Canada offers caregivers interim program for permanent residency

The Canadian government has announced the launching of two new five-year immigration programs for caregivers as well as the new interim program for their permanent residency.

According to a news entry posted at the website of South Asian Post, Canada’s Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Ahmed Hussen announced an interim pathway for caregivers presently in Canada with significantly reduced eligibility requirements.

To be eligible for the program, one must demonstrate the following:

• Twelve months of Canadian work experience as a home childcare provider or home support worker or a mix of both obtained after November 30, 2014. Experience as a house keeper or foster parent doesn’t count.
• Work experience must have been gained while working on a work permit issued pursuant to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). (This means that you were issued a work permit abroad as a caregiver. It is not eligible to persons who may be in Canada on other types of work permits such as post graduation work permit).
• Must have either a Canadian high school diploma or a foreign education that is the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma. (You must obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to demonstrate this).
• Must demonstrate language proficiency in either English or French at a proficiency level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for each of the four proficiencies - reading, writing, speaking and listening. (You will need to have an approved language test to confirm your proficiency).

The Interim Pathway for Caregivers Program is only in effect from March 4 to June 4.  —Anna Felicia Bajo/ LDF, GMA News