The Government of Canada today announced major changes to the live-in caregiver program. The live-in caregiver program provides a pathway to permanent residency for qualified applicants who come to Canada to provide needed child and elder care services. The reforms aim to clear a significant backlog of permanent residency applications through the program.
As of November 30, 2014 caregivers may apply to come to Canada in two streams. The first, a childcare stream, is similar to the current program. A second stream will recognize caregivers in a variety of healthcare occupations, in anticipation of a growing need for elder-care and other support worker services in future. The Government anticipates processing permanent residency applications by eligible caregivers within 6 months. In an effort to clear the backlog of approximately 60,000 applicants, the Government will accept 30,000 eligible caregivers for permanent residency in 2015.
In a move aimed at reducing the potential for program abuse, the Government of Canada also announced that it is ending the 'live-in' requirement. Caregivers will now have the option of living outside the home.
Caregivers who apply for a work permit prior to November 30, 2014 will have the option of completing their work requirements on a live-in basis and apply for permanent residency per the current program.
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