer's HRSDC validation or approval letter , and have all other required items , you submit your complete application to the Canadian Embassy / Consulate / High Commission for processing.

    A full medical examination by a doctor approved by the Canadian Government will be required and will be at your own expense. Once Immigration validates that you meet the education AND the training OR experience criteria for the program, you will be given a list of doctors in your area who have been approved to do the medical , and all necessary requisitions. It is your responsibility to book your medical, blood work & X-rays as soon as possible. You will receive approval for an LCP Work Permit, and permission to travel to Canada, within 2 to 4 weeks after all tests are completed.

    Your LCP Work Visa is usually issued by the Immigration officer at your port of entry into Canada, as of March 2007 can be issued for up to 3 years 3 months from the date of entry to Canada. However, a one year work visas can be renewed for a second and third year. After completion of twenty four months of legal employment on an LCP work visa , you may apply for Landed Status/Permanent Residency. Processing of your LCP Work Visa usually takes two to four months after you submit your application , depending on which Embassy / Consulate is processing it . The main exception is Manila, Philippines where it usually takes 18 to 24 months to process an LCP work visa.

How to Proceed:

    Send us your name and address , and we will mail you our application / information package.

E-mail us at .

    Your prospective employer knows you by your application. Be neat and thorough. Introduce yourself to them in a letter addressed "Dear Family". Tell them about yourself and your family, your experience with child care / elder care / housekeeping, why you want to come to Canada, and something of your personal interests and creative abilities that would prove worthwhile to your work. Essentially, you want them to understand what you have to offer them and why they should consider hiring you.

    Include one to three recent photographs and two to three references, preferably from previous employers where you have had child, or elder, or special needs care experience, and if applicable, from a school where you have received special training . Please be sure that for each reference used, the person's name, position, address and telephone number, as well as the date, are clearly and accurately given so that the reference can be easily verified. Trafalgar Personnel Limited only accepts completed applications that have a good chance of placement.

A COMPLETE APPLICATION INCLUDES:

  1. A completed application form;
  2. A completed application form;
  3. A minimum of two child or elder care references (date, name, address,phone or fax, and possibly e-mail address must be clearly noted on each);
  4. a letter of introduction or "Dear Family" letter giving details about your interests, family, child or elder care experience, hobbies, and reasons for wanting to come to Canada;
  5. Copies of educational / training programs / certificates, driver's license, present work visa; for those who are currently in Canada on an LCP/Work permit.
  6. Two to four family/child or elder care photos neatly mounted on one page (colour copy preferred); Two passport size photos; and

Please do NOT APPLY unless you are confident you meet the Canadian government's criteria for the program , and have good English language skills. Our staff do not speak French , and thus we feel English language skills are necessary if you are to benefit from the support services we provide.

Note: For persons already registered with Trafalgar Personnel and wishing to check the status of your application, please E-Mail:

 
Copyright © 2004 Trafalgar Personnel Ltd. All Rights Reserved
Trafalgar Personnel
Miller Mews at 323 Church St., Unit 17
Oakville. Ontario, L6J 1P2
Tel: (905) 849-6520 - Fax: (905) 849-6921
E-mail:
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