The Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilot programs opened for applications on June 18, 2019. These programs replace the expiring Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilot, which closed on June 18, 2019. Those who have applied before June 18, 2019 will still have their applications processed through to a final decision.
If you are a caregiver and have been working towards applying to the expired pilot programs, you may now apply through the Home Child Care Provider or the Home Support Worker pilot programs.
Each of the new pilot programs will have a maximum of 2,750 principal applicants. This is a total of 5,500 principal applicants per year plus immediate family.
There will be a 12-month processing service standard for initial applications to the new pilot programs. In addition there is a 6-month processing standard that applies for finalizing applications after the caregiver submits all proof that work experience requirements have been met.
The changes to these programs mean that all caregivers will only receive a work permit if they have a job offer in Canada. In addition, new criteria for economic immigration programs that must be met. The caregivers will begin gaining the required two years of Canadian work experience needed in order to apply for permanent residence.
Other benefits of the new Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilot programs include:
- open work permits and/or study permits for the caregivers’ immediate family, to help their families come to Canada together; and
- a clear transition from temporary to permanent status to ensure that once the caregivers have met the work experience requirements, they can become permanent residents faster;
- occupation-specific work permits, rather than employer-specific. This will allow the caregivers to change employers quickly when necessary.
Employers will no longer need a Labour Market Impact Assessment before hiring a caregiver from overseas, due to the move to occupation-specific work permits under the two new pilot programs.
Source: Canada.ca