Q: Why do live-in caregivers and nannies mostly come from outside of Canada?

A: It is very simple! As many of us know, it is virtually impossible to find a reliable and affirdable live-in caregiver/nanny in Canada. A combination of factors, including a booming economy, a rapidly growing population of young and educated Canadians, etc... has created a shortage of caregivers and nannies that agree to live with their employer. Realizing this shortage, Canadian Government has decided to assist such Canadian families that require the services of live-ins by establishing a "Foreign Live-In Caregiver Program", whereby it is much easier and quicker for a caregiver to receive a work visa in Canada than for many other professions. realizing that it is in the best interests of Canadian population that live-in caregivers and nannies are attracted to Canada, foreign live-in caregivers and nannies are allowed to apply for permanent residence in Canada after working in Canada for two years.

Q: Where do caregivers come from?

A: The majority of our caregivers originate from the Philippines and Southeast Asia. All of them have years of previous experience working as nannies and caregivers in English-speaking environments. A great deal of them have formal education in health care and education. Their mentality is friendly and due to the fact that all of them have worked abroad for a number of years, they adapt quickly and get along well with their employers.

Q: How long does it take to hire a caregiver and what do we have to do?

A: A foreign live-in caregiver can commence her employment with you only after her visa and work permit are issued by the Government of Canada. Upon entry, they can work only for you. The name of the employer is actually typed into the work permit. Relocation of a caregiver/nanny is a two-step process. Once you and the nanny sign an employment agreement, an application for a Labour Market Opinion is filed with the HRSDC (Human Resources Development Canada). After HRSDC sends you a confirmation letter , an application for a work permit and visa is filed with the Canadian Consular Post in the country , where the nanny is located. Our company employs a team of Canadian Immigration professionals who work with us and the employer to ensure that the process is quick and efficient. Please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/caregiver/index.asp to independently learn how to bring a nanny to work for you.

To make the hiring process easier for you and for the nanny, our company functions as a one-stop-shop. Once you contact us, we forward to you links with profiles of caregivers and nannies. Upon choosing a nanny or a caregiver, we forward to you an employment agreement for signature. This is a standard employment agreement. Please visit Useful Links to review a sample employment agreement. After you and the nanny sign the employment agreement, our immigration consultants prepare the HRSDC application and we forward it to you for signature. Upon having it signed, we file it with the HRSDC. The HRSDC process can take anywhere from a few weeks to two or even three months. After the HRSDC sends us their confirmation of the job offer, our immigration consultants prepare the nanny's application for a work visa in Canada. This process usually takes a few weeks to two months. Therefore, the whole process can take anywhere from two to six months.

As we are a "one-stop-shop", we make the process easy for you. A case worker is assigned to each nanny/family and we do our best to bring a nanny to you as quickly as possible.

We urge you to visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/faq/work/index.asp#caregiver to browse through the relevant FAQs.

Q: What is better for me - caregiver male or female?

A: Statistics demonstrate that female workers dominate in this workforce. Most Canadians prefer to hire female nannies and caregivers for traditional reasons, especially when it comes to taking care of children. Nevertheless, in certain situations, male caregivers may be preferred. A research study was conducted in 2006 by NIOH in the area of child and elderly care. The researchers found, that male caregivers may perform better than female workers in certain situations. Here are just a few findings:

• Naturally male caregivers may promote and deliver more power in duties that requires physical actions, as movement of disabled person or outdoor activities with children;
• Male caregivers can deal better with elderly especially with Alzheimer and dementia patients than female caregivers;
• Male caregivers more often serve as a buddy or a friend to the child while female caregivers often serve as a teacher or supervisor and worst - as a dictator;
• Male caregivers can perform housekeeping tasks better than female caregivers especially at winter time;

Female caregivers have limitations in performing technical and physical duties compared to male caregivers especially in times of emergencies.

However, the researchers found, that the best performers are caregiver couples.
This information you may keep in mind when there is a choice between male and female caregiver candidates (and a couple too). Of course this is entirely up to you to decide who is better for you.

Q: What is a caregiver couple?

A: This is a family, who perform caregiver duties.
In most cases a caregiver may have a husband or a wife, and he or she also eligible for Canadian visa and work permit. Those husbands or wives may wish to come to Canada with their beloved halves, who will work as Live-in caregivers. So those husbands and wives may live in a separate apartment, work somewhere else, and meet their beloved halves once or twice a week. Another possibility is if you as employer offer to your caregiver permission to bring her or his spouse and live together in the room, that you have reserved for the caregiver. Even if you will pay to only one of them (his or her spouse may work somewhere else), the spouse will help in some duties to your caregiver, as for example housekeeping or shopping. There is may other advantages of such situation, however it's only a possibility to consider and this is only you who should decide if you need a couple or just a single caregiver.

Q: How much do I pay to a caregiver?

A: It depends on the conditions of the contract, concluded between you and caregiver. You should pay no less than a minimum salary, permitted by provincial law. The salary should depend on experience and skills, and normally it's in the range of 1,000 - 1400 $CA per month. Be aware that a caregiver has right to change employer without visa cancellation and to be sure that you will keep your caregiver you may check how is the average salary for caregivers in your region.

Q: What may I ask caregiver to do?

A: All in what you need help, for example cooking, laundry, shopping, driving etc.Of course, you should think first and mention the job duties when you first let our company know that you require a nanny or a careguver. Illegal demands are not accepted in any way, be aware that rights of foreign caregivers are protected by provincial and federal laws. Quite often you may require assistance that is not specified in the employment agreement. These cases are usually handled on a case-by-case basis. If you are nice to your nanny, usually she does not mind doing that "extra" just to keep you happy. Although, you maintain the right to terminate the caregiver's employment at any time, you should not take advantage of her or him just because they are new to Canada. It is to your mutual advantage to establish open and friendly relationship. So, please talk to her/him and try to find how you may help your caregiver to adapt to the new job, place, and country.

So, we look forward to selecting a perfect caregiver or nanny for you .

If you have any questions please contact us or call us at (416)-628-8465